As an UIIII graduate who is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York at Albany, supported by a Fulbright Doctoral Program Scholarship, I often realize something surprising here. When I sit in seminars in the United States, I feel that none of this feels foreign. That sense of preparedness can be traced directly back to UIII.

When I arrived in the United States, the academic environment felt familiar rather. The multicultural classrooms, intensive discussions, and high expectations were not a shock. Instead, they felt like a continuation of the academic life I had already lived at UIII.

One of the most defining aspects of my preparation was UIII’s curriculum, particularly at the Faculty of Social Sciences, which closely mirrors the American academic model. Weekly readings from cutting-edge journals and books, rigorous class discussions, presentations, response papers, and demanding final papers were the norm. This structure trained me to think theoretically, argue systematically, and apply rigorous methodology.

The result became immediately clear. In my first semester at SUNY Albany, my response and final exam papers received exceptionally strong feedback (“excellent, solid”) from the professors–something many new students find impossible. It was all thanks to what I learned at UIII. For others, the heavy reading volume, academic writing expectations, or discussion intensity felt overwhelming. For me, it is familiar and repetitive, like leveling up from training I had already mastered at UIII.

Beyond the curriculum, UIII opened doors to global academic networks I had previously known only through journal articles and book covers. The university regularly invites prominent international scholars to teach, give lectures, and participate in academic forums. Through brown bag discussions, students had the rare opportunity to engage directly with well-known scholars, questioning and critiquing their work in real time.

The experience went even further through specialized programs, such as the Summer Training in Qualitative and Quantitative Methods, led by leading scholars including Prof. Dan Slater from the University of Michigan and Prof. Thomas Pepinsky from Cornell University. Learning directly from such figures reshaped my standards for academic argumentation and research rigor.

UIII also built a genuinely supportive academic ecosystem. The university did not stop at classroom instruction; it actively pushed students into broader academic arenas. I personally received full funding to attend international conferences in Indonesia and in the United Kingdom. These opportunities became invaluable intellectual training grounds, preparing me to present ideas clearly and confidently before international audiences—skills that are now essential in my PhD journey.

When I finally stepped into Rockefeller College, I realized that UIII had created a “soft landing.” I was no longer intimidated by heavy reading loads, long research papers, or speaking in class with international peers. I felt that I belonged. UIII had quietly equipped me with the confidence and competence to navigate global academic spaces.

For many students, studying in the United States is a massive leap filled with cultural and academic shocks. For me, UIII transformed that leap into a series of prepared steps. From academic culture and language to global networks and scholarly discipline, everything smoothed my transition.

If you are considering graduate studies—whether an MA or PhD—and wondering if UIII is the right choice, my message is simple: do not hesitate. UIII may be young, but its ambition, international environment, and dedicated faculty create a rare space for intellectual transformation. It is not just a university; it is a scholar incubator.

From Depok to New York, UIII was not just where I studied. It was where my dreams were reshaped, doors were opened, and my love for scholarship was firmly rooted.

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*) Alumnus of Faculty of Social Sciences, UIII, who is now pursuing a PhD in Political Science at the Department of Political Science, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York at Albany, supported by a Fulbright Doctoral Program Scholarship

Read also: It’s Here at UIII, Where My Intellectual Journey Truly Began