Muhammad Elbadawi

Muhammad Elbadawi is building the life he previously dreamed about. He recently completed his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) and is planning to enter the workforce. Muhammad says starting his college journey at Harold Washington College helped unlock these opportunities and achievements.

Before graduating from high school, Muhammad knew he wanted to attend college but was unsure about which one and how he would pay for it. When he learned he had obtained City Colleges’ Star Scholarship, which would allow him to attend Harold Washington College at no cost, he enrolled immediately.

“The Star Scholarship was such a big help,” Muhammad said. “It allowed me to focus solely on my studies.”

Muhammad attended City Colleges during the pandemic, but it didn’t change the quality of his education. He found his instructors to be helpful, understanding, and knowledgeable.

“I love the feel of community that the instructors built in their classrooms and how open and responsive they were,” he explained. “It made me very comfortable reaching out and building relationships with my professors.”

Muhammad also made his goal of transferring a priority. He worked with Harold Washington’s Transfer Center Director Ellen Goldberg, who he says made the transfer process smooth by guiding him through every step. Once he decided on NEIU, he applied, sent in the necessary documents, and applied for financial aid. He also made sure he checked his email regularly, as the Transfer Center would remind him of important deadlines.

Muhammad decided to attend NEIU because it was close to his house, he received the NEIU Star Scholarship to attend, and it was a City Colleges transfer partner, so all his credits transferred. He was accepted and enrolled at NEIU to continue studying business. He also worked as a student ambassador in their admissions office, where he sometimes talked to City Colleges students considering NEIU.

“I let students know that attending a transfer partner university is a possibility and you can do this route easily and it can save you some money,” he said.

Muhammad’s journey has ignited a deep passion for making higher education more accessible to others. With his degree in hand and valuable experiences from the Transfer Center at Harold Washington and the admissions office at NEIU, he’s now considering a career in higher education, where he can empower others through education and pave the way for future students to achieve their academic aspirations.