Will Indian Students OPT out of America?

Intro to Nikhil Jain

Who’s most at risk if OPT is eliminated?

OPT scrap could deepen student loan burden

Will higher ed lobby fight OPT bill?

Intro to Adarsh Khandelwal

Is the U.S. still #1 for Indian students?

What’s life like for Indian students?

Is H-1B the next step after U.S. studies?

STEM program fees in the US

Top U.S. colleges attract Indian students.

Students, parents focus on education, future.

Conclusion

 Credits

What if the very reason Indian students choose the U.S. for higher education suddenly disappeared? No, it’s not the allure of Silicon Valley or Ivy League labels we’re talking about OPT: Optional Practical Training. For years, it’s been the launchpad for STEM grads to gain real U.S. work experience after their degree. But that pathway is now under serious threat. In this episode, host Neil Ghai and Prachi Verma are joined by Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder of Collegify, and Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, to unpack a new bill in the U.S. Congress that could abolish the OPT program altogether. With Indian students accounting for more than 40% of all OPT approvals last year, this isn’t just a policy shift, it's a potential game-ender. So, what’s driving this move? What’s at stake? And how might it reshape the future for Indian students eyeing the U.S.?

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What if the very reason Indian students choose the U.S. for higher education suddenly disappeared? No, it&rsquo;s not the allure of Silicon Valley or Ivy League labels we&rsquo;re talking about OPT: Optional Practical Training. For years, it&rsquo;s been the launchpad for STEM grads to gain real U.S. work experience after their degree. But that pathway is now under serious threat. In this episode, host Neil Ghai and Prachi Verma are joined by Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder of Collegify, and Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, to unpack a new bill in the U.S. Congress that could abolish the OPT program altogether. With Indian students accounting for more than 40% of all OPT approvals last year, this isn&rsquo;t just a policy shift, it's a potential game-ender. So, what&rsquo;s driving this move? What&rsquo;s at stake? And how might it reshape the future for Indian students eyeing the U.S.?
Tune in. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000702130670">Tariffs trump trade</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000701174049">The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000701977001">The Influencer Economy&rsquo;s Quiet Reset</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000700201610">India&rsquo;s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">much more</a>. You can follow Neil Ghai on his social media: <a href="https://x.com/GhaiNeil">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-ghai-090055227/">Linkedin</a> or <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/etreporter/author-neil-ghai-479261562.cms?from=mdr">Stories </a>You can follow Indrajit Hazra on his social media: <a href="https://twitter.com/prachivermaET">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/prachi-verma-0b114276/">Linkedin</a> or <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/etreporter/author-prachi-verma-479236850.cms?from=mdr">Stories</a>&nbsp;
Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on <a href="https://www.etplay.com/etplay">ET Play</a>, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr">The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_">JioSaavn</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief">Amazon Music</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theetpodcasts">Youtube</a>.

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 Will Indian Students OPT out of America?

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