L’Orient-Le Jour | July 23, 2026

In a Lebanon marked by numerous disruptions and an unstable situation, students in the entrance exam section at the School of Engineering of Beirut continued their preparation relentlessly until they achieved their goal.

This year, ESIB’s entrance exam section recorded an exceptional success rate: 100% of its students passed the written examinations for the prestigious École Polytechnique, known as the “X.” “A first record,” according to Wassim Raphael, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Saint Joseph University of Beirut and Director of ESIB. Following the oral examination, 8 of the 11 students in this preparatory class were admitted to this prestigious engineering school, which ranks first in all French rankings. Another student was admitted to ENSTA (École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées), which ranks among the top engineering schools in France. According to the Dean, ESIB students stand out for their “ability to integrate and adapt easily, even though they enter an environment very different from that of ESIB, as the X is a highly demanding military school.”

When 19-year-old Angelina Daccache learned of her admission in early June, she was overwhelmed with emotion. “I cried tears of joy. I also realized that all my hard work had not been in vain and that I was finally going to fulfill my dream of joining the X, an elite school that offers a solid multidisciplinary scientific education, particularly in mathematics, physics, and computer science,” says the student, who hopes to specialize in quantum science and technology at École Polytechnique.

Experiencing “immense joy” when the admission results for the X were announced, Dany Sobhieh, enrolled in electrical engineering in ESIB’s entrance exam section, admits that “you can never expect to be admitted to Polytechnique. No matter how much work you put in, it always comes as a surprise!” The 20-year-old student describes himself as someone “who strives for excellence and clearly loves to learn, discover new things, and above all receive a quality education. You need someone to push you to the next level. And for me, that is what ESIB’s preparatory class and École Polytechnique offer.” 

Discipline and Passion at the Heart of Success

Extending over two years, the preparatory class for the entrance exams to prestigious universities, such as X and ENSTA, brings together the best candidates admitted to ESIB. However, to succeed in gaining admission to these selective French engineering schools, students prepare intensively, day and night.

Dany Sobhieh says that he devoted himself to “relentless work” throughout the two preparatory years, particularly during the intensive study period, when he sometimes studied up to 14 hours a day. “You have to be rigorous, not only scientifically, but also in the way you work. You have to set yourself a study plan and follow it every day, forcing yourself to work even on the concepts you do not like or find difficult,” he explains. “Rigor in preparatory class is synonymous with success,” the student assures.

In addition to managing her time well and staying organized, Angelina Daccache, for her part, speaks of her enjoyment of learning. “It was through passion that I was able to succeed. Sometimes, you work regardless of the outcome, without always having the idea of succeeding in mind,” she notes, while acknowledging that during periods of doubt or discouragement, she kept in mind what made her persevere and put in even more effort. “Even if my passion weakened at times, I reminded myself that if I succeeded in joining the X, I would be able to explore even more of what I love. And that also gave me motivation.”

At the same time, the student says that one of the conditions for success “is not to compare yourself to others, to discover yourself, follow your own path, and find your own working method.” She also emphasizes the importance of humility in such a demanding journey and explains that confidence can sometimes give way to an overestimation of one’s abilities before one realizes the magnitude of the challenge. “You have to acknowledge that some things are difficult, that you do not know everything, and that you still have room to improve,” she admits.

Dany Sobhieh also praises the “mutual support” among students, the “solidarity,” and the “family spirit” that encouraged them to keep moving forward in the preparatory classes, “even during the most difficult times, such as during the war.” “It really is a strength that we have!” he says enthusiastically.

A High-Level Program and Dedicated Professors

Furthermore, the success of the students in the entrance exam section is also due to “enhanced preparation,” according to Wassim Raphael. The Director of ESIB explains that Lebanese students from X returned to support the candidates alongside the University’s professors, working through examination sessions and conducting mock oral interviews. They provided intensive sessions, including in the evenings and on Saturdays. Three French professors also contributed remotely to the preparation for the oral examinations. “The courses are of a very high level, the professors constantly work on improving themselves and are deeply committed,” he says.

Dany Sobhieh acknowledges the role professors played in his success, both in terms of academic and mental support. Driven by “their passion,” “these professors want us to succeed, to give the best of ourselves, and to represent not only the University, but also ourselves at the highest level,” he says.

Confirming his classmate’s words, Angelina Daccache recalls a difficult moment in her journey when, in tears, she went to seek advice from one of her professors. “We often think that we have to manage on our own, but asking for help is not a weakness,” she says, noting that professors are often the best to support students facing the pressure of competitive entrance exams.

Unwavering Determination in the Face of Every Challenge

The students also believe that they managed the stress of their studies each in their own way. “You never achieve your goals without suffering during the process. Nothing comes for free. You have to work to get there. And when I was stressed during the preparatory class, I reminded myself of my ultimate goal: to be admitted to X. Remembering what I had already accomplished to get where I was gave me confidence,” says Dany Sobhieh, before stressing the importance of perseverance, even during the most difficult moments. “Being in the preparatory class during the war was difficult to overcome,” he admits. “You have to keep in mind what motivates you every day. And as long as that motivation is there, nothing can break it, whether it is war or anything else,” continues the electrical engineering student.

Angelina Daccache also recalls the stress she felt while preparing for the written exams as aircrafts flew overhead. “I told myself that there was nothing I could do about it and that I had to keep going. I wasn’t going to sit and wait for the crisis to end, because we don’t know when it will end,” she recalls, aware that all her classmates were experiencing the same anxieties.

Despite the country’s difficult circumstances, the students attended most of their classes in person, even while the University was closed, as the campus was located far from the high-risk area. “We could hear the sound of the bombings. They continued to work, even though it was not easy,” notes Wassim Raphael. “I think that behind this are the determination, motivation, desire to succeed, and resilience that allow them to bounce back. It is a form of resistance. Lebanese students are now immune to this,” says the Director of ESIB. Convinced that the School of Engineering of Beirut “will continue to move forward,” he hopes “to achieve equally good results in the years to come,” especially since ESIB is now preparing its students for a second prestigious and selective exam, the Concours Commun Mines-Ponts (CCMP), which will open the doors to 10 leading French engineering schools.

Also read: En classe préparatoire de l’ESIB, 100 % d’admissibles à l’École polytechnique