r/InternationalStudents

Hi everyone!
I’m an international student from India and have been admitted to the MSE in Chemical Engineering program at UPenn. I deferred my admission to Fall 2027.
A little about me: I graduated from IIT Guwahati and currently have around two years of work experience in consultancy, primarily in the chemical sector with some exposure to textiles and apparel.
I wanted to get some realistic insights from current students, alumni, or anyone familiar with the program:
What is the actual total cost of completing the master’s degree at UPenn, including tuition, living expenses, health insurance, and any other miscellaneous costs?
How much should I realistically budget for a year in Philadelphia?
For international students, is taking a loan for this degree worth it?
Are job opportunities and salaries after graduation sufficient to repay the loan comfortably, or does the debt become overwhelming?
I’d really appreciate any honest experiences it, especially from international students who financed their degree through loans. Thanks in advance!

Hello! I am going to college in Fall as an international student. Coming from a third world country, the conversion rates are insane.

I just wanted to know if $400/month is enough to get by, excluding rent, bills, tuition and food, so just going out for food/entertainment, transportation and personal expenses.

$100 a week seems impossible with the prices I have seen but I know people have lived day to day with less.

I don't wanna be a burden to my parents though I am on scholarship but I still don't wanna ask for a lot but I know we could definitely have more I just don't wanna add to them. I know this is something that needs to be navigated and tested as months go by so that we can see what actually works but I just needed insights from the people who live there.

Thanks a lot

Hi! I just spent the last three years (8-10 grade) in the US and am now moving back to India smack in the middle of 11th grade as a CBSE PCM student. The problem is, I'm moving in August, which means I'll be 3 months behind on schoolwork. I do want to go back to US for university, but I come from a low-mid income family, so my best bet is getting into a need blind university, which are mostly ivy leagues and t20s. So to do this, I’m going to have to balance grades , extracurriculars, sat prep and exam prep, all while catching up to 3 months of work, since I’ll be starting school in August. I have been strategizing all summer over extracurriculars. I was going to start an AI business, found a coding club chapter, do national debate, volunteer with a 3d printing for blind org, do research, play in orchestra and do robotics. I was so excited to do it all. But now, all I can worry about is the work that I'll have to put into school as a PCM student. I did to cbse for 1-7 grade, so I'm familiar with the system, but I also know how much more rigorous it is, and balancing that with all these ecs, sat prep, and competing in award seems extremely daunting. I've currently made a seasonal plan on how I can do all of the before college apps are due, but it all seems very overwhelming and daunting, since I've barely started SAT prep. Should I just give up? Please give any tips you have. Thankyou!

So I come from Italy and I’m going to be an international student in the US (Ms in applied statistics in a pretty good school, not ivy tho). I come from a Bachelor degree in communication, and when I hear US students talking about their bachelor degrees it feels like it was more partying than studying, and the exams were pretty simple (like no oral exam, and papers at home??). Are masters that easy too?

For who came from an Italian/eu university like me and went to study for their masters in the Us, how hard was it? Is it way more studying? Or less?

Also any advice in general is appreciated:)

Thanks!!

I'm from PH and want to study abroad to Canada or USA, but I am low income... I'm in desperate need of chatting with anyone who could probably help me out! I'm happy to give more info about myself through chat

So im currently a cs+ maths major at an average university in the US and am an international student. I am going to switch my major from Cs to smth else but keep maths since i really like maths. My options are accounting econ or finance. I wanna do smth that fits my interest of problem solving and maths and have the security of landing a job once im done (im an international student so it might be difficult). I have a few weeks to make my decision but am unsure on what to do or who to ask for advise. Does anyone know what i can do

Hi,

I am an incoming exchange student in the Netherlands, Enchede: Saxion University and I am looking for a student housing. My budget is like around 300-500 Euro per month encluding everything.

Anybody knows or recommends a place? I'm stressed out huhu.

Thank you

For context, F(23) Im an international student in canada and after i started my university right after my 12th grade(2021) in india, so I was still a little immature to be out alone in the world without my parents who didn't teach me enough about how the world works before throwing me the sheep herd. I came here after lockdown, had to deal with very bad roommates except a couple people. I treated them like my family but ended up
\-$3000-3500 because I was too gullible and dumb. I have Pcos that already gave me a lot to deal with including my past trauma's. Made me depressed(which i was after covid hit) after first two months I spent here, my grades dropped anxiety and depression peaked. I went to my university therapist who has a PHD, told me I was just nervous. Professors are racist, fees are so fucking high through the roof that cant be explained. I took a break from school due to hifh stress and panic attacks. Another reason was fees too, I was not able to pay the fees of the failed classes that i had. These people don't even know a quarter of what the struggles we go through, and i have no words for my parents, I am just a failure that drained all their hardship and money. I only have a few months on my permit and im at rock bottom mentally, financially and emotionally. I cry 80% of the day and Im just tired to live upto the expectations everyone has for me.

When I was in India, I was the straight A's student. scored 89% in 10thcbse and 78 in 12th(mass promotion- no exams). I dont know where she went, i see someone else if i stare in the mirror a little too long. Academic wise I was above average and strong, also scored 8 bands in IELTS but i feel like a completely different person now. I have had a few bad phases in school and it has still left a big impact on me, i was bullied and that went on for months. I used to come to my mother crying after school and i felt that was kind of brushed off. I dont have a vulnerable side with my mother anymore, she uses my insecurities against me in an argument she created out of thin air. Had a lot of issues growing up, financially we were good but not best.

