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

Hi everyone, I am currently on F1 visa doing PhD in STEM disciple with program end date on my I-20 to be May 2028. I am considering traveling after October. When I enter US after my travel, I'll be given the AUD of May 2028. But I plan to graduate in May 2027, so my question is will I have to file EOS along with my OPT application?

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?

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?

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!

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! 🙏

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice on choosing a university in the United States for a Master's degree.

I graduated from a UK university in July 2024 with a First Class Bachelor's degree in Electronic Engineering and Computer Systems. While studying, I found that I was much more interested in the IT side of the course, especially cybersecurity, networking, systems administration, and related areas. Because of that, I'd like to transition into IT by pursuing a Master's in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a similar field.

As an international student, my biggest concern is affordability. I'm hoping to find universities that offer:

• Affordable tuition for international students
• Strong IT/Cybersecurity programs
• Good career opportunities and industry connections
• Scholarships, graduate assistantships, or other funding opportunities

I'm open to universities anywhere in the US, as long as they provide good value for money.

If you've studied in the US, know of universities that fit what I'm looking for, or have any advice on applying as an international student, I'd really appreciate your recommendations. I'm especially interested in hearing about schools that may not be as well-known but have excellent IT or cybersecurity programs at a reasonable cost.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Please read this

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

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 one week to decide between:

• USF – B.S. in Computer Science
• Valencia – B.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology (ABET accredited)

About me:

• International F-1 student
• Long-term goal: AI + AgTech (robotics, IoT, automation, smart farming)
• Over the remaining two years of my degree, USF will cost about $10–15k more than Valencia.

USF Computer Science

• Stronger foundation in AI/ML, software engineering, and data science
• More research and internship opportunities
• Appears to offer more OPT/STEM OPT job opportunities after graduation because of the broader range of software and AI roles

Valencia ECET

• ABET accredited
• Strong in embedded systems, IoT, electronics, and automation
• Great fit for AgTech hardware
• Potential pathway to an M.S. in Agricultural & Biological Engineering later

My concerns

• Many ECET jobs in Florida seem tied to defense companies that international students can't easily work for.
• I'm worried an ECET degree may limit OPT job opportunities in software, AI, and data compared with a CS degree, even though it's STEM eligible.
• At the same time, I wonder if hardware + embedded systems + AI will be more valuable in the long run as AI changes software development.

For those with real experience:

1. If you graduated from ECET as an international student, what jobs did you actually get during OPT/STEM OPT?
2. Was paying an extra $10–15k for Computer Science worth it because of the additional internship and job opportunities?
3. If your goal were AI + AgTech, which path would you choose today?

I'd especially appreciate advice from international students, ECET/CS graduates, hiring managers, or engineersworking in AI, embedded systems, robotics, IoT, or AgTech.

I'm looking for real-world experiences, not just "CS has more jobs." Thanks!

Got admits from both for MS starting Jan 2027. Coming from a software engineering background (2+ yrs as SWE, laid off recently), trying to pivot into semiconductors. Both programs are CHIPS Act aligned so either way I'd be eligible for the industry.

ASU - ECE

• Multi-stream, so I get flexibility to pick a specific path later instead of committing now
• Tuition + cost of living is noticeably cheaper than Boston
• Arizona has a ton of fab activity right now (Intel, TSMC, ON Semi etc) so recruiting/industry exposure could be strong

Northeastern - Semiconductor Engineering (Boston)

• Has a co-op program, basically a 4-6 month internship built into the degree
• Program is laser focused on chips industry specifically, not general ECE
• Boston obviously more expensive, tuition + COL both higher

Since I'm switching from software to hardware, I feel like the co-op could be huge for actually breaking in and having something real on my resume. But ASU's cost + location (literally in the middle of the new fab boom) is tempting too, especially since I'm currently between jobs and watching my savings.

Anyone here gone through either program, or hiring in this space which one would actually move the needle for someone trying to break into semiconductors coming from a non-hardware background?

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.

Hi everyone,

I'm an international student admitted to a master's program at Westcliff University starting next term.

My situation is a bit unusual:

• I have a stable online teaching business that generates recurring monthly income.
• I'm also expecting additional payments over the coming months.
• I already have companies interested in hiring me once I'm eligible to work under my F-1 status.
• However, I don't currently have enough liquid funds in my personal bank account to meet the proof of funds requirement for my I-20.

I'm looking for legitimate solutions and would really appreciate hearing from people who have been through this process.

A few questions:

• Did your university accept proof of recurring self-employment or business income?
• Did you use a financial sponsor? If so, who sponsored you?
• Can the financial sponsor be someone living in the U.S., or do they need to live in my home country?
• Can a U.S. company sponsor my proof of funds, or does it have to be an individual?
• Has anyone used an education loan or another accepted alternative?
• Are there any other options I should discuss with my university?

Thanks in advance for any advice or personal experiences!