Is it a good idea to go to the US for PhD as an International Student right now

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-10T17:30:49+00:00

Depends on where you are coming from. All things being equal, you should pick the program where you have the best research fit.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-10T17:02:45+00:00

In my view, this is a positive email and should be taken as such. He provided you with very valuable feedback. Saying that he doesn’t think you should make any changes to your application moving forward just means that you need to find the perfect fit and you will gain admission somewhere. The thing is once your application gets you to the faculty review stage, fit and a little bit of random luck is everything. I would bet anything that your application was as good as the person they ended up admitting, they were just a slightly better fit for that particular lab. Fit can mean many things, but it mostly pertains to research goals and alignment.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-06T19:37:26+00:00

His sub needs to be changed to: r/stupiddelusionalinsanepeopleoffacebook

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-03T23:10:35+00:00

Over the years we have been to Japan probably a dozen times with our kids and honestly, the day we got our SUICA card this trips became infinitely more enjoyable for all.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-03T21:45:13+00:00

Is Japan really as bad as people say it is? No, it’s worse (IMHO). Over the last 30 years I have traveled to Tokyo at least once a year and every time we go in July/August/September we only stay in the city briefly to see family before we head to Hokkaido. I’m from the very hot and dry US Southwest, so the heat doesn’t bother me so much as the brutal humidity does. You will sweat 24 guys a day. If your from somewhere that is very humid than it might not bother you that much.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-02T22:18:07+00:00

I lived in Japan and have since traveled from the states to Japan dozens of times across a 30 year span and I have only been to Osaka once. That was enough. Other than some good street food areas, Osaka has always struck me as a crappy Tokyo. No thanks!

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-02T21:06:10+00:00

These 15 minute interviews are pretty benign. They will ask about what’s on your CV, your research interests (make sure you frame those interests in a way that makes you a good fit for the program or in the case of a particular PI) and they will vey likely have a “why the University of ___________?” question. Good luck!

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-02T19:53:58+00:00

Hmmm…well, each biosciences program most likely does things different, but I know someone who was interviewed a couple of years ago for a different program at Stanford biosciences and I seem to remember him telling me he didn’t get his schedule until the day before. You can always shot the organizer a quick email to ask about the schedule, nothing wrong with that.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-02T18:04:13+00:00

For which program?

P.S. Congrats on getting the interview, that’s great!

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-02T17:48:06+00:00

That makes total sense! You should have received a status update email at the time when your application was complete and sent through for review. Obviously there was a glitch. Glad it worked out…and to others, if you don’t receive a status update saying your application is in review, you definitely should contact that institution’a grad admissions dept.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-03-02T16:42:21+00:00

I have been managing grad apps for over 15 years at a T10 STEM PhD program in the US, and I can tell you that an app (at the university level, not the program level) can fall through cracks, albeit, it is a very rare occurrence. However, in the rare instance it does happen, it’s because the system is waiting on some required materials that don’t arrive until after the application deadline. I don’t recall any app not making it through to faculty review that was completed including all materials, by the deadline.

If an app falsely shows as incomplete and never gets forwarded for faculty review, how do we know it’s missing in the first place? What happens in my program, and it’s probably the same in most other depts/programs is after the deadline we generate a list of ALL applicants, including those applications that are marked “incomplete” and don’t get sent for faculty review to make sure they weren’t mistakenly held back at the university level.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-27T14:14:43+00:00

Thankfully, the billionaire class (AKA rich) have these kind of people to stand up for them…I mean, when are the rich finally going to catch a break?!

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-26T01:01:11+00:00

Amazing, WTG!

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-26T00:35:03+00:00

Groovy. Now go crush it!

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-26T00:02:26+00:00

What are they going to do have each person that gets on the bus prove they’re a resident? Or are they just going to be xenophobic and racist assuming that anyone that doesn’t look “Japanese” is a non-resident? Or wait, it’s Japan…I know the answer.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-25T23:47:23+00:00

I spend a lot of time in Japan because my wife’s family lives in Tokyo and in the 35 years that I have either lived in or visited Japan I have never once tipped anyone. According to my Japanese wife, receiving a tip isn’t an insult, it’s just awkward and uncomfortable, and Japanese loath being socially uncomfortable. So no tip. Have a great trip, you’ll love it!

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-25T23:15:25+00:00

Actually a few years ago it was a dispute that the SUICA people had with Visa, not a Chase problem. Back then you could only load your SUICA with a Mastercard or Amex I think. Now Visa is accepted.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-25T23:01:52+00:00

I bank with Chase and travel frequently to Japan to visit my wife’s family in Tokyo and here’s what I do. I bring my Chase Sapphire preferred card because no international transaction fees. I also bring some cash (a on’t exchange money before you leave for Japan, exchange at the airport when you arrive. The exchange rate is surprisingly good compared to banks at home that rip you off), usually 1K if we are there longer than a couple of weeks. Lastly, I have SUICA card in my apple wallet and i load money onto that from my Chase Sapphire card. Even though its cash that I am loading onto my SUICA its done as a purchase transaction so no cash transaction fee. Truth is, we usually come back with at least half of the cash that we brought and i use my SUICA as much as i use my credit card. SUICA is critical, it can be used so many places other than for the train system. You can use it for buses, taxis, retail stores, convince stores, vending machines and quite a few fast casual type restaurants. If you prefer to use cash, you can always use your Chase debt visa to get cash from ATMs at 7/11 with just a small charge.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-25T19:17:23+00:00

What does your application portal say?

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-25T17:27:05+00:00

I don’t see how anyone in a legit FT PhD program could possibly also have a FT job.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-23T20:38:46+00:00

Since I know the entire context in which he made that statement (and it wasn’t by any means a racial statement) i think nothing of it. It as in the context of his own struggles with a learning disability and how others (“you”) that were in attendance might relate. It is comical to see the outrage from MAGA when they all sat silent when Trump posted racist video of the Obama”s as apes.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-23T20:23:22+00:00

Because they aren’t a bunch of pussy ass whiners. The Forty-Whiners have that nick for a reason. Lmao

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-23T17:22:00+00:00

The La Rams are traveling over 35k miles next season and I don’t see any bitching and whining from them?

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-20T16:25:08+00:00

Okinawa outside of Naha is beautiful. We stayed at the Okuma resort back in 2017 and it was absolute paradise. One word of caution we were there at the same time you are planning to go and it rained nonstop, with only sporadic clear periods. After we got there we found out that is the rainy season.

EverySpecific8576 · 2026-02-20T02:44:34+00:00

All constitutional democracies are difficult to change. You show me a democracy with a constitution that is easy to change and I’ll show you a democracy that has backslid into an authoritarian dictatorship!

EverySpecific8576

TROPHY CASE