My biggest regret is choosing to study in the USA. I fell into the trap of believing that, because of its reputation, earning my degree here would open doors and make the sacrifices worthwhile. Looking back, I wish I had studied in another country.

The USA is far too harsh on international students, and the atmosphere is becoming increasingly unbearable. Other countries seem to recognize this and are actively recruiting the same students who once saw America as their first choice. The USA used to be a leading destination for international education, but based on my experience, I would no longer recommend it.

It’s exhausting to spend thousands of dollars pursuing an education, only to be met with racism, hostility, and constant remarks that essentially tell you to “go back to your country.” What makes it even more frustrating is that so much of this hostility is directed toward students who are simply trying to build a better future for themselves, especially when immigrants from these same countries have contributed so much to building and shaping this nation. (Maybe some people need to pick up a history book before making such ignorant statements)

International students bring so much more to this country than people are willing to acknowledge. Not everyone comes here with the intention of abusing the system, and it’s unfair to treat an entire group as though they all have the same motives. Wanting access to a better education and more opportunities should not mean having to tolerate discrimination or the harmful rhetoric surrounding international students. Every student has their own circumstances, goals, and intentions, yet somehow they’re all lumped into the same category and judged based on the actions or assumptions made about a few. It’s unfair, exhausting, and frankly disappointing that people are so quick to generalize an entire group without taking the time to understand them.

Hi, I am applying to some universities/scholarshipa abroad for my bachelor's in science related major as an undergraduate, and I'm stuck on a really weird issue. My school has not really seen anyone applying internationally so they aren't familiar with steps and trying to avoid me.

In my LOR it's good if it has a school letter head and the principal agreed to it. To increase my chances i have shortlisted 12-15 universities who can provide me full ride some needs two LOR some need one so i decided to make 2 on my own (teachers asked me to write on their behalf and they will check it and sign it) .

Problem: I don't know how to address the university, each university prefers to be called out in LOR specifically and not pointed out like a general uni for ex "i recommend [my name] to [university name] university" and not just "university" without it's name as it happens in general lor. That little change is forcing me to make that little change in LOR and keeping the rest same, but that small change makes it into a new LOR and i will have to get a school letter head on that too leaving me with approx 20+ lor to get the school letter head.

Teachers are ready to sign it that's not the issue, but a school who doesn't know how lor works ( they told me in the start that lor isn't school based no one in the world get school letter on it but all the successful applicant's lor which i have seen have it, so I had to request a lot then my principle agreed, he is the only one with some compassion there for students of his own school)

Solution 1: if you can tell me some tools where I can make that change on my own on a master GENERAL LOR( with school letter already on it ) and print it out then i would really appreciate it if you share that tools name, I tried ms word but it would just make whole thing distorted and would let me make any change on the image( lor which I'm inserting) .. maybe I'm doing something wrong.

Solution 2: if you know some other way around, or something related general lor or private lor, do share it.

only give a solution if you have researched bout it and you yourself have applied somewhere or have gotten selected to some scholarships or a uni which is hard to get

I'm in urgent need of help, looking forward to anyone's guidance regarding this matter

Hi everyone! I’m an Indian student planning to pursue a Master’s in AI/Data Science in Ireland in September 2027.
I’m deciding between Trinity College Dublin, University of Galway, and UCC.
Which would you recommend based on course quality, job opportunities, university reputation, cost of living, and ROI?
Would love to hear from current students and alumni. Which would you choose and why?

Hi everyone! I’m currently a high school senior planning my future career in rehabilitation. I’ve been applying to universities in both Australia and Canada, but I’ve hit a huge timeline dilemma and could really use input from current international students! 

My Offers & Applications

• Australia (Accepted via Foundation):
  • University of Queensland (UQ): Sports and Exercise Science (Honours)
  • University of Sydney: Applied Science (Exercise and Sports Science)
• Canada (Awaiting Decisions):
  • Targeting UBC, University of Toronto, and University of Alberta for Kinesiology.

The Foundation program in Australia starts around February–April 2027. However, Canadian university admission results typically come out after that. Because I’m on a tight budget, I cannot afford to start and pay for the Foundation program in Australia and then withdraw mid-way to switch to Canada if I get accepted. I have to commit to one path upfront. 

• Expenses: When factoring in tuition, housing, and living costs, both countries end up costing roughly the same for me.
• Further Education: I definitely plan to pursue a Master's degree (e.g., Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy / Rehabilitation Sciences).
• Rankings: Global university rankings for these schools are fairly similar, so I don’t think relying solely on rankings is a smart way to make this decision.

What I Need Your Advice On: Given that both options cost roughly the same, have similar university rankings, and align with my plan to pursue a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, or Rehabilitation Sciences, I would really appreciate your insights on which factors to prioritize when choosing between Australia and Canada (such as post-grad work permits, pathways to Master's programs, clinical practice opportunities, and employment outlook), whether it is worth taking the risk to hold off on Australia’s offer to wait for Canada’s decision, and any personal experiences regarding academic quality, internships, and transitioning into graduate health programs in either country.

