Rise in Visa application in this year for Studies
The intimidating barriers for entry to India’s top colleges
have had unexpected fallout. If the rise in student visa applications this year
is anything to go by, students, instead of downgrading their choices and settling
for second- or third-best, are increasingly looking westwards and flooding American
universities with admission applications.
Data released by the US embassy reveals that the number of Indian students who have
applied for visas to study in the US is up 20% over last year. Education counsellors
say they are seeing large crowds again, the vital difference being that the students
seeking advice are much younger.
While 24,500 Indian students were granted visas to join American universities
last year, most went there for a Masters and 14.5% joined a grad school. But this
year has seen a phenomenal rise in the number of undergraduate students, said counselor
Pratibha Jain.
Courtesy: Times of India
