Securing a spot at a top university like the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is no small feat, but that is exactly what Lim Tsu Ping did. For the Penang native, the journey was filled with challenges, self-discovery and valuable lessons that led her to shake off societal expectations and find her passion in economics.
Read on to find out how Tsu Ping navigated the complex U.S college application process, how she is adjusting to life as a foreign student and how she plans to leverage her experience to give back to Malaysia in the future.
Challenges, Lessons & Tips in the Journey to UT Austin
Tsu Ping’s journey to UT Austin began with a spark of curiosity stemming from videos of students opening acceptance letters from prestigious universities in the United States.
“I was fascinated by the number of schools you can apply to, and I liked the flexibility you get in picking majors and minors,” she said.
However, Tsu Ping faced several challenges during the application journey, due to a lack of familiarity with the process. She discovered that American universities took a more holistic approach, as they considered everything from grades and extracurricular activities to personal essays and letters of recommendation.
For Tsu Ping, the essays were particularly daunting. “The questions make you think about what you want to do with your life and why,” she shared.
Despite the hurdles, Tsu Ping gave the essays her all and clinched her spot at UT Austin. When asked on what aspiring students can do to ease their application to American institutions, she advised to explore different interests and activities early on.
“When you know what you actually like doing and what you want to do with your life, it becomes easier to write a compelling personal statement which is an important component of your essays,” she said.
She also emphasised the importance of knowing your unique selling points. “(American universities) are not looking for a specific type of student, but rather a diverse class of students. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and you need to know what makes you different from the rest.”
A Road Paved by Family Inspiration
With two sisters in the medical field, Tsu Ping initially considered following in their footsteps. However, she realised during her schooling years that she did not have a passion for science.
The turning point came when one of her sisters decided to leave the medical field after completing her housemanship. Her sister eventually pivoted to the banking industry, and ended up enjoying it more.
This bold decision inspired Tsu Ping to explore other career options. “I felt it was really brave of her,” Tsu Ping recalled. “It made me think about what I really wanted to do with my life.”
One thing led to another, and Tsu Ping found herself in economics. After secondary school, she went on to pursue her Cambridge A-Levels in Accounting, Economics and Math at the HELP Academy in Kuala Lumpur.
For students caught at a crossroads, she encourages them to talk to as many people as possible to understand different career paths. “Knowing what you don’t like is just as important as knowing what you do like. Find out what other people’s jobs are really like, and from there, identify what you like and what you don’t, and narrow it down.” she said.
Embracing a New Life & Environment
Adjusting to life at UT Austin, where 90% of the student population consists of Texans, was challenging at first. However, Tsu Ping quickly found her footing by immersing herself in campus life.
She has joined various student organisations, including the Texas Women in Economics (TWE) society and Longhorn Squash Club.
“The beauty of coming here alone is that you get a fresh start,” she said. “You just have to put yourself out there and you will learn to be more independent.”
Since enrolling there last year (in 2024), she has found a community of Malaysian friends. “We meet on the weekends to hang out, and we cook, do movie nights, play squash, go for grocery runs and jalan-jalan Austin,” said Tsu Ping of their close bond.
To bring her Malaysian cohorts closer together, she has also established the Malaysian Student Association at UT Austin and juggles a secondary role as its treasurer as well. The organisation has put together a Chinese New Year potluck and is in the midst of planning a Raya gathering.
Overall, Tsu Ping enjoys the vibrant social scene at UT Austin, which has kept her busy with numerous networking events and career fairs. Additionally, she spends her spare time exploring the natural beauty of Austin and attending football watch parties, especially since UT Austin is home to one of the top football clubs in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division.
Venturing Beyond Core Studies
Another thing that has enriched Tsu Ping’s journey is her openness to learning new things. At UT Austin, she takes advantage of the university’s diverse course offerings, enrolling in classes like history, science and even music.
“The flexibility here allows you to explore different fields before deciding on your major,” she said. “Even after declaring, you can still switch anytime you want.”
Tsu Ping is also keen on broadening her knowledge in finance and energy, fields she believes are increasingly relevant in a time when climate change is prevalent. “I’m into energy transition, specifically the transition from oil and gas to renewables,” she shared.
Currently, she is expanding her financial knowledge by becoming an active member of the University Securities Investment Team (USIT), an on-campus investment organisation, particularly in its Energy & Industrial Fund, and taking on an analyst role in the Texas Energy Banking Association (TEBA).
As of December last year, she is also undertaking a remote apprenticeship insights programme with Goldman Sachs’ 2025 Possibilities Summit, an interactive virtual programme aimed at cultivating industry skills and exploring opportunities at the firm.
Future Ambitions & Giving Back to Home
Upon graduating, Tsu Ping hopes to break into the banking or consulting industry.
“I believe that banking is an extremely fast-paced industry with a steep learning curve and will definitely be a great place to kick off my career” she shared.
Ultimately, she hopes to do something that constantly challenges her and allows her to keep growing.
Ideally, she would like to stay in the U.S for an extended period to accumulate work experience, before returning to Malaysia to try her hand at community work.
Prior to relocating to Texas, Tsu Ping had already dipped her toes into contributing to her community by giving a talk on how to navigate the U.S educational system at Taylor’s University.
“I’m very interested in social work and would like to start a charity organisation one day,” said Tsu Ping of her aspirations.
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