Hi everyone! I'm an international student pursuing my Master's in Australia (Melbourne) and looking to complete Cert III in Individual Support (Ageing & Disability – CHC33021).

Could anyone recommend a genuine, registered RTO that offers:

Affordable course fees

Work placement assistance

Relatively quick completion

Flexible schedules for students

If you've completed this course, please share the provider's name, total cost, duration, and placement experience.

Thanks in advance!

Lmao, like, isn’t that exactly what they want? They don’t want international students coming to the USA to study, so I’m literally advising students to reconsider the US if it was one of their options. Like, why are you fighting an argument nobody is making? 😭

Looking for advice on a lost OPT EAD.

USPS marked it delivered Sept 3 but gave me a letter admitting misdelivery. I filed an I-765 replacement Sept 11 with all evidence, but it's been over a month with no updates while my employer pushes for the card.

Has anyone had a replacement re-issued for USPS misdelivery, and how long did it take or how did you expedite it?

Anyone in Depauw or anyone who is applying.

How to correctly fill out their international student fiancial aid certificate?

Hi everyone,

I was admitted to the University of Genoa (Università di Genova) for the 2026/2027 academic year to study for a Master’s degree in Internet and Multimedia Engineering, taught in English.

The university also awarded me an official scholarship worth €12,500 . I submitted the scholarship certificate as part of my student visa application.

My visa application

• Visa type: Italian national long-stay student visa (Type D)
• Application location: Italian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt
• Application appointment and submission: 3 September 2026
• Refusal notification: 16 September 2026
• Received the official refusal decision/passport: 28 September 2026
• Main issue identified: Assessment of my financial means/financial coverage

For my application, I submitted:

• The official University of Genoa scholarship certificate
• My personal bank statement
• My university admission and pre-enrolment documents
• My bachelor’s degree and a letter confirming that my previous degree was taught in English
• An employment certificate for my remote IT support job
• Travel insurance and other supporting documents

Despite these documents, my visa was refused on financial grounds.

My current situation

After the refusal, my Universitaly application status changed to “Visa refused / Visto negato.” I still want to join the University of Genoa and am considering whether to submit a new visa application with stronger financial documentation.

However, I am unsure whether I can reuse my existing Universitaly pre-enrolment application or whether the university needs to reopen it or take another administrative step. I also need to confirm whether my admission and scholarship remain valid, given that the academic year has already started.

My questions

1. Can I submit a new Italian Type D student visa application after a refusal for insufficient or unconvincing financial means? Is there a waiting period, or can I reapply once I have addressed the concerns?
2. Does the “Visa refused / Visto negato” status on Universitaly prevent me from applying again? Can the existing pre-enrolment be reopened, or would I need a new one?
3. How should I demonstrate financial coverage when I already have an official university scholarship? Would an updated scholarship letter specifying the payment schedule, conditions, and availability of funds make a difference?
4. Has anyone successfully reapplied for an Italian student visa after a refusal based on financial means?

English translation

We hereby inform you that, following the examination of your application for an entry visa for STUDY, the following has emerged:

- The documentation submitted does not adequately demonstrate that sufficient financial means are available and will remain stably available to support the applicant during their stay in Italy for the purpose of the intended study trip. In particular, the financial supporting documents provided by your sponsor (parent) present issues regarding their reliability and credibility, leading this Consular Authority to consider the genuine purpose of the trip insufficiently substantiated.

In view of the above, we inform you that your study visa application is refused due to failure to meet the requirements established by the following legal provisions:

• Articles 39 and 39-bis of Legislative Decree No. 286/1998;
• Article 40, paragraph 9(a), of Presidential Decree No. 394/1999;
• Articles 44-bis, 46 and 47 of Presidential Decree No. 394/1999 and Interministerial Decree No. 850/2011;
• Annex A, point 15, and subsequent amendments and additions, of Interministerial Decree No. 850/2011;
• Article 4, paragraph 2, of Legislative Decree No. 286/1998 and Article 4 of Presidential Decree No. 394/1999.

applying to companies that never sponsor is the most demoralizing part of the search. so this list only has US employers with a sponsorship record (approved H-1B petitions or certified LCAs) or postings that say they sponsor:

https://github.com/mehek-builds/Hiring-Now/blob/main/lists/visa-sponsorship.md

253 new grad and entry level roles and 200 internships at 208 companies. each row shows what kind of evidence it has.

a record means they've sponsored before. rebuilt every monday.

comment which field you're looking for and i'll send you a list for it.

Hi everyone,

I'm from Turkey, and I'm planning to apply for an F-1 student visa to attend a two-year community college in the US.

I'm really worried that my previous university history might negatively affect my visa application.

I enrolled in three different universities in Turkey, but I didn't graduate from any of them. During my first university years, my parents separated, and I started working. Because of my financial circumstances, I struggled to continue my education. I tried different programs, including switching to distance learning, and later enrolled in another program with a scholarship, but I still couldn't continue consistently because I needed to save money.

