Quad Cast

Tamara Kissoon shares her story as a first generation student who emigrated from Guyana as a child. Through life-changing mentor relationships with high school teachers who encouraged her to travel, Tamara overcame the inequities of being a low-income student from a different school, and she began her pursuit of higher education, first as a Northwestern undergraduate, then as a Master’s student at London School of Economics, and now back at Northwestern, where she is earning her law degree.About the Show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe Effress00:00 Intro to Tamara, Northwestern Law02:18 From Guyana to New Jersey06:12 Navigating Inequity in High School10:49 Finding mentors in high school12:12 How travel opened doors15:26 Applying to Northwestern & leaving for Chicago18:48 What was suprising about college20:24 Deciding to study abroad21:20 Finances: Choosing London School of Economics over Columbia23:57 Kids in Need of Defense26:05 Intersection of law and social policy28:58 Becoming editor of Journal of Human Rights31:18 Stay true to yourself: parting words#northwestern #londonschoolofeconomics #collegeapplications #firstgeneration #firstgen #lowincome #mentors #collegelife #highereducation #lawschool #lawschoolapps #DEI

Tamara Kissoon shares her story as a first generation student who emigrated from Guyana as a child. Through life-changing mentor relationships with high school teachers who encouraged her to travel, Tamara overcame the inequities of being a low-income student from a different school, and she began her pursuit of higher education, first as a Northwestern undergraduate, then as a Master’s student at London School of Economics, and now back at Northwestern, where she is earning her law degree.About the Show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe EffressTimestamps:00:00 Intro to Tamara, Northwestern Law02:18 From Guyana to New Jersey06:12 Navigating Inequity in High School10:49 Finding mentors in high school12:12 How travel opened doors15:26 Applying to Northwestern & leaving for Chicago18:48 What was suprising about college20:24 Deciding to study abroad21:20 Finances: Choosing London School of Economics over Columbia23:57 Kids in Need of Defense26:05 Intersection of law and social policy28:58 Becoming editor of Journal of Human Rights31:18 Stay true to yourself: parting words

In this episode, Hugh Cheng talks about writing problems for Stanford Math Tournament, Taiwanese Culture Society, favorite classes, playing alto sax in a musical for the first time, and riding his bike with no hands.About the Show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe EffressTimestamps:00:00 Intro to Hugh, Stanford '2900:46 Writing for Stanford Math Tournament03:14 Alto Sax at Stanford05:14 Taiwanese Cultural Society06:24 Stanford vs MIT09:16 Math is beautiful15:20 Finding community16:56 Upcoming events & closing thoughts#stanford #altosax #math #taiwanese #roommate #campuslife #paloalto #stanfordmathtournament

Samantha Gao, USC ‘29, shares her journey from China to USC, her involvement in Chinese Women’s Basketball, content creation while working as a housecleaner, advice on joining clubs, and the anxieties facing international students today.About the Show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe EffressTimestamps:00:00 Intro to Samantha, USC '2901:35 Chinese Womens Basketball at USC03:29 Anxieties of Chinese Students05:10 Policies & attitudes towards international student06:32  Housecleaning with Tidy Trojans09:35 U.S. campus life & Chinese cultural dynamics11:01 From China to USC13:42 Playing the guzheng to the bass guitar15:32 Japanese class & multicultural friendships16:43 Applying to USC & essays on unique interests20:22 Wisdom on joining clubs

In this episode, Jackson, Yale '29, shares his love of flying, designing a record-breaking aircraft with other engineering students at Yale, and campus life. Timestamps:00:00 Intro to Jackson, Yale '2901:30 Learning to Fly a Piper Archer05:52 Saxophone Story07:57 Yale Social Life09:38 Egyptology Reading Room11:05 Surprises at Yale & New Haven Jazz13:53 Project Jet & Yale Undergraduate Aerospace Association21:04 Applying to Yale & Personal Narrative23:39 Current Pressures on Universities & Student Perspectives25:46 Summer plans26:38 Engineering at a Humanities-Centered SchoolAbout the show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe Effress#Yale #learningtofly #aero #engineering #engineeringstudent #Jazz #campuslife #newhaven #egyptologyreadingroom

