u/Cautious_Use4791

Hi everyone,

I’m from Northern Ireland and I’m currently studying Business Studies. I have 1 year left of my degree, and I’m trying to figure out whether finishing it could realistically help me move to the USA and build a better life.

To be honest, job opportunities here feel very limited. Wages are low, career progression seems slow, and the general quality of life financially feels poor. I know people online exaggerate things about the US, especially on TikTok, so I’m not trying to act like America is perfect. I’m just comparing it to what I actually see and live with here.

Academically, I’d describe myself as average. I’m not a top-tier student who would be competing with Ivy League graduates or the best of the best in places like New York. I’m not aiming to become some Wall Street banker. I’d just like to make a decent living, have better career options, and feel like hard work can actually lead somewhere.

My questions are:

Is a UK Business Studies degree respected or useful in the US?

Would employers in the US even consider someone from Northern Ireland with a fairly general business degree?

What kind of roles could realistically be possible with this degree?

Would it be better to build experience in the UK first before trying to move?

Are there particular states or cities where someone average but hardworking could build a good life without needing to be elite?

I understand visas are probably the biggest issue, and I’m not expecting it to be easy. I’m just trying to get a realistic view from people who know more about the US job market, immigration, and whether this degree is actually worth finishing if my long-term goal is to leave the UK.

Any honest advice would be appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I’m from Northern Ireland and I’m currently studying Business Studies. I have 1 year left of my degree, and I’m trying to figure out whether finishing it could realistically help me move to the USA and build a better life.

To be honest, job opportunities here feel very limited. Wages are low, career progression seems slow, and the general quality of life financially feels poor. I know people online exaggerate things about the US, especially on TikTok, so I’m not trying to act like America is perfect. I’m just comparing it to what I actually see and live with here.

Academically, I’d describe myself as average. I’m not a top-tier student who would be competing with Ivy League graduates or the best of the best in places like New York. I’m not aiming to become some Wall Street banker. I’d just like to make a decent living, have better career options, and feel like hard work can actually lead somewhere.

My questions are:

Is a UK Business Studies degree respected or useful in the US?

Would employers in the US even consider someone from Northern Ireland with a fairly general business degree?

What kind of roles could realistically be possible with this degree?

Would it be better to build experience in the UK first before trying to move?

Are there particular states or cities where someone average but hardworking could build a good life without needing to be elite?

I understand visas are probably the biggest issue, and I’m not expecting it to be easy. I’m just trying to get a realistic view from people who know more about the US job market, immigration, and whether this degree is actually worth finishing if my long-term goal is to leave the UK.

Any honest advice would be appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I’m 22.0 and from the UK, and I’ve recently been seeing a lot of TikTok videos about Section 8 property rentals in the US. Obviously, TikTok mostly shows the positive side: high cash flow, landlords building big portfolios, people becoming millionaires, etc.

On the surface, the model sounds almost too good to be true: buy rental property, rent it to Section 8 tenants, and receive a large portion of the rent through government-backed payments. I understand that no rental business is easy and that landlords can still deal with bad tenants, repairs, vacancies, inspections, legal issues, property damage, and management headaches. I’m not assuming it is passive or risk-free.

My question is: would it ever make sense for someone from the UK to move to the US specifically to build a Section 8/property rental business?

The UK feels very difficult financially at the minute, and I’m looking seriously at long-term options to build wealth and possibly move abroad. Section 8 has caught my attention, but I’m trying to separate the TikTok version from the reality.

A few specific things I’m wondering:

1. Is Section 8 actually profitable after repairs, insurance, property tax, management fees, inspections, and vacancies?

2. What US markets are actually good for this, and which ones should be avoided?

3. Is it realistic for a non-US citizen to buy and manage these properties?

4. Would a property business like this support a visa, or is that much harder than people make it sound?

5. How many properties would you need before it becomes a proper business rather than just a risky side investment?

6. Are there major downsides people on social media usually leave out?

7. If you had to start again, would you still choose Section 8, or would you invest in normal rentals instead?

8. if it’s a good approach how much do you think I should bring to the US (saved up money)

I’m not looking for hype. I’d rather hear the honest version from landlords, property managers, investors, or anyone who has actually dealt with Section 8 tenants and housing authorities.

Thanks.