BOOK REVIEW — Myths About Studying in the United States

By Himanshu Nainani

Cover Image Attribute: Image by Nikolay Georgiev from Pixabay 

The book “Myths About Studying in the US (ISBN: 9798779777964)” is a guide to the basics of American university education and has been authored by Kavita Parikh and Anuj Parikh, the Founder Director and Director of Disha Consultants, an India-based international education consultancy firm. According to the authors’ profile, both have studied in the US and have experienced the American education system from close quarters. They have been counseling students aspiring to study in the US and Canada for nearly two decades and have developed an extensive understanding of the way US education works.

The authors have done extensive research for this book, which can be highly beneficial to the large number of students from India who aspire to study in the US.

The first chapter “Why study in the US?” explains why so many students from India want to study in the US. According to the data presented, out of 5.8 lakh, Indian students who went to study internationally in 2019, 1.93 lakh or one-third went to the US. The authors delve into the fact that while Canada, the UK, Australia, and some other countries have also become popular among Indian students, the US has the most steady policies in terms of visa issuance, work permits, permanent residence, etc., and has maintained its leadership position. The authors write about the substantial amount of misinformation, half-truths, and myths about education in the US. The authors have presented a comparison of the size of the GDPs of the US with several other countries to press home the point that the US offers unparalleled opportunities, which is one of the biggest reasons why it is always popular among international students. 

In the second chapter “Student Visa - Perception and Statistics”, the authors focus on dispelling the myth that getting a student visa for the US is difficult. They stress that while Indian students are keen to study in the US, the US too is keen to attract talent from India (and elsewhere) because of the immense contribution they make to the US economy. Indians, especially, are one of the most prosperous diasporas and have made an indelible contribution to the US in technology, healthcare, academia, administration, and even politics.

A great myth associated with US education is that it is very expensive and this is what the third chapter “It is expensive?” deals with. The authors break down the cost into pre-departure costs, tuition and fees, and living costs, and also show how the costs can be reduced. They also speak at length about the various funding options available to students, including education loans, scholarships, and some lesser-known means. The authors further advise students to also compare the cost of education with the earning potential, and reason that the earning potential is by far the highest in the US as compared with other countries.

In the fourth chapter “Role models and their stories”, the authors advise students to compare the career graphs of those who have studied in the US with those who have got foreign education in another country. They also dispel the perception that the number of students going to the US has dropped. The data presented by them for the four years from 2015-16 to 2018-19 shows that the US is the most popular international education destination by a huge distance.

The fifth chapter of the book is “Career opportunities and how to look for them”. The authors again show that the career opportunities in the US are unlike any other country and how students must go about making the most of these opportunities. The authors also briefly explain how a student visa can lead to a green card in the US.

The sixth chapter “My uncle says.. should I listen?” stresses the importance to collect information from the right sources and not basing their decisions on someone else’s interpretation or understanding. 

The book covers a very important and relevant subject. The authors have gone in-depth and dispelled the various myths by relying on data and solid arguments. They have also presented different perspectives to justify their assertions. Above all, the book is written in a very simple and lucid language and it is very easy to grasp. Having reviewed this book, I feel it will give important insight to students who dream of having an American education. 

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