hi peeps,

I am on F1 visa currently and seeing some not so happy changes with the system in america right now.

I am an indian citizen, not a sob story but I got nothing back home right now, no assets or savings no loans no family or support etc

I'm about to graduate (in 1.5 yrs) from a state school with a degree in cs with a falling qs rank. Now, I want to evaluate my options and I am looking for suggestions.

My long term plans is to graduate with a Phd from an reputable institution, I have got a decent gpa with some kind of undergrad volunteer expeirence in research. I am planning to transition directly from undergrad to PHd.

But, before all that, i wanted to work for a bit on OPT, as I dont want to do a Phd in a field with no or unsecure future especially when I have no idea of whats actually going on in this sector.

I dont think i will be able to secure an internship coming summer as well, I tried my best with many applications, but I got no network and I lack social skills a bit.

I wanted to explore my options to atleast work in a country in somewhat of an adjacent role, related to cs but not strictly swe. What options do I have, assuming a lot of folks are from different parts of the world

sorry for the vague title, i thought would be able to edit it :(

Hope yall have a nice day!

This generally applies to Indian people who immigrate anywhere but even though I myself belong to the group, I used to look at my own people and think why are they so unkempt, why don’t they focus on dressing well and why aren’t any Indian people around running in parks, or even walking or exercising. There are, but only a few. I could always tell the difference apart.

It only hit me now, I’m one of them. I don’t run or focus on dressing anymore. I had a morning class and then work and limited time in between to use public transit to get to work. So I attended the class where I scored only 40%, I used to have good acedemic standings. Then I dressed and did my hair and ran to skytrain where I saw myself and realised oh this is how I look. Pathetic. My nails are not done, my hair mess, my back hurts, heart panicking and it shows on my face making me look like a raccoon. I didn’t pack lunch, I usually don’t get the time to do so. But I gained 10 kgs once I landed in Canada because of all the cheap trash I eat to keep me full. It’s bad. I am learning a lot about life and people and this city has given me so much. But it’s taxing.

I feel like I’m learning new lessons all the time but this time the lesson is that every human struggles, we don’t have to be judgemental.

Just doing a vibe check, how’s everyone holding up? OPT, Stem OPT, H1B, unemployment clocks… where’s everyone at?

I am planning to apply for a management program.
Now I’m in 9th grade. And I’m afraid that I won’t have enough time to apply

He estado intentando entrar a estudiar aqui en Estados Unidos, para dar contexto, me gradué en Venezuela de Bachiller, tengo mi titulo y mis notas apostilladas desde hace bastante tiempo (voy a retomar mis estudios despues de 10 años). Pero la universidad me esta solicitando que mi titulo y mis notas vengan selladas desde mi institucion hacia ellos. El problema es que mi institución es de un pueblo pequeño, Acarigua en el estado Portuguesa, es el San Vicente de Paul y tengo un amigo que fue y preguntó y le dijeron que eso no es algo que ellos hacen, que ellos pueden dar las notas y el titulo a la persona y la persona se encarga de llevarlas a donde sea necesario. Encima de eso, tengo entendido que se tienen que traducir, entonces como se traducen si tienen que estar selladas, supongo que todo es bastante confuso. Si hay alguien que ha pasado por un proceso similar, apreciaria el que me expliquen como hizo. Gracias!

Hi everyone, I’m a student in Italy applying for an Erasmus+ traineeship in France. The host company might give me some financial support.

If the company pays me, can I still receive the Erasmus grant? Does declaring company support affect my chances of being selected/ranked for Erasmus funding?

I’m worried that mentioning company payment could reduce my chances of getting the Erasmus grant. Has anyone had experience with this?

I'm deciding between studying in Berlin or Hamburg as an international student. Berlin seems to offer more student life and startups, while Hamburg looks less crowded and seems stronger for business, logistics, and tech

Hi everyone! I'm in a very sad situation, please advise – are my chances really that bad?

I'm a 3rd-year student at a good university in Moscow - MEPhI. My major is Materials Science (design of new materials, ML). I want to apply for a Master's degree in Europe (especially Germany and Italy).

My experience:

· 3 years in my university's lab
· 1 year at the Kurchatov Institute (a research center, part of Rosatom)
· A scientific poster and independent research
· 2 internships in China
· A recommendation letter from the head of the Materials Science department at USTC

But my GPA is very low – around 3.1–3.2, and my TOEFL is only 50-60.
Will they not accept me even for a paid (self-funded) program? 😞

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Is it possible for me to pursue a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing in Italy, considering that I already have experience and a portfolio showcasing my work in this field?

