How to Study Abroad in the USA with Just $10k: Hassan's Story
I was dreaming of studying abroad in the USA at some STEM programme and thought that a student loan or a scholarship was my only chance. But what if I told you that there's a secret way to study abroad with just $10k?
That's exactly what I did. I came to the USA from India with only $10k in my pocket and no scholarship options. But I was determined to make it happen, so I enrolled in a certificate program in IT.
Certificate programs are a great way to get the skills and knowledge you need to start a career in a particular field without having to spend four years in college. They're also much more affordable than traditional four-year degrees. What I studied: Cloud Foundations, Information Technology Fundamentals, Programming Fundamentals, Intro to Software Development & Version Control
IT, Database Development, JavaScript, JavaScript, Web Authoring, Object Oriented Programming with Java, Data Structures and Algorithms with Java, Android Application Development, Capstone, and Software Development Career Strategies.
My certificate program was only one year long, and it cost me $8,625 in total. What I liked even more, that I had quite a lot of free time. For example, I made friends with a guy doing a Master’s in IT and he didn’t have it at all. Thank God and A&K that I chose a certificate programme. Take advantage of free activities and events. There are many free activities and events available in most cities.
After I graduated, I got a job as a software engineer at a major tech company with a salary of 4k$. Just imagine, in India I wouldn’t even dream of a salary of 2k$.
Do you think that you can’t work with a student visa? However, your options are OPT and CPT. These are two types of work authorizations that allow international students to work temporarily in the USA. Only students holding an F-1 visa can apply for OPT or CPT for a period of 12 months. CPT is a part of the academic curriculum of the US education system and allows students to work while studying. OPT can be applied either before or after the completion of studies and students can take up a job under I-20 listed employees only.
If you're serious about studying in the USA, don't let the cost stop you. There are ways to make it happen, even if you don't have a lot of money.
With careful planning and budgeting, it is possible to study abroad in the USA with just $10k. So don't give up on your dream!