In this episode, Ella Graber, Vanderbilt '29, shares her experiences playing trumpet at Vanderbilt, her path to science research and pre-med studies, and making the most of community service and social life, on and off campus.About the Show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe EffressTimestamps:00:00 Intro to Ella, Vanderbilt '2901:52 Trumpet & Overcoming Stage Fright03:46 Auditioning for Jazz at Vanderbilt06:29 Favorite Practice Space at Vanderbilt07:05 USC Summer Research Experience09:23 What's Cognitive Studies?10:40 Undergrad Research at Vanderbilt13:05 Aspirations in Medicine and Research16:24 Applying to Vanderbilt18:35 Speaking Spanish in Health Work20:14 Social Life at Vanderbilt#Vanderbilt #STEM #collegeapps #campuslife #greeklife #jazz #bigband #audition #vandy #studentlife #collegelife

Kenna, a first-generation student at Northwestern Law, shares how she overcame educational barriers and translated her athletic scholarship into a college degree and later, admission to one of the top law schools in the U.S. as the daughter of Mexican immigrants.About the Show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe EffressTimestamps:00:00 Intro to Kenna Flores, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law01:41 Family immigration story03:05 Impact of discrimination lawsuit07:00 Overcoming educational barriers in underresourced schools08:48 Discipline and family values10:09 Athletic scholarship and discovering Northwestern12:44 Studying for the LSAT while juggling jobs and sports17:03 First-Gen at Northwestern and Overcoming the Education Gap19:52 Editor-in-Chief 21:13 Influential Professors and Mentors23:07 Collaboration and Social Life25:03 Adding Ladders to Lift Others28:03 Full Circle at MALDEF

In this episode, Beckett shares why he chose St. Andrews in Scotland and talks about tradition, local cuisine, friendships, his family’s literary legacy, and his dual passions for German language and history. About the Show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe EffressTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Beckett Osher, St. Andrews University02:00 Scotland Weather and Traditions03:51 Campus Life and Town05:11 German and History Studies07:10 History: Early Influences09:34 Historical Perspectives at St. Andrews11:10 Edinburgh Castle11:56 Europe Travel12:15 Being American at St. Andrews13:15 Friendships and Social Circles14:06 Family Legacy and Literary Influence15:05 The Intersection of History and Writing15:48 Advice for Prospective Students17:47 UCAS and Applying to St. Andrews18:45 Local Exploration19:45 Study Habits and Library Life20:18 Connecting With Family in the U.S.21:01 Dining in Scotland

In this episode, Naomi shares how she chose between Columbia and Cal Tech. She talks about her passion for building rockets, social life on campus, favorite museums and ice skating in Manhattan, plus what it's like to be an international student at Columbia today. Timestamps:00:00 Intro to Naomi01:49 Brazil to Miami to NYC03:02 Columbia vs. Cal Tech?04:08 High School STEM & Service07:34 MIT Siblings & Comparison to Columbia U08:27 Favorite NYC Spots09:17 Making Friends on Campus10:25 Rockets Team12:33 Aerospace as an International Student14:45 From Robotics to Rocketry16:34 Team Culture20:08 Clubs and Campus Life22:11 Students Mentoring Students24:14 International Community27:47 Scuba DivingAbout the Show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe Effress

Alexa Chang shares her insights on BU's international culture, boys and mental health, singing as a Tenor I with the BosTones, Boston life, and her experiences as a Psychology and Brain Sciences major working towards her PhD.

In this episode, Glennis Woosley shares her story of how her passion for journalism unfolded from personal challenges and a desire to connect with people. We talk about her experiences covering impactful events in her school and community and connecting those events to teens, winning multiple awards, earning the School of the New York Times full-tuition scholarship, and a memorable summer at Northwestern's Cherubs program, as she gets ready for college life at Northwestern University.