Esat Demirel is not your average chess player. Ranked #80 in the United States among 18-year-olds, he achieved that standing in just three years of competitive play. Many of his peers have been playing for eight to ten years. Chess is not a hobby for Esat. It is a pursuit that demands a third of his day, every day.
Traditional school system was not built for a student like him. A fixed schedule, rigid attendance requirements, and a one-size-fits-all approach left little room for the kind of commitment his chess career required. Something had to change.
A Student Who Needed More Than a Traditional Schedule
When Esat and his family found Global Town School, everything shifted. For the first time, he had the flexibility to learn on his own terms without sacrificing academic quality. He could structure his day around his chess training and competitions while still making meaningful progress toward graduation.
The self-paced, fully accredited model at GTS gave Esat exactly what he needed: control over when and how he learned, without any compromise on standards.
The Strategy That Made the Difference
When it came to college preparation, Esat’s path looked different from the typical applicant. No AP courses. A strong 3.8 GPA. And a chess career that told a story no transcript could fully capture.
Global Town School Founder and Counselor Dr. Salim Ucan saw the full picture. Rather than pushing Esat down a conventional route, he offered a strategic and honest recommendation: focus on the SAT. That single piece of guidance, grounded in a deep understanding of who Esat was as a student and as a competitor, made all the difference.
“Salim hoca not only got him in. He found the school that is the perfect fit for Esat.” – Esat’s Father
The Result
Esat was accepted into Northeastern University, one of the most selective universities in the country with an acceptance rate of five to six percent. No AP courses. No traditional path. Just the right student, the right story, and the right guidance.
His father, who had not expected Esat to attend university directly after high school, was stunned. The outcome was not just an acceptance. It was proof that the right support and the right strategy can open doors that a conventional approach might have closed.
✅ Ranked #80 in the USA among 18-year-old chess players after only 3 years of competition
✅ Maintained a 3.8 GPA while dedicating a third of his day to chess
✅ Accepted into Northeastern University with a 5 to 6% acceptance rate
✅ Achieved all of this without a single AP course
Your Path Does Not Have to Look Like Everyone Else’s
Esat’s story is a reminder that there is no single road to a great future. The students who thrive are often the ones who are willing to commit fully to what they love, even when the traditional system cannot keep up with them.
At Global Town School, we meet students where they are. We build a plan around who they actually are, not who the system expects them to be. Global Town School meets you where you are.
Congratulations, Esat. We cannot wait to see where your game takes you next.
