What does the Trump Presidency mean for international students studying in the US?

Surprise surprise! Who knew The Don resonated so well with the American people. We’ll find out in a few years if this was a good decision or not. In the meantime…

The next natural thought is “How will this affect me and my lifestyle?”

Will Donald Trump build a mental ‘Wall’ with the rest of the world and crush my aspirations to be the next Steve Jobs?

Let’s take an in-depth look at this:

• Local supply doesn’t meet demand –
  Honestly, no matter how much he would want to change this rule, the businessman in him knows better than anyone else the value that international skilled workers bring to USA. He knows that 75% of them stay back and add significantly to the GDP of America. I mean where would the economy be without us international students?
  
  He knows that local grown graduates are not in enough numbers to fill the rate of job growth. Oh and since he promises to bring MORE JOBS, he definitely needs more people to fill those jobs. This is not even commenting on the quality of the local graduates. Let’s not go there. 
  
• If Job Growth increases –
  Maybe I should say, when job growth increases, of course, the skilled workers have to come from somewhere. Some will be filled by locals, most will come from this highly qualified international pool of students. Don’t worry, this won’t change. In fact I can see this dependency only increasing. There really was no change when a Republican like George Bush came into power.
  
• How will the student loan industry and colleges make money –
  In the interest of business, these two industries will continue to rake in profit of international students in need of a better opportunities. The Don won’t let this change. International students need higher loans than local students. These industries are thriving off international students and IT DEFINITELY won’t change anytime soon. Bad business tactics!

So how will this affect your life?

• Number of Student Visas issued –
  The number of visas issued won’t change. The process won’t change. The emotions may change amongst the American people with white supremacy getting a win over others. To counter this, show that you belong in America (not by wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap) but by being polished and confident that you have a place in society here; show that you are going to be a contributing member of society; that you have a vision for your life here in the US. Prepare an elevator pitch before the visa interview and pitch it. This should really just come out of your statement of purpose.
  
• Number of H1B Visas issued –
  It’s cute that you think his top agenda item would be to reduce the number of work visas, but that won’t happen anytime soon. There are so many more important and pressing national issues that The Don would have to take care of first. Again, since America is lacking in well-qualified, highly skilled white-collar workers, the number and the process of issuing a H1B shouldn’t change. It would be in America’s best interest.
  
• Volatility in job market –
  Ah! This is a tough one. The first year or two will be volatile because of all the uncertainty surrounding The Don, his policies and his governing style. Twitter stocks will definitely take a jump with his 3AM major policy announcements on Twitter. To compensate for volatility, companies may not hire as quickly as they would have under Hillary. Spending will slow down initially, but on the flip side, Republicans usually give huge tax breaks to corporations and this will counteract the volatility in the job market.
  

It’s only fear surrounding The Don, don’t give in to it. Don’t change your plans, because nothing will have changed here. There is a whole part of the economy being sustained by international students and foreign skilled workers.

The takeaway – For once in our lives, we are actually wanted and valued. WOOHOO!!!

Crime rate in USA

You may be excited going to USA for higher studies, but you should be aware of your surroundings where you are going to spend a considerable amount of time of your life. It is better to be cautious if you are going to pursue masters/Phd in the USA as the crime rates are too high.

Rank	State	Rate/year
1	South Carolina	766
2	Tennessee	760
3	Nevada	742
4	Florida	712
5	Louisiana	698
6	Alaska	688
7	Delaware	682
8	Maryland	679
9	New Mexico	643
10	Michigan	562
11	Arkansas	552
12	Missouri	546
13	Illinois	542
14	California	533
15	Texas	516
16	Arizona	501
17	Oklahoma	497
18	North Carolina	476
19	Georgia	471
20	Massachusetts	447
21	Pennsylvania	439
22	New York	435
23	Alabama	425
24	Kansas	425
25	Colorado	392
26	New Jersey	352
27	Ohio	350
28	Washington	346
29	Indiana	315
30	Minnesota	312
31	Mississippi	299
32	Wisconsin	284
33	Iowa	284
34	Virginia	282
35	Nebraska	282
36	Hawaii	281
37	Connecticut	281
38	Oregon	280
39	West Virginia	280
40	Kentucky	263
41	Montana	254
42	Idaho	247
43	Wyoming	240
44	Rhode Island	228
45	Utah	224
46	South Dakota	171
47	New Hampshire	139
48	Vermont	137
49	North Dakota	128
50	Maine	116

University Decisions 2016

Wondering if you can make it to your dream university?
Are you still in dilemma whether to apply to the university based on your profile?

Then this is the perfect place to be right now, guess why?
We are going to give you the access to our previous year's data of all the decisions of the universities of USA.

