Few from Vidarbha vie for US colleges as Re, jobs and H-1B dip

Nagpur: Overseas education consultancies in Nagpur and Vidarbha have reported a sharp drop in the number of students applying to US colleges this year, with the falling rupee against US dollar, a weak US job market and tighter H-1B rules cited as the three main reasons. The pattern mirrors a report released in March by a US-based education-focused company, which found a 14% fall in applications from India, the first since 2020. The report also found international applications overall were down 9% and from Asia its down 10% through March 1.It is estimated that from Nagpur district, an average of 150 students go for higher education to the US but this year the number may dip by 50% according to estimates from local institutes which provide counselling services. Students say there are multiple challenges now, which makes them question if going to US is even feasible. Rohit Juneja, who wants to pursue a Master's in Journalism from the US, said, "I preferred choice was Ivy League university, but the fees are just exorbitant. To pay crores for a degree that may not result in employment over there seems like a bad deal. I am now exploring options in the UK, as the fees there are comparatively lower."Yashashri Dhabekar was planning an MBA in luxury brand management from US. "Depreciating rupee and steep costs made me reconsider. Australia turned out to be a more practical option," said Yashashri.Naina Patel, who wants to pursue a Master's in history, said, "The falling rupee, along with the rising college fees and anti-immigrant rhetoric, has made me reconsider going abroad. My parents are also concerned with the same, but the decision to venture other options has moreover been mine."Mahi Jadhav (name changed), who is currently studying MSc in data analytics in the US, found a "massive difference" in the cost of a US degree now and what it was two years ago. "We also had to cut down on our expenses to manage it," said Mahi.Not everyone is rethinking. Anay Jhawar is heading to college in the US in a few months. "United States still remains uncontested as the best place in the world to study my major of choice, aerospace engineering, both from an educational perspective, as well as making connections, finding internship opportunities, and later job opportunities."Vishal Jain, director, GB Education, Nagpur, said tracking precise numbers was difficult given the fragmented nature of the application pipeline, but his own read of the last two years was that an average of 150 students from Vidarbha went to the US for higher education each year. Jain, however, said the current concerns were a passing phase rather than a structural shift. "Students planning their education today will graduate some years from now, when economic and employment landscapes are likely to be very different. The industries currently reducing workforce numbers will once again seek professionals equipped with cutting-edge skills. A stronger dollar may increase the cost of education today, but it also enhances future earning potential," Jain said.