'I depend on my mother for money': 43-year-old Indian student returns from US with Rs 36 lakh debt

Indian graduate returns home from US after 10,000 of job rejections. (AI-generated representative image)

Studying in the United States is often viewed as a turning point in a person’s career, especially for Indian students hoping to gain global exposure and better job prospects. However, the reality does not always match the expectation.

For Gunjan (name changed), a 43-year-old business consultant, the journey ended on a difficult note. After spending four years in the US, he returned to India with $40,000 (approx Rs 36 lakh) in education debt and no stable job. Speaking to The Financial Express, he said the experience left him facing financial pressure and deep personal disappointment.

Gunjan’s decision to move to the US came during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, he had lost his job in India and spent several months trying to find another role. Despite having around ten years of experience in business consulting, he struggled to secure stable employment.

The long period without work pushed him to consider upgrading his qualifications. During this time, the idea of studying abroad began to feel like a possible way forward. Conversations with friends, alumni and education counsellors further encouraged him to pursue a degree in the United States. He said, “I knew it was risky at my age. But after speaking to friends, alumni and counsellors, everyone said there were opportunities. I believed it.”

He eventually joined a university on the US East Coast. Gunjan focused on his studies and graduated with a 3.9 GPA. At that point, he felt confident that the effort he had put into his education would soon lead to job opportunities. However, he later realised that completing the course was only the beginning of another difficult phase. “Studying was actually the easiest part,” he said.

After graduating, Gunjan began applying for jobs across the United States. Over the next three years, he sent applications to thousands of companies in different sectors. The number eventually crossed 10,000. “I’m not exaggerating,” he said.

Despite the large number of applications, the response remained limited. Gunjan said he received only seven or eight interviews during this period, and four of them reached the final round.

At one stage, he did secure a job with a company. For a short time, it seemed that his situation was finally improving. But the opportunity ended sooner than expected. “Midway through, they decided they didn’t want to take the risk with an international student, So I lost that job as well,” he said.

At the same time, several of his roommates managed to find jobs within eight months of graduating. Watching others settle into their careers while he continued to struggle made the situation more difficult.

As months passed without stable work, Gunjan had to find other ways to manage his expenses. He began taking up odd jobs wherever he could find them. Sometimes he worked long hours as an umpire for local cricket matches, standing outside in temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius. On other days, he accepted temporary work simply to cover basic living costs.

Despite these efforts, the education loan he had taken to fund his studies remained unpaid. Over time, the financial pressure began to affect his health and well-being. He explained, “Eventually I burned out,” he said.

After years of uncertainty, Gunjan eventually decided to return to India. However, returning home did not immediately resolve his situation. Months after coming back, he says he is still applying for jobs but has not found one yet. The financial burden continues, but he says the emotional impact has been just as difficult.

At 43, he now depends on his mother for financial support, something he never expected would happen at this stage of his life. He expressed, “I depend on my mother for money at 43. That’s something I never imagined. The shame is very real. My confidence used to be my strength. Now I feel like I don’t trust myself anymore.”

Gunjan believes that age may have been one of the reasons behind the struggle. As an international graduate in his 40s, he often found himself competing with younger candidates for entry-level roles. His story also reflects a broader challenge faced by some international students who pursue expensive degrees abroad. Studying overseas often involves large education loans, and finding a job afterwards is not always guaranteed.

Looking back, Gunjan says the experience taught him several difficult lessons. One of them was the importance of managing finances carefully while studying abroad. He said, “I assumed I would repay my loan once I got a job. Looking back, I should have worked more during my studies to reduce the debt.”