Click the link to view the admission decisions of 2016

Admit Reject 2016

On-Campus vs Off-Campus Jobs in US Universities

Once we come to US as student, we all try to  find ways to support ourselves. We try not to ask parents for money either it is for fees or for expenses. Typically students do two kinds of Jobs. One is legal and other is illegal on F1 visa. Let me explain you the differences and what are those.

What is an On Campus Job ?  

As the name says, you work “On Campus ” and it is part time. There is a cap of 20 hrs per week if you are a full time international student and working beyond 20 hrs is against the rule. You can only work  for more than 20 hrs in Summer, when you are not taking any classes. Technically, if you are not enrolled in classes, you can work full time up to 40 hrs in summer term.

So, what kind of On campus jobs do you get to do ?

On campus jobs are typically jobs meant to support the University operations. Typically, jobs like working in library shelving books, working in Computer Labs taking care of printers, terminals, etc. Working in cafeterias, receptionist in an university’s offices, Admin kind of stuff in several offices like international students office or academic affairs office.  In fact, a decent size university would have quit a few of these on-campus jobs and you should be able to get one, if you search well. Working On-Campus is legal and allowed by immigration law.  Also, for some of these jobs you may get tuition waivers and it only depends on school and type of job.  Typically tuition fee waivers are common for  Teaching assistantship (TA), Graduate  Assistantships (GA) and Research assistantships. 

How much can you make in On-Campus  Job ? 

Well, it depends a lot on the state minimum wage that you are working in and the University classification for a job.  You can make anywhere from 7 to 12 dollars or more.  It amount per hour varies by state.  Imagine you get 7 USD per month, then on an average ( if you work 20 hrs ) per month 20 x 4 x 7 = $560.  

What are Off-Campus Jobs  ?

Unlike above, you do not work on campus. You work outside of campus. Anything that is not affiliated with University is called Off campus Job. Typically, it is ILLEGAL to work off campus if you are on F1 Visa, unless you get an exception and waiver from school for severe economic hardship.   It is not very uncommon for students to engage in some sort of off campus job because they do not have a choice to support themselves. You see students take this path, when they are having hard time finding jobs on campus and in need for money.  From Immigration perspective, if not approved by school, it is totally illegal and you can get into big trouble and even get deported.

What are the kinds of Off-campus  jobs ?

Typically, working in a Gas station as cashier and doing other work ( this is what people talk about students back in India, saying he was cleaning floor and stuff filling petrol ) , working in a Motel as front desk person to handle customers ( just like lodge in India working at front desk ), working in different stores in Malls, Working at restaurants ( Food is free, may people do this ) or anything like Mc Donald or Subways which are owned by Desis, Working in Desi stores, etc…

How much do you make Off Campus :

It all varies by negotiation and state minimum wage. As it is illegal to work without proper authorization from school, students are paid anywhere from 5 to 10 dollars. It depends on the type of job, it is up to your boss to decide. But, most of the times the owners are good and they pay around market rate. Some good students get carried away by the money they see in off campus and ruin their education. So, it has to be watched out carefully and not advised to work off campus.

Did you work on-campus or off-campus ? What has been your experience ?

Career Fairs in USA

Register at the students’ registration desk, put on your name-tag and collect the career fair guide.  Go to your target companies’ tables first. You might get overwhelmed by the number of companies participating and might not get enough time to talk to your entire target list.  Hence, start with them first.

How to talk to  employers/company on your target list at Career Fair

When you see a company that you want to talk to, wait in line if the employers are busy talking to other candidates. You do not want to be rude and ruin their conversation. On your turn, greet the employer with a smile and a firm handshake. Introduce yourself. You should have a short introduction of yourself – your summary – to catch the recruiter’s interest. Remember, there are many students like you and you surely want to stand out. You may want to hand over a copy of your resume to the recruiter. The recruiter will then explain you about the company and jobs available. Show genuine interest and try to strike a conversation. However, never ask, “What does your company do?” This is extremely rude and might offend the recruiter. Talk to them about your interests in the field and your background as it relates to the jobs they have. The recruiter might ask you some questions based on your resume. Be prepared!

Sometimes, employers might not accept a paper copy of your resume. They, instead, suggest you to register online on their company’s job portal. If you are handed out any brochures, take them for use later. However, although tempting, do not greedily pick up freebies (pens, notepads, knickknacks) – it just spoils the great impression that you have created.  Ask the employer for his/her business card for contacting later. If the person wishes not to provide you one, do not be disheartened – it may be the company policy not to hand out business cards at recruiting events. Thank the employer and leave after a firm handshake. Visit as many companies as possible.

What NOT to do at career fairs?

• Do NOT show up in jeans and sneakers or even business casuals, for that matter, at the career fair.
• Do NOT greedily grab freebies – they are not worth much, anyways.
• Do NOT ask the employer what the company does! You should be aware about it. You, of course, should ask other details of the company.
• Do NOT spam your resumes at all company tables – it won’t get you a job, but will surely spoil your impression if some other recruiter spots you doing this.
• Do NOT jump lines or interrupt others. Speak only when it is your turn.

