When a visa ban ended her US PhD plan, Niusha started again with ApplyKite.

Starting again

Niusha had a funded PhD acceptance from North Carolina State University. For several months she waited for her visa.

Then a visa ban came. Her IELTS score had expired by then, so she had to start the whole process again.

A new route in Europe

She came to ApplyKite as a user, to explore her options in Europe. It helped her see how she could pivot, and how the process works in a new set of countries.

Starting again after so much time on one path was hard. In her words, ApplyKite gave her a platform, a great network and the motivation to do it all again.

A place in Finland

Niusha was accepted into her current programme at the University of Eastern Finland, with a scholarship. She is studying for an MSc in Biology of Environmental Change.

Her background is in agricultural biotechnology, genetic engineering, bioinformatics and tissue culture, with research in labs at home and in Italy.

Now she mentors

Later, Niusha joined ApplyKite as a mentor. What she values is that each mentee is matched with a mentor in their own field, for what they actually need.

With one mentee she worked from the very first steps: the CV and statement of purpose, a LinkedIn profile, emails to professors written for each one, a list of positions, every deadline, and using a few recommendation letters wisely.

Then came interview preparation and mock interviews, research proposals, a backup plan and the applications themselves. Her mentee secured two fully funded PhD positions in the UK.

Both sides of the journey

Niusha started on ApplyKite when she had to rethink her plans. Now she is the one guiding students through the same process.