Realizing
Higher Education Dreams
T
By RUPALI VERMA
Student stories on how U.S. higher education is aspirational but also accessible and attainable. 20 JULY/AUGUST 2021
here was a time when students from small towns in India planning to pursue higher education at U.S. universities would have been called daydreamers. However, times have changed and so has the outlook of students and parents. An increasing number of parents are willing to help realize the dreams of their children who, through the world-class education they receive at U.S. institutions, gain the ability to elevate not only themselves but their families too. Increased internet connectivity and smartphone proliferation have helped students across India access the information they need to pursue their dreams of an international higher education degree. With close to 200,000 Indians studying at U.S. universities in 2019-20, the United States remains the most popular international study destination for Indians. The transition to a new culture, being away from home and acclimating to a new environment is never easy. However, students from small towns have shown resilience, dedication and persistence and are now global citizens contributing to an interconnected world and spreading the knowledge they have
acquired from their studies in the United States. Here are a couple of student stories, which show that while U.S. higher education is aspirational, it is also accessible and attainable. Born and brought up in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, Nickxit Bhardwaj chose the University of Michigan-Flint, to pursue his higher studies. According to Bhardwaj, his parents were supportive of his plans but had several apprehensions related to funding, cultural adjustment and readjustment upon completing the degree and returning to India. After meeting advisers at EducationUSA and attending a series of sessions and university fairs, they felt reassured and took on the challenges of the application process. Like many other students, Bhardwaj initially dreamt of studying at an Ivy League university but after delving deeper into his priorities, his overall profile and funding needs, he expanded his focus to universities across the United States that matched his requirements and aspirations. “The U.S. education system is vast and there are schools for every type of individual,” says Bhardwaj. Therefore, it’s important to