What should you do after the career fair? Follow Up !

Write a thank-you emails to all the recruiters you spoke to. Send an email either the same evening as the fair or the next day – you cannot afford to be late. However, write a separate email to each company. Do not send out a common generic email – it never works. Try and incorporate the conversation you had with the employer. It is advisable to attach a copy of your resume to the email. The employer might have lost/thrown the paper copy you had handed.   If you were instructed to register at the company’s job portal, do accordingly. Follow all instructions you were provided.

Do career fairs work?

Yes! Many students get interview offers after the career fair! Many others struggle just to get an interview call. Applying randomly to jobs works sometimes, but networking has a higher chance. And this is the easiest way to network. Sometimes, the recruiters at the career fair might be your interviewers. It surely helps to know the person before your interview.  Have a positive mind-set and remember to smile and be friendly. The last thing you want to do is to annoy a recruiter because of your grumpy nature!

Jobs in India after MS in USA

When you are planning to pursue higher education like MS or MBA in USA, you would need to first think of Why you would like to do MS in USA then decide your goals for doing MS in USA . Along the same lines, if you plan to return back to your home country, which is India in this article context, you need to also consider your job prospects in your home country.  I have worked in both the countries for a good amount of time and will share my thoughts and facts based on my conversations with my friends in recruiting and general job trends in India.

How do people perceive your  MS or MBA degree from USA ? Is it considered Fancy like degree from IIT or IIM ?

I did my MS and MBA from reasonably decent state schools…when I returned to India after MS and MBA, I was under the impression that my degrees would be valued decently. I was NOT expecting that people value it on par with IITs or IIMs. But, I was wrong, they are not perceived as of decent value, unless you have a degree from Ivy league or Stanford kind of top 10 schools.  Your MS or MBA is just equal to yet another M.Tech or M.Sc from an average school or any university India.  So, if you are going to be under impression that MS in US is of great value and will get me job here without any hassle, wake up !

How are the Job Prospects in India after MS in US ? What are the Job opportunities in India after MS in USA ?

If you are a freshly minted MS or MBA graduate from a US university looking for a job in India without any prior experience, you are out of luck. Unfortunately, you will be considered as a Fresher with M.Tech or M.Sc Degree holder in India.   Your job opportunities as a fresh MS degree holder from USA are just like any other M.Tech or MCA degree holder who could not get job in on-Campus selections and struggling to get a job off campus.   Also, most of the top tier companies, select freshers  by on-campus recruitment and you will not have the option to get picked by top tier companies, because you did not go to school in India. Another bad part is that you do not have any network of friends, who are freshers in India, who can help you with walk-ins and other information on job search…you are on your own. You need to just rely on online job application and personal references.

In a nutshell, your job opportunities in India after MS in USA, without any experience as a fresher, are very limited and you are up against a large crowd. It is not the best idea to compete against such large pool of Masters degree holders in India.  Also, if you are under the impression that I worked on-campus, here is another thing to consider…most of the times, your on-campus employment is not really considered as real work experience by many companies in India as you were studying full time. When my cousin included his RA/GA experience in US as work experience in his resume, the company just took that 1.5 years out of the overall experience and told that you were studying full time and we cannot include this experience. It is ironical, but that’s the fact.  Some small companies may consider, but many do not take it, just be cautious… In any case, as a fresh MS degree holder from America, you are just like another fresher here… So, what do you need to do ?

How to get a Job in India after MS in USA ?  What is the best way to increase your odds?

In India, getting a job is all about work experience…to be more specific, it is relevant work experience in that field that you are applying to work !  Recruiters just look at number of years of work experience in a particular field.  For instance, if you are applying for an IT job as a Developer or Tester, the recruiter would look your experience as a developer more specifically developer of that technology like Java, C++, Android, etc…  So, what should you do to get Job in India after MS in USA ?

During MS or MBA, you would have CPT, consider working on full time CPT in Summer and part time during school as well, it will add up as experience ( of course, you may need to convince them during interview) . After MS in USA, you would get either one year OPT or for 29 months, if you are from STEM Degree , you need to utilize that time and work in US for that 1 year or 29 months to get relevant experience that you can put in your resume. It is best if you can work for 29 months because you will be out of danger zone in India.  Most of the fraud resumes in India are of students who have under 2 years of experience.  Also, you should get certifications done in your field… in IT industry there are many certifications offered by Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, etc. Pick the one relevant to your field and complete it, you can possibly use that in your job search.  Also, if you can do any courses in your area of experience, it will help as well. Many small companies are interested in hiring trained candidates with one or two year experience, you can easily crack the interview and get a job in such cases.