United States-India Educational Foundation, Chennai

USIEF ORIENTS STUDENTS FOR LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES

On July 9 and 30, 2010, United States India Educational Foundation, Chennai organized two pre-departure orientation sessions for nearly 170 students leaving to the United States for Fall 2010 at Hotel Deccan Plaza, Chennai. Mr. Bryan Dalton, Acting Consul General and Chief of Consular Section, American Consulate General, in his inaugural remarks, spoke on the value of international education especially education in the United States, quoted his own experiences as an international student, shared statistics on students leaving to the United States, how education in the U.S. broadens the horizons of an individual and the various opportunities available for students on campuses.

Analysis: Out of 166 students registered, 166 were graduate students and 4 were undergraduate students. 5% got the full financial aid and 12% got partial aid. Top fields of study were engineering, computer science and business. Top five universities were University of Texas (10), Arizona State University (9), North Carolina State University (7), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (6), Ohio State University, State University of New York, University of Florida, Illinois Institute of Technology (5 each). Top 5 states were Texas (21), New York (10), Arizona, New York, California (9 each), Ohio, North Carolina (8 each) and Illinois, Massachusetts (7 each). New subjects were naval architecture and marine engineering; Technical entrepreneurship and management (TEAM), space science, Ergonomics and human factors, neurological rehabilitation and renewable energy system. Gender ratio: Male 79% and Female 21%.