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Deniz Guler, a student at the prestigious Kabatas Boys' High School, known as Kabatas Erkek Lisesi in Istanbul, has made headlines by receiving scholarship offers from 30 universities across the world. Among the institutions that accepted her were leading universities, such as the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia.
Guler ultimately chose to pursue biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania, ranked 11th globally in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.
Raised in a family of accountants, Guler entered Kabatas Erkek Lisesi, one of Türkiye's most established public high schools, with a top score. During high school, she maintained a strong academic performance while also being highly active in extracurricular activities.
In her 10th grade year, she studied in the United States through a student exchange program at Rensselaer Year Central High School. She later participated in a Harvard Summer School program, where she joined a research group working in molecular oncology.
Guler's achievements were not limited to academics. She served as the president of her school’s European Youth Parliament Club and represented Türkiye at international events. These experiences helped her define her future goals at an early stage, focusing on cancer research as a long-term ambition.
From the 40 universities she applied to around the world, Guler was accepted by 30, making her the most internationally accepted student in the history of Kabatas Erkek Lisesi.
She was awarded approximately $80,500 in educational support from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she was selected as a "PENN World Scholar," a distinction awarded to only 15 students globally each year, with Guler being the sole recipient from Türkiye.
Reflecting on his journey, Guler emphasized the importance of being well-rounded to gain admission to top universities abroad. She pointed out that applicants should demonstrate long-term commitment in areas beyond academics, including sports, the arts, and research. “You have to do what others aren’t doing,” she said. “But it should never be just for the sake of the application. In my case, everything I included had been part of my life since ninth grade.”
Guler also shared that she looks up to Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as role models for shaping her goals in science and public service.
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