What to do after graduation

The scenario

Yes, I know. In the 1990s, going to college outside of your home country was considered a prestige. Your market value increased, your parents were proud of you, college was affordable and your opportunities were plenty. However, in 2025, the opposite is happening. After an uncountable number of all nighters to finish your college applications, you are rewarded with:

• 90k tuition

• Unstable visa situation

• Oversaturated job market

Instead of being the best decision of your life, it became a high risk investment. Your parents aren’t bragging about your “international diploma” anymore, they’re quietly wondering if it was worth mortgaging their savings so you could chase an opportunity that no longer guarantees a future. You are now faced with a simple but crushing dilemma every single day:

Was it all worth it?

What's at stake

In the past few months, the United States has implemented a series of actions that has: emphasized border security and expanded enforcement. For international students, the change was clear. The Catch and Revoke program used AI to monitor students’ social media searching for any connection with antisemitic activity. However, over 1,500 students had their visas revoked not only for the program’s purpose, but also minor violations - such as traffic violations. This has led many universities to decrease international enrolment.

Nonetheless, the difficulties are not only related to entering the USA. There are also two more issues for admitted students:

1. Living in the USA during graduation

Clubs and student organizations on campus are rejecting international students just due to the fact that they are foreigners. In an interview with a member of the Brazilian Association at Boston University, he was rejected from 8 different business clubs at the university. When the student questioned the President of the business clubs regarding the issue, according to them the “chance of international students getting a job in the USA is extremely low and, therefore, we don’t believe they would contribute to the club”.

2. Staying in the USA after graduation

You’ve probably heard about the H-1B Visa situation. To give you some context, that’s the work visa. That is, the legal authorization you need to stay in the USA after graduation. The way to get it? Simple. Not your GPA. Not your performance. Not your impact. A random draw. Yes, that 's right. A lottery to decide your future. If you don’t think that’s hard enough, the White House is now requiring a $100,000 payment for a noncitizen to participate in this lottery. That is, according to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services “new H-1B petitions filed at or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025 must be accompanied by an additional $100,000 payment as a condition of eligibility”. Imagine if a company X pays the non refundable quantity and the applicant has its visa denied. The odds of this happening are likely, considering that the companies are paying for the applicants to enter a lottery system. Now tell me, what company would be willing to make such a risky investment?

What do you need to stay?

The news is not the best. The likelihood of an international student staying in the USA after graduation is extremely low. Luck and a firm willing to risk everything for you seem to be the most differentiated factors right now. However, there are many ways to put your degree to good use. There are 3 things that you should know before receiving your diploma.

#1: A gap semester is not the end of the world

Taking a few months to recalibrate does not make you fall behind; on the contrary, it often puts you ahead. A gap semester gives you room to breathe, reorganize your priorities, and explore opportunities you never had time for during college. Whether you intern abroad, learn a new skill, or simply figure out your next move, this period can clarify your direction far more than rushing into a job you don’t want.

#2: A supporting network makes a huge difference

You don’t need to navigate this uncertainty alone. Friends, mentors, professors, and alumni can open doors you didn’t even know existed. A single message, a 15-minute call, or a warm introduction can shift your entire trajectory. Surround yourself with people who believe in you.

#3: Earth is a big place

The U.S. is not the only country where your degree has value. If one door closes, there are dozens of others waiting: Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and growing global hubs that are hungry for international talent. Your education, your story, and your experience matter far beyond American borders. Expanding your horizon might be the very thing that transforms uncertainty into opportunity.

In the end, the world you’re stepping into may feel uncertain, but it is far from hopeless. Your degree, your resilience, and your willingness to adapt still carry enormous weight. The path forward may not look like the one you imagined when you first boarded that plane, but it can still lead somewhere meaningful. Whether you stay, return home, or build a life in a new country entirely, remember this: your future is not defined by a visa outcome. It is defined by your ability to move, to learn, and to create opportunities where others only see barriers. And that power is still fully yours.