Lastly, I know there's no way out of this. I have lost so many opportunities and I cant go back to india because there's just too much expectations because I haven't told them about my break from school, I am selling a lot of my stuff and saving a little money I have. They will also send me a portion of fees that I am not going to touch at all. I will schedule the amount to be sent to my sister. and idk kms.

I have no idea why I am even posting this here, i have no one to share this to, maybe i just want someone to know why i did what i had to a long time ago, sooner. i'm sorry if im wasting your time, have a good day if you stuck till the end with me here. thankyou

Hey everyone,I am completely drowning in information overload. I am looking to apply for a full undergraduate (UG) bachelor's degree abroad, but the entry requirements, application portals, and visa paths vary so wildly between countries that I’m freezing up.

I want to double major in Computer Science and AI, with a minor in Robotics. I am trying to choose between applying to universities in Hong Kong (HK), Singapore , the United States (US), or mainland China.Since Robotics and AI require heavy lab infrastructure, I want to make sure I pick a place with good tech hubs and funding.

I am begging for a lifeline or a roadmap on how to manage these different application streams.

Specifically, I’m struggling with:The

Application Portals: I know the US uses the Common App, but how do I actually apply to UG programs in HK, China, or Sgn? Do I apply to each university individually on their website?

Language of Instruction: Are there reputable full English-medium UG degrees for CS/AI in mainland China , or is the language barrier too brutal for a 4-year degree?

Finances & Scholarships: The US and HK look insanely expensive for a full 4-year UG degree. Are there realistic, merit-based full-ride scholarships for international tech students there, or should I focus on China if I need a lower budget?

The Tech Ecosystem: For robotics and hardware, does mainland China (with proximity to Shenzhen) or the US blow HK or Singapore out of the water for undergrad research and internships?

If anyone is an international student doing their UG tech degree in any of these places, how did you navigate the application phase? What do you wish you knew?

Thank you so much!

I graduated this Spring 2026(May).I applied for post-completion OPT on May 16, and my case is still showing as Processing on the USCIS portal. Both my CPT and OPT I-20s were signed using Adobe eSign.
I've recently seen news mentioning that digital signatures might be considered a red flag like it was published from uscis that they will deny applications starting from July 10th if the signatures are digital ones.However My DSO hand-signed it,but my sign was a Adobe E-sign.My friends got their OPT’s approved last week,their’s was also the same Adobe E-sign but they applied early.My 60-day grace period ends this week, so I'm wondering if I should print my OPT I-20, sign it by hand, and upload it as Unsolicited Evidence, or just leave my application as it is and wait.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? If your I-20 had an Adobe eSign signature, is this okay?did you receive an RFE, or did you have to upload a hand-signed copy?
Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

My grades are okay. I have 10 A* *and As in my o level and expected 4 A* and As in my A level. Honestly i didn't plan to go abroad so my extracurriculars are kind of weak. German universities do favour international universities in terms of scholarship but which other counties/universities are generous with it? Also if you know of any ngo that provide scholarships i would appreciate knowing

I am an international student who is going to study Computer Science. The tech field is not good but I don't know I really want to get in like a field similar to like tech but I also want to be secured and get PR. Should I get into health informatics?

if you’re about to come to the US, wanted to share what the job market actually looks like rn, not the polished version
quick context if this is new to you — CPT is training you do while still in school, tied to your program, usually internships.
OPT is your work authorization after you graduate, 12 months normally, but STEM majors can extend it to 3 years total. non-STEM is just the 1 year

one thing that trips people up a lot: if you do full-time CPT (20+ hrs/week) for a full year before graduating, it can actually make you ineligible for OPT after. so if you’re doing a full-time internship on CPT, def check with your school’s international office before it adds up, this one catches people off guard

now the part nobody preps you for. talking to people on OPT right now, it’s brutal. thousands of applications, hundreds of cold emails, and maybe a handful of interviews out of all of it. even those sometimes end with “can’t sponsor” or getting dropped last minute

not trying to scare anyone, just wish someone told me this before i landed here. earlier you understand how CPT/OPT work and start networking, the better shot you have

made a group for intl students to talk through this stuff with people who’ve actually been through it. Lmk if you want in

I’m an international student at a Midwest university working part time (minimum wage). Money is tight but I’m trying to be smart about it instead of just letting it disappear.
A few things I’m trying to figure out:
• What’s the best way to actually save when the paycheck is small? Is a fixed % even realistic on this income?
• Are high yield savings accounts worth it for someone with a small balance, and do any of them work well for international students / non-citizens?
• Budgeting apps: worth it or overkill? What do you actually use and stick with?
• Anything I should know about taxes as an F-1 student (tips income, filing, etc.)?
• Credit: can international students build credit here, and should I even bother this early?
• Any dumb money mistakes you made in college that you’d tell your younger self to avoid?
Not looking to get rich, just want to not be clueless and maybe have a small cushion by the time I graduate. Appreciate any advice.

Hello! i recently made a booking at St Peter’s Court for the coming academic year, however the google reviews for this accommodation are horrible highlighting safety issues outside the accom gates such as stabbings and snatchings, a persistent silverfish infestation throughout rooms, hot water and heating issues, constant construction, inattentive management, subtle racism towards international students, inconsiderate roommates, etc. Does anyone know if this is a safe accommodation and worth staying at as a postgrad international student? are there any options within the same budget that i should consider over SPC? i was eager to book raleigh park but they don’t have any en-suites available anymore. any insights would be appreciated!!!!