Meet the Minerva Freshmen - Tianxiao Cao

What made you apply to Minerva?

I had always wondered about the purpose of going to university. By the time college application season ended, I had set three main goals:

1. To explore the world and understand how it works.
2. To develop lifelong soft skills.
3. Most importantly, to build meaningful friendships with people I’d truly enjoy spending time with.

When I discovered Minerva, I realized it was a perfect match for what I wanted in a university. The global rotation and cultural immersion that Minerva offers provide an incredible opportunity to explore the world in a way no other university does.

The curriculum also stood out to me because it focuses on real-life applications instead of just theory. Through Civic Projects each year and the Capstone Project, I’d be able to apply what I learned in class to real-world situations. This ensures that my education won’t feel abstract or detached—it will be practical and relevant to my life and future career.

Additionally, Minerva’s small cohorts make it much easier to connect with people on a deeper level. Since the student body consists of outstanding individuals from all over the world, I knew I’d find interesting and inspiring peers. Because of this close alignment between my goals and what Minerva offers, I applied right away. Now, after a semester here, I can confidently say that it has lived up to all my expectations.

‍

What have you learned about yourself during the application process?‍

Throughout the college application season, I often felt insecure because I struggled to present myself in a way that I thought would impress admissions officers. However, the Minerva application process felt different. Instead of feeling inadequate, I actually discovered how remarkable I am. This was largely because the application allowed me to present my accomplishments in a clear, structured way. Each achievement had its own space, with enough room to describe it fully. At other universities, I had to try to subtly squeeze my accomplishments into personal statements, which made me feel like I wasn’t doing them justice. The limit of six accomplishments in the Minerva application also helped me focus on showcasing my best experiences.

‍

What was your favorite accomplishment you mentioned in your Minerva application?

My favorite accomplishment was my internship at a blockchain technology company when I was 16. During this internship, I helped review the code and develop real platforms. I loved the experience because, in that internship, aside from gaining experience, my efforts actually made an impact. I love that feeling.

‍

Is there anything you are particularly excited about regarding your first year at Minerva?

I’m especially excited about interacting with the people at Minerva. These are truly my people. We can joke around, but we also have deep, meaningful conversations about fascinating topics. Sometimes we get so intrigued by a subject that we stay up late discussing it for hours.

‍

What are your first impressions of the Class of 2028 community? What does the Minerva community mean to you?

My first impression of the M28 community is that it is very vibrant. Whenever there is something of interest, everyone gets excited. Back at home in China, people usually shy away from expressing their views. But here, everyone happily contributes to a discussion. In class, our problem is usually not that people talk too little but that we don't have enough time for everyone to talk.

This community means the world to me. I’ve already worried about how I’ll let go of this community when we graduate. Whenever someone leaves the cohort for any reason, I can’t help but cry.

‍

How do you feel like Minerva helped you grow so far? What changes have you noticed in yourself since joining Minerva?

The Minerva experience is life-changing for me. I used to be a shy person, unwilling to interact with people. But here, I found the joy in being with others. It’s fair to say that Minerva turned me from an introvert into an extrovert.

My writing skills also drastically improved. I can now write much faster and more confidently, knowing exactly what I want to say and how to say it. I’ve learned to make clear points and support them effectively. Most importantly, I’ve grown to feel comfortable with writing, which wasn’t the case before. Since writing is a form of thinking, this growth has been incredibly meaningful to me.

‍

What advice would you give to future applicants?

Please enroll if you get in! At the 99% confidence level, I’m sure that you would enjoy the experience here. If you’re not sure if you should come, please talk to one of the current Minervans. We’re usually very friendly. And I’m sure we can convince you to come.

If you were inspired by Tianxiao's story and are seeking a college experience that will teach you valuable pragmatic skills that will enable you to change the world, apply to join Minerva today.

‍