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As US universities increasingly focus on student safety, the tragic loss of 11 Indian-origin students in 2024 has raised concerns
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Soya emphasized the importance of campus safety protocols, urging students to familiarize themselves with resources and safety apps
In 2024, a record number of visas are expected to be issued to Indian students aiming to study in the US, cementing the country’s status as India’s most popular study destination. This upward trend has been consistent, with more than 96,000 US study visas granted in 2021, 133,000 in 2022, and over 140,000 in 2023.
Brenda Soya, Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulate in Mumbai, noted the increasing number of Indian students pursuing higher education in the US. “Every first-time student who sought a visa appointment received one, something we couldn’t achieve in the past,” she remarked during the EducationUSA fair in Mumbai. Interestingly, Mumbai has emerged as the global leader in student visa interviews.
While India constitutes a quarter of international students in the US, male students make up the majority. Although Indian women express a strong preference for US education, they represent only a third of the total Indian student population there.
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Institutions like the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) are also capitalizing on this trend, promoting their performing arts programs
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AMDA’s unique audition-based admission process is drawing interest from students seeking creative careers in film and theater
Soya attributes this gender disparity to the fact that most Indian students pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs, fields traditionally dominated by men. She also highlighted that women on US campuses now represent the majority, offering reassurance to prospective female students.
Indian students are becoming more discerning in their educational choices, with a growing interest in non-STEM fields such as social sciences, public policy, and teaching. This shift reflects the broader diversification of US-bound Indian students’ academic preferences. Recruiters, like Jason Cronk from the University of Pennsylvania, have noticed a shift from engineering and business to other fields.
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