Every guide on USA Student Guide is written to solve a real problem international students face when navigating life at US universities. This page explains how we research, write, fact-check, and update our content so you know exactly what's behind every recommendation.
Who Writes Our Content
All content on this site is written by Ankit Karki, who holds an MS in Financial Engineering from Columbia University (Class of 2020) and arrived in the US as an F-1 international student. Every article draws from:
- Lived experience navigating the US university system as an international student
- Direct observation of the patterns, mistakes, and strategies that have worked for hundreds of international students across multiple US campuses
- Conversations with international students, university housing staff, academic advisors, and scholarship officers
No article on this site is written by AI or outsourced to freelance writers who have never set foot on a US campus. The voice and perspective are consistent because the experience behind them is real.
How We Research
Every guide goes through a structured research process before publication:
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Personal experience audit. We start with what the author has directly lived, observed, and learned from peers. If a piece of advice comes from someone else's experience, we say so explicitly.
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Source verification. When an article references statistics, regulations, or institutional practices, we cite the original source. This includes:
- US government and regulatory sources (Department of Education, Department of State, SEVP guidance, Clery Act data)
- University housing offices, registrar pages, and international student services documentation
- Professional associations and industry standards bodies (AACRAO, ACUHO-I, IIE Open Doors, NAIC)
- Directly verifiable platform policies (scholarship portals, housing platforms, telecom carriers)
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Practical testing. Whenever possible, we verify the steps we recommend — logging into platforms, testing signup flows, checking current pricing — before publishing. If something changes after publication, we update the guide.
How We Keep Content Current
This matters especially for guides that involve dollar amounts, platform availability, scholarship deadlines, and university policies. Here's our update process:
- Quarterly review: Every article is reviewed at least once per quarter for accuracy of pricing, deadlines, and platform features.
- Reader-reported updates: If you spot outdated information, contact us and we'll verify and update the article, typically within 48 hours.
- Date transparency: Every article shows its original publication date and its most recent update date at the top of the page. If you see only a publish date, the content has not required an update — but it's still reviewed on schedule.
Our Integrity Policy
We take a hard line on editorial independence:
- We do not accept payment for coverage. No company, platform, or product can pay to appear in our guides. Every recommendation is based on utility to international students, not affiliate revenue or sponsorship.
- We disclose affiliate relationships. If a guide contains links to products or services that may earn a commission, that disclosure will appear prominently at the top of the article. As of June 2026, no article on this site contains paid affiliate links.
- We correct errors publicly. If a factual error is identified and corrected, we note the correction date in the article's update timestamp.
What We Don't Cover
To maintain focus and quality, we deliberately do not publish:
- Visa or immigration legal advice (consult your university's international student office or a qualified immigration attorney)
- Tax advice (consult a tax professional familiar with non-resident tax obligations)
- Medical or mental health advice (use your university's student health center)
- Content written by anyone without direct, firsthand experience as an international student in the US
How to Report an Issue
If you find outdated information, a broken link, or a factual error in any of our guides, please contact us. We take accuracy seriously and correct verified errors as quickly as possible.