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Donald Trump’s rhetoric leaves Indian students unsure about pursuing higher education in US

DONALD TRUMP’S RHETORIC LEAVES INDIAN STUDENTS UNSURE ABOUT PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION IN US

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Delhi student Sarika Bhatter (name changed), who was preparing for GMAT, has decided to shelve plans to study MBA in the US this year. “She may take agap year or do her postgraduation elsewhere, but as of now, she has ruled out US as an option,” said her mother, who supports her decision.

Similarly, A Agarwal, currently working with a top multinational in Bengaluru, is contemplating eliminating the US as a prospective MBA destination, fearing that he will not get a H-1B visa to work there after Donald Trump takes over as US president. “If I can’t get a good job in the US post graduation, why should I spend two years and $150,000-plus on studying there?” he asked.

Call it a knee-jerk reaction, but Trump’s protectionist rhetoric in the run-up to the election has left many aspiring Indian students confused and unsure of the implications of higher education in the US this year. Anti-Trump protests across US campuses are also contributing to the worry of students.

Admission consultants and parents say students are worried — and even having second thoughts. Some fear for their safety while others are assessing whether spending so much on a US education — it can go up to Rs 1.5 crore — will be a high-risk proposition.

Indians comprise 15.9% of the total international students in the US, forming the second-largest ethnic chunk. In 2015-16, Indian students in the US soared by 25% to a record 1.65 lakh, contributing over $5 billion to the US economy, according to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report.

These numbers may take a hit this year if the president-elect’s policies turn out to be negative for foreign students. Trump’s talk of implementing “extreme vetting” of Muslims and other immigrants will deter some from applying to US schools.

ET reported last month that the UK, once a hotbed of higher education for international students, has fallen sharply as a preferred destination for Indians amid fears of tighter immigration laws and the Brexit impact.

STUDENTS BEING EXTRA CAUTIOUS

Now students are being extra cautious in the case of the US, too, because they feel they may not be allowed to stay back and work after their education. The fall semester in the US will start by September 2017 and students must decide if they want to sign up for a university and make an initial payment by April.

“A contingent of people working at top companies leave to pursue graduate degrees abroad. They are now anxious about disrupting the status quo, given the global economic turbulence.

The perception of the UK has worsened due to Brexit and the US due to the election results,” said Vibha Kagzi, a consultant who heads ReachIvy.com.

She said if the political situation settles down, then students will continue applying to the US. “We are suggesting to students that they expand their options and add back-up geographies in addition to the US, in case things do not pan out favourably over the next few months,” Kagzi said.

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Vibha Kagzi, Founder and CEO, ReachIvy, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Bachelor of Science from Carnegie Mellon University. She has also pursued courses at the University of California, Berkeley, the London School of Economics and the Indian School of Business.

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