Eventually, I withdrew from all three universities and started building my own small business. Now, I'm saving money to fund my studies in the US, and I want to start fresh at a community college using my high school education.

My concern is that a visa officer might see my three incomplete university enrollments as a lack of academic commitment or question why I want to study in the US after leaving multiple programs in Turkey.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and successfully received an F-1 visa? If you had multiple incomplete university enrollments, gaps in your education, or a change in your academic direction, how did the visa officer react?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your actual experiences. I'm trying to understand how much this kind of educational history can affect an F-1 visa decision.

Thank you!

The title says it all, I could barely see any positive post or comment in this sub, is it because of what’s happening regarding the visas and the job market or it’s just Reddit, I can’t really understand.

hey people,

I’m currently a software engineer/analyst who just started my career in India at a F500 American pharmaceutical company and I’m planning on gaining about 2-3 years of work experience before I plan on going back to graduate school. I’m mainly looking for masters degrees but I’m also open to thesis-based programs/PhDs in AI and machine learning. I have an extensive profile covering research and teaching experience, and I have a genuine passion for my field of interest. Now, the US has graduate schools that offer programs highly aligned to my goals and interests. My dilemma now is to still consider the US with all that is going on surrounding visas and immigration. I also do understand that research funding is also an issue now. My goals do involve getting back into corporate roles but I see that expecting something like that in the US with the current political climate leaves me with bleak chances despite higher AI/ML roles being available there. I do want to pursue permanent residency in Canada if the US doesn’t work out. I am proficient in French and I believe I can use it to my advantage and gain points on the Express Entry system.

I’d love to get some insights on my issue. Thanks

As I know the main thing is having a top master degree from target school. So my question is it worth paying and studying at a top university during ur bachelor where it would be so difficult to study and maintain high GPA?

Or its better to finish a good prestigious bachelor degree at a good reputable uni ( where it would not be so difficult to maintain high GPA and pass exams and then invest all money in top master degree?

Hi everyone! I am Sonakshi, a rising senior at NYU graduating with a Bachelor of Science (STEM OPT Eligible) in Media, Culture, and Communication, originally from India. This semester, an internship I had lined up fell through due to CPT restrictions, it's been discouraging, but I'm not giving up.

Is anyone open to chatting and sharing advice or referrals on navigating the job search as an international student (strategy/marketing/client services especially)?

Any guidance would mean a lot. Thanks so much in advance! This my LinkedIn

Hi everyone. I'm a student from Papua New Guinea, and I'm looking for honest advice because I'm feeling really lost about my university plans.

I've been applying to universities in the United States for Fall 2027. I've submitted applications to several universities, including Notre Dame, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Amherst, Dartmouth, Williams, and others. I've spent months working on my applications, essays, and financial aid research because studying in the US has been a dream of mine.

My main interests are psychology, sociology, and political science. I want to study psychology because I'm interested in understanding the human mind, mental health, and how people's experiences and environments shape their lives. Eventually, I'd love to use what I learn to help people in Papua New Guinea, where mental health is still heavily stigmatised.

However, I've recently run into a serious problem. My parents have told me to find a scholarship that doesn't involve them.

To clarify, they don't intend to contribute financially towards my education. They also don't want to participate in the application process or provide financial documents, including the information universities might require for financial aid applications.

As an international student, I can't afford American university tuition and living expenses on my own. I was relying on substantial financial aid, but I've realised that some universities require parental financial information even when parents aren't willing to pay.

I've already started completing the CSS Profile, and the process has been incredibly stressful. I'm trying to be honest about my family's finances, but I'm worried that I won't be able to complete the required documentation without my parents' cooperation.

I'm now wondering whether I should continue pursuing my American university applications or focus on fully funded scholarships in other countries, such as government scholarships in Türkiye, Japan, South Korea, or New Zealand.

I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has experienced something similar, especially international students who funded their education without financial support from their parents.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone successfully attended a US university on a full financial aid package when their parents refused to contribute financially?
2. What happens if your parents refuse to provide the financial documents required by the CSS Profile? Are there legitimate alternatives or exceptions?
3. Are there American universities that offer full scholarships to international undergraduate students without requiring parental financial information?
4. Are there fully funded undergraduate scholarships available to Papua New Guinean students that cover tuition, accommodation, living expenses, health insurance, and flights?
5. If you were in my position, would you continue pursuing US universities while applying for government scholarships elsewhere?
6. For anyone who studied abroad without parental financial support, how did you make it happen?

I'm not looking for anyone to promise me that everything will work out. I just want realistic advice from people who understand how difficult it can be to finance an overseas education when you don't have family support.

I've worked hard to get this far, and I don't want to abandon my dream without exploring every reasonable option. At the same time, I need to be realistic about my circumstances and find a path that I can actually afford.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to respond. I genuinely appreciate any advice, resources, or personal experiences you can share.

Which university or college in NYC is best for international students considering scholarships, aids, courses (mostly business), and Etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated.