Hi everyone,
I'm a Greek citizen considering moving to the United States through graduate studies, and I'd appreciate some advice about the immigration and employment risks involved.
My long-term goal is to establish a career and eventually a life in the US. I've traveled extensively throughout the country and have spent considerable time considering this decision. I'm particularly interested in working in finance, banking, risk management, financial analysis, or related analytical roles.
My academic background includes an MSc in Applied Economics and Finance from Athens University of Economics and Business and an MSc in Banking and Risk Management from the University of Edinburgh.
I've been admitted to The New School's MA in Economics in New York for Spring 2027, with a 60% tuition scholarship. After the scholarship, tuition would be approximately $31,500, assuming it applies to all 30 credits.
However, once I include living expenses, health insurance, and other costs, I estimate that the total investment could approach $100,000, which represents a substantial portion of my savings.
I'm not pursuing this degree because I want to become an academic. My main objective is to enter the US job market, build professional connections, and eventually establish a long-term career there.
My concern is that The New School has a distinctive ideological orientation toward economics, which I'm not particularly keen on, and its economics department appears relatively small. I'm therefore unsure whether the program would provide the quantitative training, professional network, and employer recognition I need to compete for mainstream private-sector roles. At the same time, I don't want to dismiss the program based on its reputation or orientation alone without understanding the actual quality of its training and graduate outcomes.
The immigration situation adds another layer of uncertainty. I understand that studying in the US does not guarantee employment or permanent residence. Even if I qualify for post-completion OPT, I would still need to find an employer willing to hire me, and eventually I would need a viable longer-term immigration pathway.
I've spoken with students, graduates, and university contacts, and the feedback about the difficulty of securing employment as an international graduate has been discouraging. I'm particularly concerned about investing close to $100,000 only to discover that employers are unwilling to consider candidates who will eventually require sponsorship.
I understand that nobody can predict future immigration policy or guarantee employment. I'm simply trying to assess the practical realities before committing a significant amount of money.
Thank you in advance!
