Dr Jaishree Subramaniam's father didn't want her to do Botany, and later her colleagues and mentor harassed her as an Indian woman and refused to publish her PhD thesis - yet she persevered.

PhD demands immense dedication, perseverance, and support. For women, the challenges amplify, especially when they are balancing familial responsibilities alongside rigorous research.

Cracking college applications is a lot about telling your story in a way that showcases who you are, and catches their attention.

Here are 2 brilliant practices I observed while studying abroad that I wish more Indian institutions and colleges, would adopt and implement.

My mother was married off at 16, became a mother at 19, yet she fought all odds with the support of her mother, and became a successful doctor.