For Desmond Osaguona Uyi from Nigeria, winning the Open Doors International Olympiad was an opportunity to pursue his academic ambitions at NUST MISIS with a full tuition scholarship. In this interview, he shares how he prepared for the competition, explains what helped him tackle its most challenging stage, and reflects on the differences between university life in Nigeria and Russia.
— Could you tell us a little about yourself, your educational background, and your interests?
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and have always been passionate about materials synthesis and advanced materials engineering. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, exploring new tech trends, and playing football.
— Why did you decide to pursue higher education abroad, and why did you choose Russia and NUST MISIS?
I wanted to gain a global perspective and access world-class laboratory facilities in my field. I chose Russia because of its strong reputation in STEM, and NUST MISIS specifically because it is one of the leading universities in the country for metallurgy and materials science.
— How did you prepare for the Olympiad? How much time did you spend preparing, and what was your strategy?
I spent about two months studying topics specific to my track and reviewing core university textbooks. My strategy focused on mastering unfamiliar topics and refreshing my knowledge of familiar ones, followed by intensive practice solving problems in preparation for the exams.
— Which parts of the competition were the most challenging? How did you overcome those difficulties?
The time-limited practical problems in the second stage were the most challenging because they required highly analytical thinking under pressure. I was able to overcome these challenges thanks to my previous experience with JAMB in Nigeria, a similarly fast-paced examination that required quick thinking, working efficiently under time pressure, and prioritizing the questions I knew best before returning to the more difficult ones.
— What opportunities did winning the Olympiad open up for you? How did it help you pursue your goal of studying in Russia?
Winning the Open Doors Olympiad granted me a full tuition scholarship and made the admission process to my chosen university much easier. It completely eliminated the financial burden of tuition fees and streamlined my transition to studying in Russia.
— What were your first impressions of Russia? Was anything different from what you had expected?
I was immediately struck by the efficiency of Moscow’s transportation system and its beautiful architecture. While the winter was much colder than I had anticipated, I also noticed that the university campuses here are organized quite differently from the communal campus environment I was used to in Nigeria.
— What advice would you give to young people in Nigeria who are considering participating in the Open Doors Olympiad but are unsure where to start?
Start early by building a strong academic portfolio that includes all your achievements, publications, and certificates. Do not hesitate to apply, as the registration process is straightforward and this opportunity can completely transform your academic future.
