For decades, studying in the US was seen as a golden ticket: a degree that promised not just world-class education, but a clear path to jobs, visas, and a better life abroad.
But in 2025, that promise looks very different. We surveyed 50 Indian students and recent graduates in the US. Almost half told us they’ve either already moved back to India or are planning to.
In this episode of 90,000 Hours, we follow the journeys of Indian students who chased the American dream and discovered the reality was far more complicated. From shrinking job markets and tougher visa lotteries to the hard decision of whether to stay or return home.
The American Dream isn’t gone. But for Indian students, it has shifted from a one-way ticket to something far less certain.
Tune in.
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What is 90,000 Hours (Private)?
You’ll spend 90,000 hours at work in your lifetime. How do you make that time count?
90,000 Hours is a weekly podcast from the newsroom of The Ken that helps you navigate today’s changing world of work, where the traditional 40-year career is gone, entry-level jobs are being replaced by artificial intelligence, and staying relevant means constantly reinventing yourself.
Hosted by Rahel Philipose, the show features conversations with the people creating, breaking, and rewriting the way we work.