ISM Seniors Celebrate Final Days, Reflect on Time as a Husky
Each student in the Class of 2025 at ISM has had a unique journey, but ultimately, it has led them to decide on a college and continue their educational goals. On May 2, 2025, these seniors cemented their future with Decision Day and announced their college at the Leila C. Saad Performing Arts Center.
The Class of 2025 received over 70 college acceptances across the country and were offered a substantial $837,000 per year in scholarships, totaling over $3.4 million in scholarships throughout their college careers.
The students accepted over $232,000 per year in financial aid, and nearly 20% of the senior class will receive full-ride scholarships to prominent schools.
When it came to selecting a college, Mr. Cohen, Director of College Counseling, said that each senior student had their own path, with certain non-negotiables, such as affordability, location, strength of academic programs, extracurricular activities, and other aspects of college life.
Senior Dmytro Nyzhnyk said one of his focuses was a strong program for economics, so he could continue challenging himself in education. He also wanted affordability and was fortunate enough to receive the Claremont McKenna Grant, covering both tuition and his room and board to attend Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California next year. “I’m excited about Claremont and starting a new chapter at a new school,” Dmytro said. “I had such a great, supportive community at ISM. When I came to ISM, I didn’t speak English well. The teachers and staff supported me while I learned English, and I appreciate the things they’ve done for me.”
Although affordability was on Laura's list, she prioritized finding a strong pre-med program, as she’s studying biochemistry. The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities provided her with numerous opportunities to explore a variety of curricula, while also helping her find her path in the pre-med program. Laura was also accepted into Howard University, but felt that Minnesota was the best fit for her and her academic future.
“The college prep at ISM was very helpful, and Mr. Cohen provided me with reachable goals and expectations during my college search,” Laura said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what lies ahead at the University of Minnesota next year.”
One of the pillars that ISM stands on is preparing our students for college and what to expect both inside and outside the classroom. The college process begins in seventh grade and continues to progress until Decision Day. Middle school years provide Mr. Cohen with opportunities to individualize the experience for each student.
Once students reach their freshman and sophomore years, the college prep becomes more focused on goal setting. Mr. Cohen wants to create a strong plan with attainable goals while they’re attending high school. Whether it’s scoring on AP® exams or learning more about a specific subject, he can guide them down the right path to achieve that goal.
Ultimately, junior and senior years are spent navigating every step of the college application and matriculation process. From looking at the small details that make a college great for each student to helping colleges understand why each student would be a good fit on their campus. Students work with Mr. Cohen to review non-negotiables and determine their top 3-5 schools to select their top choice.
Mr. Cohen said he’s proud of each student for all of their hard work getting accepted and deciding which college suits them and their needs best.
“Reflecting on my time at ISM, I’m incredibly grateful for how this school has prepared me for college,” said Malaika Bajwa, ISM senior. “From the academics to the incredible international experiences, this school has amazing opportunities, such as SABIS® Stars and the SLTC, which I attended last year. This school has truly pushed me to become more disciplined, adaptable, and confident.”
Resilient. That’s the one word that Mr. Cohen used to describe the Class of 2025.
“This class has been through a lot,” he said. “Returning to school after COVID to begin high school was one of the biggest hurdles they faced, but they’ve overcome it and grown into remarkable young people.”
Here’s where each student in the Class of 2025 will be attending next fall:
- Malaika Bajwa, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Sociology of Law
- Kaia Frazier, Lafayette College, Engineering
- Jinsheng Tim Li, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Electrical Engineering
- Ian Looser, Augsburg University, Music/Business
- Cecilia Lundquist, St. Catherine University, Psychology
- Mahad Molel, Normandale Community College, Undecided
- Dmytro Nyzhnyk, Claremont McKenna College, Economics
- Laura Odeh, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Biochemistry
- Sirui Shannon Qiu, Iowa State University, Accounting
- Ruhaan Singh, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Engineering
- Siyuan Steven Wu, Rutgers University, Undecided
- Zijin Wu, University of South Florida, Electrical Engineering
