Expert Insights: Uncertain future of postgraduate studies in the US
Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aspingley/
I have lived in the US for eleven years. Of those, I spent five in academia in two different Universities. Besides, I have been closely associated with two campus student groups — one as a founder and another as a mentor. Passively, I have been connected with students from over a dozen Universities over student activities — academic, cultural, and career. I had maintained close contact with students while I was working for Intel (six years) guiding them in improving their resume and interview skills. I have been a teaching assistant for a few courses, which enabled me to have even formal interaction with students.
At this point, I have marketed myself enough! I have not “seen it all” but can say with high confidence that my insights could be vital for students and young professionals aiming for postgraduate education in the US. To those, first and foremost, I congratulate you on making a good choice.
For the impatient ones, I will summarize right-away. However, I urge you to read my insights to get a better understanding.
1. Defer for one whole year. Look for Fall 2021.
2. Campus life and student life are important experiences. Online classes will not provide the optimal setting.
3. Don’t be overly worried about the future of jobs and immigration. It’s an evolving process. There are no real signs of any major changes as of today.
4. Don’t drop your plans for postgraduate studies altogether.
If you are student of medicine, my insights will feel less relevant to you. I do not claim to have any personal experience of dealing with challenges faced by students of medicine.
Wuhan Coronavirus has now put your plans in a disarray. Those who had planned for the Fall 2020 semester have either deferred to the following semester or dropped their plans indefinitely. Those who were planning to write their GRE are struggling to find a perspective. And for those who had a well laid out plan for ‘MS =>Job => BMW => Marriage => Home => Citizenship’ are now faced with uncertainty over future immigration policies. On the positive side, this frustrating lull has provided you an opportunity to consider other options or ponder over choices made previously.
Related article: Expert Insights: How can students and young professionals abroad manage this pandemic?
I have no intention to tell you the right choice for it is purely personal. I rather want to shed some light on what one must consider while pursuing a postgraduate program in the US. Below are my insights and suggestions. I have taken into consideration several aspects of living in the US as a student.
Academic life:
The time spent on the University campus is perhaps the most enjoyable years of your life — everything is new, different, and exciting. Some Universities are offering purely online classes until clarity on the pandemic, to avoid disruptions.
What will you miss?
- Campus life stimulates and motivates students to learn better.
- Making money from a part-time on-campus job to pay for rent and groceries is an essential experience.
- Personal interactions with professors in bone and skin are vital.
- Hanging-out with senior students and their guidance helps find research assistantships and industrial internships.
- Getting the experience of working in a research lab is simply not worth missing.
My insights:
Opting for virtual campus life is a poor choice. One might be inclined to weigh this option in terms of living expenses (Universities will charge full price for tuition fees). In the long run, this expense is minuscule compared to your annual salary. I suggest dropping the plan for one entire year and check for options in 2021. Many Universities have the deferral option available. In this process look for other Universities that you were surely not told by your advisors in India (who themselves perhaps never set foot in the US).
Student life:
This is the time spent doing daily chores and fun activities like eating in restaurants, going to pubs, taking road trips, etc. Many students remain cooped up in their rooms watching YouTube and playing online games.
What are the important aspects?
- Living with roommates from unique backgrounds who perhaps won’t speak your mother tongue is also an essential experience.
- Student life in India is very different. We rarely get to enjoy bowling, ice-skating rink, theme parks, etc. Student activities in the US are worth experiencing.
- Universities typically have great gyms, tennis courts, squash courts, etc. All these facilities are part of the University experience.
- Contributed by my dear friend Avinash Gudagi: “With life getting a little virtual, you will miss out the the importance of time management. Running between classes, labs, cooking, shopping for groceries etc will only prepare and acclimated yourself for meeting bigger deadline at work.”
My insights:
Given some Universities are planning to offer purely online classes for the academic year 2020–21, students must keep in mind that student life is an equally important aspect. The effect of social distancing might remain for several months. Even if some Universities conduct classes (not online) and send out I20s, a relatively inactive student life due to social distancing can affect student morale.
Job opportunities:
Many students have a very narrow outlook towards a postgraduate degree. They see it as merely a period to be spent somehow to finally end up with a job. Students must remember that almost every postgraduate program does not have a backing of training and placement cell, like undergrad colleges in India. You must search and apply for jobs yourselves. Simply passing time is not productive.
My insights:
Due to the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic and changing policies, some uncertainty over job availability for foreign nationals has arisen. If you are a student in Computer Science, Electronics/Electrical engineering, don’t be overly worried. US school education system will take a great deal of time to catch-up. I am pretty confident that you will find a job, of course — it can’t be taken for granted.
Career and deferred plans:
Several students have already asked me if deferring by one year affects their careers in any way. I will categorically say NO. It neither affects your postgraduate program nor your career path. As long as you ensure this time is utilized in something productive, the pace of your career will be back to normal in no time. When I was in my final year of the undergrad, it was confusing to select a career stream. I took a break for one year. During that time I got several certifications and read many books. Other valuable insights made by Avinash¹ are available at the end of this blog.
Immigration:
This is always up for a toss. Immigration rules for H1 have seen major or minor changes several times. No matter how much President Trump would like to project a tough stance on immigration, most of it is just temporary. Many Indians have a very long estimated wait time for getting their green cards. They are wise to simply hang in there. F1 and H1B visas are closely tied together. All the hullabaloo one hears about H1B visas is typically relevant to the direct H1B aspirants (on-site employees of TCS, Infosys, Wipro, etc.).
My insights:
Students with an F1 visa and a postgraduate degree have had and will have a much better chance of successful conversion to an H1B visa. Of course, and it goes without saying, nothing is certain.
Post-Corona America:
This is pure guesswork since even Americans have not seen post-corona America yet! I think post-corona America could feel more racist in the sense of becoming less welcoming of foreigners. There is a possibility that hiring in big tech companies could be affected in the process of giving preference to American talent. None of this should worry students today for this could be a figment of anybody’s imagination.
Summary:
- Defer for one whole year. Look for Fall 2021.
- Campus life and student life are important experiences. Online classes will not provide the optimal setting.
- Don’t be overly worried about the future of jobs and immigration. It’s an evolving process. There are no real signs of any major changes as of today.
- Don’t drop your plans for postgraduate studies altogether.
Stay Healthy. Stay Safe. Be Patient. Life has something great in store for you!
Connect with me on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/aspingley/
Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
[1] Avinash Gudagi suggests following for time utilization if you defer:
- Take specific online courses like “Machine leaning from Andrew NG”, “Cloud solution architect — preparation guide” by Udemy, etc.
- Think of extracurricular goals such as fitness, diet, etc.
