misc 📷

I document my journey through PhD life, grad school applications, research, and academia on YouTube. All ad revenue from my channel is donated to children in need in Sri Lanka. Newer videos are at the top — scroll down to see older ones.

Grad School Application MONTH-BY-MONTH Timeline!

May 2026

A month-by-month breakdown of exactly what you should be doing during each stage of the graduate school application process.

Reading my Statement of Purpose (Admitted to Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Yale) +Tips!

October 2025

Sunny reads his statement of purpose out loud and shares six actionable tips — from avoiding resume regurgitation to structuring your essay for maximum impact.

Vlogging My Actual PhD Candidacy Presentation (Cornell) 😳📚

October 2025

A behind-the-scenes look at my PhD candidacy (A Exam) presentation at Cornell — including the actual slides, the exam environment, and what the experience is really like.

Graduate Admissions Crisis 2025: Offers RESCINDED Nationwide

March 2025

An overview of the wave of rescinded PhD admissions offers in 2025, with context on NIH funding cuts, institutional hiring freezes, and the lawsuits that followed.

Graduate Admissions FREEZE in the US 2025 — What You Need to Know

March 2025

A breakdown of the 2025 graduate admissions freeze in the US, covering endowment tax proposals, Department of Energy and NSF funding pauses, and what it means for prospective students.

How this 22-Year-Old Genius got into EVERY IVY LEAGUE PhD Program

February 2025

An interview with Sunny, who received PhD offers from every Ivy League program he applied to. We cover his high school journey, Math Olympiad, AI/ML research at Berkeley, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and final decision.

How I Take Math Notes as a Cornell PhD Student

January 2025

A look at my note-taking system for advanced mathematics coursework as a PhD student at Cornell.

2025 GRE Percentiles Explained!

November 2024

A clear breakdown of the 2025 GRE percentile ranges, how they work, what score you actually need for competitive programs, and why your percentile matters more than the raw number.

Cornell vs Yale Homecoming Vlog 2024!

September 2024

A fall outing with the Cornell Statistics PhD students — Littletree Orchards, the Yale football game, AppleFest, and Sweet Melissa's Ice Cream.

GRE AWA Tips to Score a 5+ | Best Tools for Analytical Writing

August 2024

Practical strategies for the GRE Analytical Writing section, including how to use AI tools for vocabulary building, essay structuring, and feedback on practice responses.

We Presented at the Largest Stats Conference in the World! | Cornell PhD

August 2024

A vlog from the Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) in Portland, OR — the largest annual gathering of statisticians in the world.

Guess Which PhD Student Will Bowl a Strike 💥🎳

May 2024

A one-minute short — can Cornell Statistics PhD students bowl a strike?

Best Study Materials for the New GRE (2024 Update)

March 2024

An updated guide to the best GRE prep materials for the shorter 2024 format, including free and paid options for quant, verbal, and practice tests.

You Can Go on Trips When You're in Grad School | Cornell PhD

March 2024

Cornell Statistics PhD students take a weekend trip to Vermont — a reminder that grad school leaves room for adventure.

FULL Day in the Life of a Cornell PhD Student

November 2023

A full day vlog — from the gym to classes, TA meetings, and making dinner. A candid look at what a typical day looks like as a statistics PhD student.

Advisor Proposal! 🌹 | Cornell Statistics

October 2023

Livia's video log of asking Dr. Basu and Dr. Wells to be her co-advisors at Cornell Statistics.

Advisor Proposal — Asking my Professors to be my Co-Advisors! | Cornell Statistics PhD

October 2023

I made a prom-posal style poster and asked Dr. Sam Wang and Dr. Martin Wells to be my co-advisors. They said yes.

The Journey of Dr. James Booth — Cornell Department of Statistics & Data Science

September 2023

A sit-down interview with Dr. James Booth, in which he shares memorable moments from his academic journey and offers insight into what it takes to succeed in academia.

They Changed the GRE!!! | What You Need to Know

July 2023

A breakdown of ETS's 2023 changes to the GRE — shorter format, new scoring, and what it means for your prep strategy.

Unlocking Success: Insights from an Incoming Stanford PhD Student

July 2023

A long-form interview with an incoming Stanford Civil & Environmental Engineering PhD student — covering his unconventional path, what stood out in his application, imposter syndrome, and daily habits for success.

Cornell Prospective Student Day Vlog!

May 2023

A vlog from Cornell Statistics PhD visit day for the incoming Fall 2023 cohort — a look at what to expect when you come to campus as a prospective student.

Watch Cornell PhDs Fail at Bowling

May 2023

The Cornell Statistics department bowling event — statistically inclined, kinematically challenged.

First Semester of Grad School: What to Expect

January 2023

An honest look at what the first semester of a statistics PhD program is actually like — the coursework, the adjustment, and what surprises you.

Cornell Students Visit New York City!!!

December 2022

A two-day NYC trip with fellow Cornell Statistics PhD students — Brooklyn, Times Square, Bryant Park, MoMA, Little Italy, and a rooftop view of the city.

Cornell Vlog | Littletree Orchards + Yale Football Game!

October 2022

A Saturday outing with the Cornell Statistics PhD students — apple picking at Littletree Orchards and cheering at the Yale football game.

Cornell Road Trip Vlog | Moving to Ithaca, NY

August 2022

The drive from Houston, TX to Ithaca, NY to start the PhD — a road trip vlog of the move that started it all.

GRE Verbal Questions Walkthrough | How I Took the Test

August 2022

A live walkthrough of the official ETS GRE Verbal preview tool — see exactly how I approach verbal reasoning questions in real time.

How to Format Your Resume/CV for Grad School

June 2022

Tips on formatting an academic CV for graduate school applications, using my own CV as a reference throughout.

7 Reasons to Major in Mathematics & 3 Reasons Not To

May 2022

An honest look at the pros and cons of being a math major — some of which might surprise you.

How to Choose the Perfect Grad School for You

May 2022

A conversation with future UPenn MD-PhD student Ryan Rahman on how to evaluate and choose the best graduate program for your goals and personality.

Reading My Statement of Purpose + Tips | Cornell Grad School

April 2022

I read my own statement of purpose out loud and share the tips that helped me write it — the essay that got me into Cornell's Statistics PhD program.

Cornell Grad School Visit | Vlog + Campus Tour

March 2022

Come along on my visit to Ithaca, NY — a vlog of my Cornell grad school visit day and campus tour before I decided to accept my offer.

How I Studied for the GRE | The Perfect Routine (Score 332)

March 2022

The prep schedule I followed to score 332 on the GRE — an ideal routine you can adapt to your own timeline and goals.

Inside the Mind of a Rising Star Mathematics Student

February 2022

An interview with William Frendreiss, a mathematics major at Texas A&M, on how to study advanced mathematics and take your first steps into undergraduate research.

Being a Math Major: Expectations vs. Reality (Skit)

February 2022

A short comedy skit on what people think being a math major is like versus what it's actually like.

A Day in the Life of a Mathematics/Statistics Student

January 2022

A day-in-the-life vlog from my undergraduate years studying math and statistics — one of the earliest glimpses into the academic journey documented on this channel.

How to Organize Your Grad School Applications!

January 2022

The exact organization system I used to apply to 21 different graduate programs — including a master sheet template you can copy and use yourself.

How I Studied for the GRE | Exactly Which Books to Use (Score 332)

January 2022

The exact books and materials I used to score 332 on the GRE — covering quant, verbal, writing, vocabulary, and practice exams. The most-viewed video on this channel.

How to Get Into Research as an Undergraduate!

December 2021

Five tips for breaking into undergraduate research — the first video on this channel, and where the journey began.