Indian Students In The US, Including Those In Ivy League Colleges, Are Struggling To Find Even Internships: Here's Why

For Indian students pursuing studies abroad, particularly in the USA, even in prestigious Ivy League institutions, the outlook appears bleak. Securing internships, let alone job opportunities, has become increasingly challenging amidst a slowdown in hiring.

Local hiring being given a push in the US

According to sources familiar with the situation, many students studying in the US have faced difficulties securing internship offers, which are crucial for gaining on-the-job experience before entering the competitive job market.

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Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder of Collegify, an education consulting company, mentioned to ET that around 400 undergraduate students from both the East and West Coasts, including those in Ivy League schools, whom he counseled over the years, did not receive any internship offers this summer.

The global economic slowdown is the major reason behind the impact on entry-level job opportunities, as reported by several students, education consultants, and Indian-American professionals in the US.

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Furthermore, the tendency of many companies to prioritise hiring local students during an election year is another factor contributing to the lack of internship opportunities for Indian students, since US elections are slated for November.

Ivy league students facing the heat

Even students at Ivy League schools are facing challenges.

Also read: Want To Study In An Ivy League College? Here's All You Need To Know

The Ivy League consists of eight prestigious private universities in the United States known for their top-notch academics and tough admissions standards, which include Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Brown University, Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University.

Representative image/ Sunday Guardian

For instance, a 22-year-old senior at Harvard University, studying economics and psychology, has applied to many companies over the past six months but hasn't secured a summer internship yet.

Also read: Career Opportunities & Cultural Experiences Motivate Indian Students To Study Abroad: Survey

This year, it's especially tough for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students, who were previously in high demand. Many technology, consulting, and modern companies are either laying off employees or freezing hiring.

According to Khandelwal, there are hardly any job opportunities for basic coding skills unless they involve AI (artificial intelligence) or emerging technologies.

Despite American colleges actively attracting foreign students, including Indians, the situation remains challenging. The number of Indian students heading to the US for education is at an all-time high.

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