Pranay Karkale, a first-year graduate student at Johns Hopkins University from Nashik, India, stands at the university’s campus in Baltimore on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Karkale is working toward his Master of Science in engineering management. Pranay Karkale, a first-year graduate student at Johns Hopkins University from Nashik, India, stands at the university’s campus in Baltimore on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Karkale is working toward his Master of Science in engineering management.
. As record-setting enrollment by students from China has ebbed, U.S. universities have turned to India as a new source of full-price tuition payments. India’s own higher education system is also short on capacity. As its population surges, competition for admission to India’s top universities has become frenzied. Acceptance rates at some elite Indian universities have fallen as low as 0.2%, compared to 3% at Harvard University and 4% at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Pranay Karkale, a first-year graduate student at Johns Hopkins University from Nashik, India, stands at the university’s campus in Baltimore on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Karkale is working toward his Master of Science in engineering management. Even for those who can afford it, the student visa process presents roadblocks. At the U.S. embassy in New Delhi, student applicants are routinely turned away.
“I feel terrible right now,” said Cheema, holding back tears. “But I will prepare more and try again. I’m not giving up.”