If Digital Marketing is not possible with my academic background, would it be possible to apply for a Master’s degree in Management or Business Administration in Italy?

Hi, guys I'm planning to pursue MBA in business analytics in Singapore and Malaysia but I want to know how is the job market there and whether part time job is flexible while studying . And also about the work permit process

The university sends you a hundred emails about enrollment but somehow nobody explains what a deductible is, when you’re supposed to use urgent care vs. the ER, or why a 10-minute visit costs $400 without the right paperwork.

What caught you off guard? What do you wish someone had told you in week one?

Asking because I’m researching this, will summarize the answers back for future students.

Has any of you had any success in starting a business while completing your program? In specifics; how did you go through LLC formation, EIN, Business Banking?

I'm not sure if I made the answer coherent but in the ETS website it states about 100 law schools in USA require the GRE result. My question is, what about other universities in USA or in Europe or Australia? Is GRE mandatory? I'd be really grateful if someone gives me info on this matter.

I am so sorry in advance if the way I structure stuff is super disorganized and erratic. If I didn't have my friends proofreading my essay I'd be cooked. Originally I am from India but I have been in the United States for 9 years. I was first under my dad's work visa and then I transitioned to a student visa as I will be entering my 3rd year of college for Cybersecurity.

I have been thinking of Germany as an option to do my masters and then get employment after as it is getting significantly harder to do so in America. But after doing some research on the this sub and several other subs, it seems like Germany is also going through this issue. Language is a main thing if I want to do anything in Germany so I have already started to study it. I been rewatching black clover in German with so subtitles to kinda supplement my language. In the beginning I watched a lot of Bluey and it was actually a pretty funny show ain't gonna lie. My goal in the language is to get near a native level of speaking before I get there.

I am currently the club president for my game dev club and the vice president for my cyber security club. We have won several competitions to get and brought back some trophies. I've just been trying to do things that relate to my field instead of working a job as I am not able to have a job. I also volunteer as a marvel rivals Esports coach for my highschool, not related but it's fun to teach. This is all kind of me background.

Personally, I want to graduate college and then use my temporary STEM visa to gain Cybersecurity to experience for two years AND THEN come to Germany to pursue a masters. Everything single leading industry experts I have talked to said that experience is significantly more important than certifications and degrees. But my father and his friends believe that would be a mistake and I would be wasting my time taking a break in my education. I am worried I am gonna get a masters in Germany and then be qualified and jobless. I would like to know what this sub reddit has to say for this and what their thoughts are on the matter. It would also help a lot of they could give me sources on information that I can show my father to prove your guy's point.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.

Disclaimer: Had a few questions but if I can get even some answers, I would really appreciate it. 

Looking for advice from others who've walked this path — ASN → OPT → BSN as an international student

After a good effort to complete the prerequisites and be on the waiting list, my wife was accepted into an Associate of Nursing (ASN) program at a community college. We're trying to plan the next few years and could really use input from anyone who's been through this or is going through it now.

A few questions for the group:

1. Has anyone completed an ASN, worked for a year on OPT, and then gone back for a BSN? How did that timeline actually play out for you? How hard was it to find an agency or direct hire that takes recent graduates and those on OPT? Did hospitals hesitate because it's an associate's degree and not a bachelor's?
2. With the new "duration of status" rule taking effect this September (no more D/S, fixed admission periods, I-539 extensions required), what might be the extra complications transferring from ASN to BSN, or extending status between programs?
3. If you did go on to a BSN, which universities would you recommend that are a bit affordable?
4. Has anyone regretted going the ASN-first route, or wished they'd gone straight into a BSN program instead? What would you do differently?
5. Given how things stand right now (visa rules, job market, cost), does it still make sense to do ASN first and BSN later, or is it smarter to push through a BSN program directly, even if it costs more upfront?

Really appreciate any real experiences, recommendations, or even just "here's what I wish I knew" — trying to make the best decision for her with the resources we have. Thank you! 🙏

I live in Turkiye and i want to study abroad. I have 2 years from now until i graduate from high school. And i barely know things that i am supposed to know.

Skip to the paragraph with an "---" on top which is the 10th paragraph if you are not interested in this personal topic

I chatted with a friend a few days ago who is studying in istanbul. I know him from middle school, we were in the same class. And I realized i wasnt acquiring/getting/having the things that i should be. One specific sentence is pivoting around my head. He said "i couldnt forget that this teacher (not guidance counselor which i will be going over later) said us 'read signs in istanbul instead of going to college in anatolia". This was the most punchy realization of that i am wasting myself.

