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.
Esat’s success coach, Dr. Salim Ucan, helped Esat create an academic path to maximize his talent in chess while showcasing his academic aptitude through dual-enrollment college courses and SAT. Such guidance, grounded in a deep understanding of who Esat was as a student and as a competitor, made all the difference.
“Dr. Ucan’s coaching was significant in Esat’s journey to success. Esat got into a school that is the perfect fit for him. He will pursue his passion, chess, at collegiate level at Saint Louis University” – Esat’s Father
The Result
Esat was accepted into multiple universities, including Northeastern University, one of the most selective universities in the country with an acceptance rate of six percent. No AP courses. No traditional path. Just the right student, the right story, and the right guidance. 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. Out of all the colleges Esat received admission offers, he committed to Saint Louis University, which is located in the chess capital of the country, St.Louis, MO, and has a strong chess program in partnership with the renowned Saint Louis Chess Club. Esat is now a Billiken!
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 empowers students to design their education around their lives, not the other way around. That empowerment is simply priceless!
Congratulations, Esat. We cannot wait to see where your game takes you next.
