Alan Berdikulov Joins MIT’s Elite: A Story of determination and hard work
At 23 years old, Alan Berdikulov has achieved what many aspiring students dream of—admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Hailing from Almaty and a graduate of NIS, Alan’s academic journey is a testament to curiosity, hard work, and strategic planning. Majoring in Mathematics with double minors in Quantitative Finance and Economics, Alan’s story is not just about academic excellence but also about the relentless pursuit of passion.
Alan’s inspiration to apply to MIT began with his parents’ aspirations for him, but it was his own intellectual curiosity that solidified his path. During his second year at NU, he developed an interest in stock trading and investing. To bridge his knowledge gap, he turned to MIT’s OpenCourseWare, where he discovered Dr. Andrew Lo’s finance lectures. Taking the Economics of Financial Markets course provided a foundation, combining finance with STEM. In his third year, meeting an MIT alumnus inspired him to apply to MIT's MFin program.
Alan credits his NU experience for making his MIT application competitive. His accomplishments included:
An internship at the Economic Research Institute
Participation in Harvard Business Club's Global Case Championship
Research assistantships in both Economics and Electrical Engineering
Winning a stock pitch competition
Gaining practical experience through cryptocurrency trading
Earning minors in Quantitative Finance and Economics
His current capstone research on a trinomial tree approach to the Heston options pricing model further strengthened his application, demonstrating his advanced quantitative skills.
Key Mentors Who Made a Difference Two mentors played pivotal roles in Alan's journey:
Dr. Dongming Wei, his capstone thesis advisor, who provided crucial academic guidance
An MIT alumnus who offered valuable insights into the application process
The Strategic Value of His Quantitative Finance Minor Alan's decision to pursue a Quantitative Finance minor at NU proved instrumental by:
Demonstrating his ability to handle rigorous STEM and finance coursework simultaneously
Allowing him to build specialized knowledge through advanced finance electives
Creating a direct pathway to his career goal of becoming a Quantitative Researcher
While Alan frequently worked late into the night (with many 2AM library sessions), he maintained balance by prioritizing time with friends and meeting all deadlines. Alan Berdikulov’s story is a powerful reminder that success is forged through curiosity, resilience, and strategic effort. As he prepares to embark on his MIT adventure, his journey inspires students worldwide—proof that with determination, even the loftiest dreams are within reach.
Alan's advice:
"Be proactive in everything you do. Get as many extracurriculars as you can. Start doing things related to your dream school or dream job. Fortune favors the brave. Even though you think it is near impossible to get into, apply."