Morning Brief Podcast: Will Indian Students OPT out of America?

What if the very reason Indian students choose the US for higher education suddenly disappeared? No, it’s not the allure of Silicon Valley or Ivy League labels we’re talking about OPT: Optional Practical Training. For years, it’s been the launchpad for STEM grads to gain real U.S.

work experience after their degree. But that pathway is now under serious threat. In this episode, host Neil Ghai and Prachi Verma are joined by Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder of Collegify, and Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, to unpack a new bill in the U.



S. Congress that could abolish the OPT program altogether. With Indian students accounting for more than 40% of all OPT approvals last year, this isn’t just a policy shift, it's a potential game-ender.

So, what’s driving this move? What’s at stake? And how might it reshape the future for Indian students eyeing the U.S.? Tune in.

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