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The Thirsty Scholar

For every international student dreaming of the Ivy League, Oxbridge, and beyond - here's expert advice and insights to make your college dreams come true!

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An Opportunity to Be Published by a Yale Journal: Its First-Ever Journalism Competition for High School Students | Open to Students Worldwide | Deadline: August 21

Vol 3, No. 8

Ranjit Rauniyar

Harvard

Jun 13, 2026

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18 min read

Everyone told him he needed a 'spike.' He ignored the playbook. Harvard's admissions officer saw "real joy and humility" - and called his application "refreshing after so many self-proclaimed cohesive inventors.” This is the story of Joshua Gupta from Bhopal, India - fresh off his first year at Harvard College.

Vol. 3, No. 7

Ranjit Rauniyar

College Admissions

This brilliant student was all set to attend Stanford on a full scholarship. Then Harvard, too, came calling. The impossible choice facing Aditya Kumar Jha, a seventeen-year-old from Raipur, India. This is his story.

May 8, 2026

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26 min read

This brilliant student was all set to attend Stanford on a full scholarship. Then Harvard, too, came calling. The impossible choice facing Aditya Kumar Jha, a seventeen-year-old from Raipur, India. This is his story.

Vol. 3, No. 6

Ranjit Rauniyar

College Dreams

You Got Into More Than One School. Congratulations! Now What? | A Look at a Popular College Comparison Tool (And Why You Probably Shouldn't Trust It!)

Mar 27, 2026

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12 min read

You Got Into More Than One School. Congratulations! Now What? | A Look at a Popular College Comparison Tool (And Why You Probably Shouldn't Trust It!)

Vol 3, No. 5

Ranjit Rauniyar

College Admissions

The Final Countdown to March Madness: Class of 2030 Decision Dates All in One Place

Mar 21, 2026

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9 min read

The Final Countdown to March Madness: Class of 2030 Decision Dates All in One Place

Vol. 3, No. 4

Ranjit Rauniyar

Upcoming Competitions

UC Berkeley Startup Bootcamp | First time for Students in Grades 9-12 | International Students Welcome | 8-Weeks, Fully Virtual | Mentors from YC, Google, OpenAI, McKinsey | $10K in Prizes | Deadline: March 10

Mar 7, 2026

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10 min read

UC Berkeley Startup Bootcamp | First time for Students in Grades 9-12 | International Students Welcome | 8-Weeks, Fully Virtual | Mentors from YC, Google, OpenAI, McKinsey | $10K in Prizes | Deadline: March 10

Vol 3, No. 3

Ranjit Rauniyar

Upcoming Competitions

Essay Contest Alert for International High School Students Interested in Economics | Get Published by America's #1-Ranked Economics Department | Deadline: March 14, 2026

Feb 24, 2026

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10 min read

Essay Contest Alert for International High School Students Interested in Economics | Get Published by America's #1-Ranked Economics Department | Deadline: March 14, 2026

Vol 3, No. 2

Ranjit Rauniyar

High School Research

The World's Most Prestigious Summer School Program That Sends 33% of Its Alumni to Harvard - Now in India

Feb 8, 2026

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14 min read

The World's Most Prestigious Summer School Program That Sends 33% of Its Alumni to Harvard - Now in India

Vol. 3, No. 1

Ranjit Rauniyar

Summer Programs

The Red Pen, one of India’s top independent education consultancies, presents the Summer Programmes Fair 2025 | Explore 50+ enrichment programmes for your child (6-12th grade)

Jan 22, 2025

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6 min read

The Red Pen, one of India’s top independent education consultancies, presents the Summer Programmes Fair 2025 | Explore 50+ enrichment programmes for your child (6-12th grade)

Vol. 2, No. 1

Ranjit Rauniyar

Archive

An Opportunity to Be Published by a Yale Journal: Its First-Ever Journalism Competition for High School Students | Open to Students Worldwide | Deadline: August 21

This brilliant student was all set to attend Stanford on a full scholarship. Then Harvard, too, came calling. The impossible choice facing Aditya Kumar Jha, a seventeen-year-old from Raipur, India. This is his story.

You Got Into More Than One School. Congratulations! Now What? | A Look at a Popular College Comparison Tool (And Why You Probably Shouldn't Trust It!)

The Final Countdown to March Madness: Class of 2030 Decision Dates All in One Place

UC Berkeley Startup Bootcamp | First time for Students in Grades 9-12 | International Students Welcome | 8-Weeks, Fully Virtual | Mentors from YC, Google, OpenAI, McKinsey | $10K in Prizes | Deadline: March 10

Essay Contest Alert for International High School Students Interested in Economics | Get Published by America's #1-Ranked Economics Department | Deadline: March 14, 2026

The World's Most Prestigious Summer School Program That Sends 33% of Its Alumni to Harvard - Now in India

The Red Pen, one of India’s top independent education consultancies, presents the Summer Programmes Fair 2025 | Explore 50+ enrichment programmes for your child (6-12th grade)

The Thirsty Scholar

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