What to Make of Trump’s Foreign Student Policy

Ever since Trump’s taking office, news coming out of the US have not been good.  Some foreign students have had their visas revoked, universities have been blocked from accepting foreign students, and foreign student visas have been put under additional scrutiny.  This is the hallmark of the Trump administration: incompetence, unpredictability, and chaos, not just for other countries, but also for the US.  While there is nothing that we can do about the administration, I still think the outlook is not as bleak as it seems today.  I will try to analyze the situation at 3 levels to show that the situation will change for the better next year.

<1> The Trump government has done a lot of destruction within the first few months of inauguration.  Having said that, what can we expect in the next year then?  If you understand the US government structure and process, the mid-term elections are coming up in 2026.  People in the US are already protesting against the administration’s policies.  If these protests continue to escalate, the GOP (Trump’s party) will be on the losing end of next year’s election.  People all over the world are in pain because of these policies.  If the GOP loses out in next year’s election, the president will essentially become a lame duck president, which I think there is a high probability of that happening.  If so, then Congress will try to take away the powers of the president and may even successfully impeach him.  The more pain that people are suffering today, the more likely this is going to happen.  Therefore, I don’t believe that Trump can exercise his power as president for very long.

<2> At the university level, even though they can be blocked from admitting foreign students on their campuses, there is another alternative that we all should be familiar with: online Zoom lessons.  Most students have already done this during the pandemic and if the situation gets any worse, foreign students can take their lessons through Zoom without a student visa.  They don’t even need to go to the US to complete their degrees.  Or they can go to the US for a few months of the year as tourists to attend some of the classes in person.  For example, Harvard has said that it is developing contingency plans so that some international students may be able to study remotely, as they did during the pandemic, or at international locations.  The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard also said that it was making arrangements to partner with the University of Toronto to host some students there.  I am not a legal expert but I am sure that these universities will continue to fight against these unfair policies in the US courts, which they are doing right now.  By the time the court cases are resolved, it will be many years later and by then, I am sure no one is interested in this issue anymore.

<3> On a personal level, we cannot just adopt a wait-and-see attitude and do nothing for the time being.  This is bad for our morale and self-worth.  College-entering students are at their prime age and they have to look to the future and plan for it, no matter what obstacles are being thrown at them.  We cannot predict what is going to happen in the future, but we always need to constantly prepare ourselves for the future.  SAT is not just a test; it can also act as a motivation for students to improve on their verbal and quantitative skills, skills that are still necessary in the coming world of AI.  Therefore, instead of doing nothing, do something to improve yourself, learn new things, and acquire new skills.  So that when the time comes around to your university admission, you have something to show the admission officers that you are ready to be admitted into a university of your choice.

In a nutshell, luck doesn’t happen to a random person.  Luck comes to the person who is prepared.

Summary by AI (Copilot):

Since Trump took office, US policies have negatively impacted foreign students through visa revocations and increased scrutiny, but the situation may improve in the coming year. The political landscape, university adaptations, and personal preparation all play roles in shaping future prospects for international students.

• Political changes may limit Trump's power: Mid-term elections in 2026 and ongoing protests could weaken the GOP's position, potentially leading to reduced presidential authority or impeachment, which may reverse current policies. 

• Universities adapt to restrictions: Institutions are exploring online classes and international partnerships, allowing foreign students to continue their education remotely or abroad despite visa challenges. 

• Legal battles ongoing: Universities are actively contesting restrictive policies in courts, though resolutions may take years, by which time the issue might lose prominence. 

• Personal preparation remains crucial: Students are encouraged to focus on skill development and academic readiness, such as preparing for the SAT, to remain competitive regardless of policy uncertainties.