Grad School Buddy

Many people suffer from anxiety when starting something new, especially when in the company of equally good peers. This episode features Hope Eze, a humanities PhD student at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on the literary depiction of food insecurity in Africa, particularly the possibility of achieving food sovereignty through sustainable agriculture. Hope shares her PhD story and...

Studying abroad can be challenging, especially when faced with language barriers. In this episode, Vincent Eke shares his remarkable journey from being a zealous undergraduate at Unilag to becoming a graduate student at Science Po in France.  The key takeaway from this episode is the significance of preparing for life after undergraduate studies early on. Securing scholarships and funding can be h...

Today, we're taking a trip down memory lane to the second half of our conversation with Dr. Allen and Dr. Lauren, the authors of PhDone and minds behind Dissertation Editors .  This engaging conversation features the non-academic aspects of getting a PhD - impostor syndrome, unhealthy competition with one's classmates, work-life balance, lessons from clients who balanced their PhD with p...

Are you considering a PhD and wondering if that’s your right trajectory? In this episode, Emeka Nwankwo, an associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and a PhD candidate in Digital Politics, sheds light on the various aspects of getting a PhD.  He discusses maintaining work-life balance, finding graduate school funding, and tackling dissertation writing.  Guest: Emeka Nwankwo Co-hos...

Searching for graduate school scholarships is daunting. There’s the uncertainty of rejection or failure and the hope of the ultimate prize of success. That’s why we have invited Kyla Denwood, who has secured a fully-funded graduate school scholarship with the enviable opportunity of choosing between Harvard, Georgetown, and Johns Hopkins.  Kyla is among the roughly four percent of applicants selec...

There’s more to being a grad student than lectures and problem sets. Sometimes, an opportunity presents itself where you get to work on practical solutions to world problems.  Today, the gist is with Ayanfeoluwa Akinbola, Chimwemwe Chibuye, Chidinma Uka, Eric Atiemo, and Rodrigue Birka (AKA members of Team Africa), who were named as finalists in the 9th edition of the Geneva Challenge 2022. This c...

The worry never seems to end when it comes to graduate school. Yesterday, you were overwhelmed by graduate school applications; after that, you worried about getting a study visa. Now you're here, staring at your laptop screen as you try to decipher what's in a Ph. D. dissertation anyway. If you're in this position or planning for the future, this episode is for you. We're feat...

One day, you’re sitting in one of the best law firms in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, living up to your dreams of contributing to cases that spark your heart. The next minute, the spark seems to start diminishing, there’s a global pandemic that literally has everyone at a standstill.  Today, we are catching up with Imade Iyamu, an MBA candidate at Columbia Business School. In 2019, Imade worked as an ass...

It's the perfect moment to give you a sneak peek into the inner workings and the people shaping Grad School Buddy. A team that is tirelessly working to provide everything you need to navigate graduate school. Exciting things are coming in season three; we can't wait to share them with you! So, stay tuned for the content heading your way. Click the link in my bio to experience the real es...

Have you ever wondered if experienced software engineers should take a break from their careers to pursue a Master’s degree? Valentine Oleka, who has been in the tech industry for almost a decade, offers insights on his decision to do just that by enrolling in a Master’s program in Intelligence Systems and Robotics. His love for computers and the internet began during his childhood days in Enugu,...

Younger Andrea, from Caracas, Venezuela, would be proud of who today’s guest grew up to become. Hers is a story of consistency, strategy, and holding on to a childhood dream nurtured by months spent role-playing at the Model United Nations. She takes us back to high school to explore what this experience meant and how it influenced her college and grad school decisions and led to her current dream...

Hey guys, here’s the “Never Say it’s Too Late” to go to graduate school episode you’ve been asking for. Today, Grad School Buddy meets up with Carrie, a detective in New York who decided to go to grad school almost two decades after getting an undergrad. In this episode of the podcast, she talks about moving from New York to Washington, DC, getting a work-based scholarship to fund her education, a...

