The decision to go abroad to study is a very big decision. The question one need to ponder about is why go abroad when one can study in India? What will one achieve from that overseas experience that they will miss if they study in India? This is an important question because the decision to go abroad needs careful attention to the following set of circumstances.   There are two most important things to consider.

First and foremost is the decision to leave the family and stay alone in a foreign country. This is not an easy one to stomach. Staying alone is not something an Indian student in his/her early twenties is used to. At every step of their way they have their parents, families, and often friends guiding them in their decision-making process. The thought of leaving that safety net is brutal.

Next is the question of financial affordability. Can the family afford the expense of their students studying abroad? What are the sources of that fund? If the source is family savings, what are the alternative uses of that money? Often sending a student overseas moves the family to the brink of bankruptcy. If the source is borrowing, what is the cost of the borrowing? How long will it take to repay the loan and what are the future sacrifices implied in repaying those loans?

Typically, students studying abroad faces two difficult realities: They are alone away from family, with the guilt of either depleting family savings or incurring a crippling debt at the very beginning of their adulthood. So, why go aboard?

There must be a compelling reason why more than 1 million international students, of which more than 200000 are Indians, chose US has their preferred destination for higher studies. Colleges and Universities in the United States provide incredible opportunities that Indian students find hard to resist. The benefit of going to the US far outweighs the costs, and thus the rush to go there. What are the benefits that trumps (no pun intended) the dual cost mentioned above?

First and foremost is the academic opportunity provided by the universities in the United States. Universities offer a wide array of programs, with flexibilities that are incomprehensible in India. Syllabuses are current, learning environment robust, and technologies that allow breathtaking pedagogies which enhance creativity and critical thinking. I can vouch from my personal experience. I studied in India because I had to, while I studied in the USA because I wanted to. It was an incredible journey, where I simply enjoyed the ride, with no concerns about destiny. Such powerful is the lure of education in the United States.

Next come the job opportunities after one completes his/her education. In the US, all students graduating from US universities are issued a practical training visa for one year, where they can work and get practical experience in their field of specialization. If the student graduated from a STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) they are entitled to get 36 months of practical training visa. These training opportunities after graduation allows a student to get meaningful employment in the United States.  Jobs opportunities in the US are widespread mainly for students who have graduated from US universities. Both the pay and the flexibility of the jobs seems to higher in the US than in India. Next comes the question of meritocracy vs cronyism. In the US merits and productivity are often the only barometer from growth in employment. Graduates find this rewarding.

Rich educational experience and vibrant job opportunities after graduation are the two fundamental reasons why students chose to go to the US for higher studies. In fact, these are also the two reasons why students go abroad for studies regardless of their choice of destination, whether they go to UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Dubai, or other countries in Europe. The spectrum of opportunities supersedes the gloom of staying alone with huge debt burdens. Plain and Simple. Optimism is contagious and Indian students planning to go aboard are not immune from it.