Ask HN: Advice on (Harvard) Grad School?
Strange asking this question. I wanted to reach out to ask for advice around going to US Grad School as an international student, particularly with the aim of moving to the Bay Area to contribute to the startup ecosystem - perhaps with my own startup or perhaps to help others!
So at this time, the situation is a very fortunate one. I have a full-ride scholarship to Harvard this fall to continue my Architectural Studies (my gentleman's hobby...) Fortunately, I also get to skip the first year which means the course is 2.5 years with the last 1.5 years of those allowing me to take whatever option courses throughout Harvard and MIT - I'm curious about too much so that possibility is awesome.
On the other hand, I have now developed a lot of doubts about whether the overall situation will be worth it, both short and long term.
- I am British/Irish based in London. Thus have short term immigration problems despite having all visa paperwork.
- First semester+ will be remote (the embassies are closed and they will be bound to have a ton of backlog to work through, providing COVID doesn't again provoke the government to shut down immigration in winter). Working alone without really meeting anyone properly/having the campus experience really drops the value of going back to university.
- Unfortunately for all, it seems quite likely that international working visas will be attacked and reduced (H1-B, OPT etc). Another drop in value.
- My self-propelled study (learning now to pull together software the past year), would be slowed down significantly. At least on my own, I would be able to learn much more outside of a university. Especially a remote university.
- I have some fantastic opportunities in London where I would actually be paid to go to university, with all the uncertainty, this option is getting more attractive.
Thus it's a bit more of a nuanced than that I'm used to!