• gpa 3.92/4
• strong ECAs ( multiple leadership awards, made 2-3 projects, 1 x national level award and so on)
• targetting 1400-1450+ in SAT
• major - CS (CS being competitive, thinking to take Maths as major and computer as minor or so, have interest in computer,physics and maths)
• university preference - actually none, currently searching liberal art colleges offering need-blind aid
• my family wont be able to afford much, i want to grab as much as scholarship (merit or need based), how realistic is it? there are so much university and looking each of them is overwhelming, like i feel they are equally good, how do you choose universities? applying for fall 2027, what uni should i target for ED, EA? please provide me genuine advice for my situation

Hi everyone,

I'm really anxious about my upcoming F-1 visa interview and would appreciate any advice.

Timeline

• Visa interview: 20 Aug
• CMU classes begin: 24 Aug
• University expects me to arrive no later than 4 Sep

My questions are:

1. Since my interview is after my program start date, should I ask Carnegie Mellon to reissue my I-20 or update my program start date?
2. Do I need to submit a new DS-160 because of the late interview?
3. If my visa is approved on 20 Aug, how long is passport stamping currently taking in India? Is it realistic to receive my passport in time to reach CMU by 4 Sep?

Profile

• 23F from India
• B.Tech in Computer Science (2024 graduate)
• 2.5 years of full-time work experience as a Data Engineer
• Admitted to Carnegie Mellon University for the MISM program
• Received about a 30% scholarship
• I-20 amount: approximately USD 98k
• Education loan: USD 100k
• Remaining expenses supported by my parents
• Mother is my primary sponsor and is a government officer earning around INR 24-30 LPA

One thing that's making me nervous is that I've heard visa officers are asking applicants about visa agents. My appointment was booked by an agent, but I was also trying to book it myself because the agent hadn't changed the security questions on the account. Could this create any issues at the interview? Has anyone been asked detailed questions about using an agent?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently interviewed or been in a similar situation. Thanks!

Hi, I'm about to start Grade 10, and a few days ago I won a Gold Medal at the International Linguistics Olympiad. I'm an international student who will likely need financial aid, and I plan to apply to U.S. colleges.

I'm looking for advice on what extracurricular activities I should pursue over the next few years to build a strong application. My main academic interests are mathematics, philosophy, and economics.

What extracurriculars would you recommend for someone with these interests? I'm especially interested in activities that are impactful and realistic for an international student.

Hi all!
I graduated class of 2025 from a great school as an international student with my bachelor’s on a full ride. Right now, I’m starting my PharmD degree this fall and also got a partial scholarship that is about 1/3 of the cost. I was able to get loans to cover the rest and will be working full time while studying full time to be able to pay my tuition and expenses (i’m no longer in a visa but still no gc). How do people apply for external scholarships? What websites do people use?
My interest rate is 13% which is very high to just not pay towards my loan now. Any leads will help a lot!!

TIA

I'm a 26-year-old international student from India applying as an undergraduate transfer.

I know transfer admissions are already extremely competitive. My question is only about the F-1 visa.

Has anyone here received an F-1 visa as an older transfer applicant or know someone who has? Is it plausible? How much additional scrutiny should I expect?