In LGS, which is the required exam for being accepted to high schools in turkiye, i achieved a kinda remarkable score for me. About a month ago from the exam, we went to istanbul for a day trip. I saw a high school named Beşiktaş High School. It inspired me but i knew it was too late to win that school. So much so that school closed applications at around 1.5 percent that year.

I was so overwhelmed of being into 1 hour 40 minute tests multiple times a day, depression, blah blah but i dont want to speak like teenager who is over dramatizing small things and crying over that. Just know these killed my urge to actually end myself up in high end high schools. I just decided to going in the 2nd best school of my city. Last months of my studying process went by with this kind of mindset. Fortunately, i had 458 points over 500. My percentage was 3,01.

Before signing the school preference papers, we almost made no research of what i could be studying in. I thought that the school that i aimed for out of tiredness was good enough. But it wasnt. I accept that i made a big mistake there. But i was just 14. I also blame my parents and that unqualified guidance counselor about that. My dad tried to convince me to go to a religious high school in istanbul. But i didnt want that. I already went to a religious school in middle school and i hate it. The school that my father was trying to convince me for was good, but i definately didnt want to learn extra things about something that i dont belong. So i refused it.

When the big day came, the preferance day, we were called by the guidance counselor. She asked my score, percentage, blah blah blah... "lets find a school that you deserve." than said "ok, that school is fine." Yes. I understand that the major responsibility for making the right decision, doing the research was on me. But i was already in a bad mental situation. I just wanted to leave things as soon as possible. Today, i regret it.

The day i chatted with that friend, i realized i am missing so much. He told me about his life in istanbul. His oppurtunities and friends.

I, in my little mid developed town, was making no progress. I somehow lost the social interactions with my friends. And that thing killed my oppurtunities for making my golden days count. People were making memories, they were founding a network, they were having good time. I had good times too. But i lost them and i dont know why. I had good relationships with almost everyone. Then everyone slowly faded away. They acted like i dont exist. They ignored to spend time with me. I know i did something wrong there. But i dont know what.

---

I decided to study abroad. But i barely know things i should be. I will talk about my strong parts, hobbies etc. and my decision of faculty that i made considering those. But i need your help to have some guidance about if i made the right analysis of myself

I have a huge interest and admire about woodworking. Especially moving joints. I have watched woodworkers making something and they are almost leaving my mouth open. Making these joints come together in so complex ways, making them steady and strong, this is a huge amount of thinking and designing process. I would love to participate in a woodworking workspace.

I also have a interest about leathermanship. Making a wallet big enough to fit multiple cards in it, making it compact enough to fill enough cash in it while making it small enought to make it fit inside your back pocket. I dont know if ı am describing it good enough to explain my amaze about it since cards and money designed to carry easy. I am trying to mean that it is about designing it the most sufficient and efficient way. The way that you put things together. Like you cant fill everything you need in your father's car's baggage but your dad can take a look at stuff and he can stuff them perfectly in no time.

Last thing, tailoring. I dont know how to describe it. They somehow manage to make a cloth that fits you the best even if you have the most unproportioned skeleton system. I thought about a business about making tailorwork much more modern and desirable for everyday shopping. But i will hide it to myself if i actually will be going to do it :D

I have a particular interest in mathematics and physics. In short, i love knowing how and why things like theorems work. And i think i have some talent on them

Besides these, i also make something about music. I started playing guitar and learning music theory.

In short, they are mostly handwork, craftsmanship. I would be so satisfied if i could be doing them all by hand, which i try to do on my own sometimes, but i dont see enough money to pay my bills on them in the future. And i saw a correlation between them, which is optimizing the design. So i decided to study in a design engineering faculty. Which colleges do you suggest? I also talked these with AI (claude specifically) and it agreed on my decision and suggested some universities like dyson, something starts with TU in Netherlands, and MIT etc.

ALSO, i still have a lot of questions. I know i have to participate in SAT but I don't know the other things that is required to add. In my country, you enter the exam, you exit, and go to somewhere. But it is more complicated than that out here seemingly. What should i add besides them, what i can start to do today, how many projects would be enough, what kind of projects are allowed, how can i prove the projects belong to me, etc.

ALSO, do you have any suggestions on countries?

Thank you in advance