Tyrone Marhguy is a Ghanaian Rastafarian pursuing a Computer Engineering degree at the University of Pennsylvania (“UPenn”) in the USA. Tyrone is notable among the Ghanaian population for questioning the status quo of what has been the norm of most Ghanaian Secondary Schools; the shaving off of one's hair, which eventually saw Tyrone winning a court case against Achimota School in 2021. This post does not focus on the "hair saga" case, but rather, goes beyond to highlight Tyrone’s journey to UPenn, where he commenced his studies in Fall 2024.
Who is Tyrone Marhguy?
Tyrone comes from a family of 5 and is a triplet. Born and raised in Ghana. Although he had an everyday life for the most part, he and his family lived mainly on a bus for some years; he only recently relocated to the USA to further his education on a full-ride scholarship at the private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia. Tyrone received his basic education at several institutions, including Manna International School and New Tafo Baptist in Kumasi. Then, he moved to Rising Academy in Ablekuma before completing his high school education at Achimota, where he scored 8As in his West African Secondary School Certificate Examination. Culturally, his family are Rastafarians and keeps their dreadlocks, which, he states, has brought many consequences to him.
Which three adjectives best describe Tyrone?
Practical, Resilient, and Reserved.
Had you traveled outside of Ghana prior to arriving in the USA for studies?
Being here in the United States has been my first time outside Ghana or traveling overseas.
What influenced your pursuit of higher education in the USA?
A man, Mr. Ekow Aikins of Aikins Educational Consult, offered me a local scholarship opportunity that helped prepare me for the SAT. He was the one who introduced me to everything I would know about studying in the USA, more so on a full-ride scholarship. I accepted this offer because of the endless opportunities that exist in the United States of America. Additionally, I was keen on pursuing a major and minor course of study, which not many higher education institutions currently offer in Ghana. Later on, after working alongside Mr. Aikins, more people provided additional assistance on my application: Mr. Ferdinand Quayson of YAF Ghana and Mr. Abel Acquaye of Ghana Olympiad Academy.
Did it ever cross your mind that you’ll one day be awarded a full-ride scholarship to study in the USA?
I always thought recipients of scholarships were people who were randomly selected. I never knew about the work involved in applying for a scholarship until I began with my own personal applications, so the whole process of getting here with my full - ride scholarship has been such a surreal experience.
Which degree are you pursuing at UPenn?
I’m pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Computer Engineering. I’ve yet to declare a minor.
How many U.S. colleges did you apply to?
I completed about 6 U.S. college applications, including but not limited to Duke, Franklin & Marshall, University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell.
Which platform did you use to submit your applications?
All my college applications were submitted via the Common App except for MIT.
Did you receive a positive response for all your applications?
There were interviews, a few rejections, and, the best part, admissions. I’m thrilled and grateful to have been offered a spot at the University of Pennsylvania.
Out of all the universities that offered you admission, why did you decide to go ahead with UPenn?
All the universities to which I received an offer of admission are equally great institutions. UPenn is one of the 8 Ivy League universities in the USA, has a great computer engineering program, and its location in Philadelphia constitutes a huge Ghanaian population, which was an environment that helped me quickly with my adjustment to a new country. Philly is also closer to the beach, which I love.
How did you find the entire process, from application to admission to eventually being physically present at UPenn’s campus?
The whole idea of college appeared to be an unreal concept, especially as a first-generation college student. Application times were callous, and getting documents together was even more challenging and overwhelming. One needs to find ways to stay motivated throughout the entire process. For the most part, I had to move to stay at the application consult for about two years while at Achimota School. During those times, I instructed math as part of my internship. I only visited home monthly or less. The consult offered a fantastic community of equally driven peers, so the countless nights we spent sleeping on hard benches were all testament to our determination to get to where we are now. Countless essays had to be written and re-written, which Mr. Aikins, our mentor, constantly reviewed. After admission, I secured a visa appointment, and everything went smoothly.
What are the details of the scholarship package?
Per my understanding of my scholarship coverage, my expected contribution is $0, and I’m not required to make any payment “out of pocket.” However, I’m expected to keep and maintain a good academic record throughout my studies.
What are you hoping to achieve with your computer engineering degree?
With this degree, I aim to maximize the opportunity given to the best of my abilities and contribute to the Ghanaian society. I want to get into the workforce and return to Ghana to help the communities that made me.
It’s been about 5 months since you arrived in the USA. How has your experience been so far?
It’s been a bit rough, especially with the food. Other than that, everything seems to be going well. I thought the academics would be tedious, but it’s been very manageable. I like the challenge of managing time to get through academics, clubs, and everything else.
What advice would you give to students worldwide hoping to secure a full scholarship to study in the US?
I’ll advise prospective applicants to be prepared to do the hard work and understand the college application process, the institutional requirements, and what is expected of them. Every part of the application is equally important, so do not neglect any part. Keep your options open, and be authentic with your essays as much as possible. I’ll lastly tell them to remain resilient and appreciate that hard times are temporary.
We wish Tyrone the best of success in his studies and beyond. If you know of any companies, organizations or institutions looking to hire a Summer 2025 intern with an educational background in Computer Engineering and have any leads, feel free to connect with Tyrone on LinkedIn and share this information.