Today’s episode sheds light on going to grad school in Nigeria. The conversation with both Nnamdi Ohachenu and Chisom Igwilo who are currently studying for a master’s degree in Economics posed a thrilling reveal of how contrasting their experience in grad school is.  Nnamdi who studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (a public school in Nigeria) recounts his day-to-day school life structure, the chal...

Have you ever wondered how to acquire the highly acclaimed Chevening scholarship? Our guest, Dr. Cyril, an Ophthalmologist and Surgeon, a Chevening scholar, provides insight in today's episode. Cyril explains in detail his motivations for applying to the scholarship and his program of choice; he cites planning, time management, and research as the core of his application process and imminent...

Today's episode takes us to the UK for a conversation on what life is like for Nigerians schooling and working in the UK. Our guests are Mobi, and Didi Nwafor-Orizu, who have both pivoted from undergrads in law to International Economics and Psychology, respectively. This episode also features advice on dealing with crazy landlords, handling job rejections, and finding one's community in...

In today's episode, we talk to Chinedu Nmegwah (AKA Chinez) about how he manages a 9–6, an online master's degree from Ahmadu Bello University Nigeria, and organizing Pop Culture Africa Award (PCAA), an annual award celebrating event organizers in Nigeria.  As a Kings College Old Boy, one of the things he has learned is how to make lemonades out of lemons. In his cheerful demeanor, he de...

Today, we connect with Diksha Ramesh, who left home (Chennai, India) to pursue a career in International Development in Washington, DC. She currently consults for the World Bank. Our conversations cut across various topics, including academia, where we consider what qualifications have brought her so far, and real-life hustle, where she shares how international students can navigate the housing ma...

To celebrate our first year in these streets, we share everything we've learned on this journey and gift some cash to members of our community. To learn more, please listen to this holiday episode.  We also share some extra resources that show : Some best practices that have helped us stay steady on this course towards building the Grad School Buddy ecosystem. How you can leverage your commun...

We've heard what applicants think about the graduate school application process, but what does your lecturer think about you and your application? We interviewed Mr. Stephen Aguegboh, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria and a multidisciplinary scholar and current Ph. D. candidate at Auburn University, United States. Listen to this episode if you want to find out: What your lecturers wishe...

Are you unsure WHERE to go for grad school? Our conversation with Esther Asamudo, a Research Fellow in Pharmacology, might help you decide. Esther's adventurous academic exploits have taken her to four continents as she schooled in Africa, Europe, and Australia and now lives and works in the US.  Esther's experiences give listeners a sneak peek into what similarities and differences exis...

There’s always one crazy tale or the other about Lagos Bankers. So, naturally, we wanted to verify whether these claims were valid. To put our curiosity to rest, we met with Layo, a former Lagos Investment Banker and an alum of Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.   This episode is for the everyday person with a regular job and extraordinary dreams. Layo’s versatility allows us to explore how to finan...

To end this season, the host opens up about herself by going through a question-and-answer thread developed by 'Alimosho Agbani Darego (@Mzrhemmy on Twitter).' Listen to this relaxing, laid-back, humor-filled episode and share your answers with us! We'll respond to every message we get.  All my love, Your Grad School Buddy. Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

When many people hear the word 'STEM,' their hearts might skip a bit because they expect a course in the core sciences. However, today's guest provides insights on how to find STEM courses that might not fit into the usual stereotype.  Our guest is Grace Chimezie, a Research and Evaluation Officer at IREX. Outside work, Grace is the founder of Gafa Sandals and is a fashion blogger. ...

In today's episode, we talk to John John, whose passion lies at the intersection of engineering and medicine. He talks to us about every step he took in finding a perfect school in Germany. His perspective is important, especially with the growing number of people who promise online that the cost of relocating to Germany for education is free. John has provided very detailed advice on everyth...

Today's episode is from a Lagosian to Lagosians. We catch up with Anthony, a Product Manager in Nigeria's busiest city - Lagos. We want to know how he combines spending six hours a day in traffic with the hectic demands of his job and grad school applications. He takes us through a day in his life, shares some tips he has learned from facing rejections, and helps us understand how to res...