Indian students, who wish to pursue education in the US, were provided with a chance to interact with representatives from several US universities on Saturday.
EducationUSA, the official US government resource on higher education, along with the US Consulate, Mumbai, hosted representatives from 40 accredited universities, including the Long Island University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Western States, the University of Maryland, Saint Louis University, and the University of New Haven.
The education fair attracted over 200 Indian students, all eager to explore the prospect of studying in the US and seeking answers to their numerous questions. These universities presented a wide range of academic programs at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, catering to diverse student interests.
Brenda Soya, Public Diplomacy Officer at the US Consulate General in Mumbai, shared her excitement about the event. “I always love these fairs because of the diversity of people who come and also the diversity of U.S. universities,” she stated. “There’s big ones, there’s small ones, there’s ones on technology, and there’s even one for arts and theatre. And there is a space for everyone, and we look forward to welcoming all Indian students.”
Students interacting with US Universities representative
Most common inquiries of students?
During the fair, the majority of student inquiries centered around scholarships, the application process, accommodation options, and the availability of funding. Danial Azhar, Assistant Director of International Admissions at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), said, “The footfall is pretty good. I am enjoying it because I am getting to attend to all the students’ queries one by one, giving them personal attention in clearing their doubts.”
Shreyas Pardesi, Program Associate for Global Collaboration at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, noted, “It’s interesting to see that many students have done their own research. They are not asking some basic questions about programmes and scholarships available for them. In fact, they are asking for more in-depth information like GRE, GMAT scores, curriculum, comparison of the courses, how to draft the application, and parents’ concerns were scholarships and safety of the students.”
Cherish Hagen-Swanson, International Student Coordinator from the University of Western States, said, “It’s really very interesting to see many students who have approached this university are looking for PhD programs. Mumbai is becoming a hub for PhD.”
Parent’s accompanied their kids this US Education fair
Students plans
Talking to the Free Press Journal (FPJ), the students revealed that they found the fair highly informative and valuable for their future plans. Dhanashree Dhamdhere, who aims to pursue a Master’s in Marketing, said, “Honestly, I’m interested in a niche aspect of marketing, more into STEM Marketing. So, coming to this fair and speaking with various universities was fruitful.”
Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “This fair has been very informative and niche. As far as my concern though I only want to do an MBA. I have not yet decided which country or state. But visiting these fairs at least gave me a very clear picture.”
U.S. Consulate to streamline the student visa application process
Brenda Soya also highlighted the steps the U.S. Consulate is taking to streamline the student visa application process for Indian students, addressing visa delays or rejections, especially during peak application seasons. “We’re getting information out. This year, every first-time student applying for a visa had an appointment. So that means anyone who was applying for a student visa for the very first time, they got their appointment. And so, we’re very proud of that. Our numbers are much higher than they have been in the past,” Soya explained.
To ensure that Indian students are informed about their rights and responsibilities while studying in the US, Soya advised the students to register themselves with the Indian embassy in the US and do research about the rules set in place by their respective university.
Students were gaining insight and indepth knowledge about the universities from representatives
Emerging fields in US market
Regarding emerging fields or sectors in the US that Indian students are encouraged to explore, Soya emphasised the importance of choosing the right fit. “A student really needs to sit down with their family and say, what is it that I’m really good at? What do I want to do when I’m 40 that’s going to make me happy? I think technology is changing so fast that there are careers that we’ve never heard of that are constantly changing,” She told the FPJ.
The US universities are flexible in terms of courses. Several universities offer an interdisciplinary degree, while some of them have a designer major where students can choose two parallel courses from different subject areas and fuse them together for a degree program. “It’s up to the student’s innovation, creativity, what they’re most comfortable with,” Soya said.
‘Mumbai is become hiib for PhD candidates’ said US University representative
She also addressed how the US Consulate ensures students are aware of the medical facilities and services available to them. “Most universities in the US have a student medical center, and so the students would avail themselves of that medical center. Every one of our 4,000 plus universities is very different. So, I can’t speak in a general sense other than to assure you and say, when they register as a student, they have to purchase insurance and be a part of the student healthcare system at the university program.”
‘Study In US’ Education Fair Across India From August 16 To 25
The EducationUSA fair provided Indian students with a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities available in the US and addressed many of their concerns.
