Analysis

From what I see, hear, and do.

Graduate school, scholarships, applications, and what studying and working in the U.S. is really like. Personal takes, not summaries.

Observations & Experiences · Oct 31, 2026

How Far Can a Good Accent Take You?

Stories about accents in the U.S.

7 min read

A printed transcript next to a pen on a desk, in soft light from a window

Master's Degrees · Oct 7, 2026

What "Your GPA Follows You for Life" Actually Means

A high GPA doesn't make you smart. A low one still gets read. And once you graduate, you can't change either.

1 min read

A lone figure walking along a riverside path in New York at early morning, seen from behind

Career · Oct 7, 2026

Application 300 and Still No Reply

Imposter syndrome, and how to stay steady while job hunting in the U.S.

2 min read

A laptop open to practice questions next to a notebook and pen on a desk, in soft light from a window

Master's Degrees · Sep 19, 2026

IELTS or TOEFL: Which One Is Easier?

This article is the guide for international students only.

2 min read

A desk with a laptop and a notebook in early morning light coming through a window

Career · Sep 19, 2026

It Took 400 Applications to Get My First Interview

Strong school, strong grades, and my first internship interview still came from application number 400. Here's what that taught me about job hunting in the U.S.

2 min read

A phone resting next to a plate of food on a dinner table, its screen showing a news story about studying abroad

Financial Planning · Sep 15, 2026

What 'Full Scholarship' Headlines Leave Out

Low-income student, full ride, a price tag in the hundreds of thousands. It makes a great headline. It also hides how American universities actually pay for things.

2 min read

A U.S. university campus in a small town, wide lawns and red-brick buildings in morning sun

Master's Degrees · Sep 9, 2026

Is a Rural U.S. University a Bad Bet?

Dartmouth is in Hanover, New Hampshire. Cornell is in Ithaca, New York. Where a school sits says less about it than you'd think.

1 min read

A stone path between old campus buildings, seen from behind someone walking

Master's Degrees · Sep 8, 2026

Bachelor's, Master's, PhD: The U.S. Isn't a Ladder

In the U.S., nobody "studies" for a PhD. You work one.

2 min read

A laptop, notebook and coffee on a desk by a library window in the early morning

U.S. Education · Sep 5, 2026

Studying in America, in a Second Language

A project due every week, all of it in English. What the workload was really like, and what helped.

3 min read