38% rise in Indian students going to US

CHENNAI/MUMBAI: America continues to grow in stature as the most-favored
destination for Indian students with the last seven months showing a 38% increase in the number of candidates going there.
What's more, Chennai seems to be one of the largest exporters in the country.
Sample this: 38,274 student visas were issued from across the country in fiscal year 2006-07 (October 2006 to September 2007), of which the Chennai consulate gave out 19,973.
Correspondingly, between October 2007 and April 2008, 50,316 student visas were issued from across the country, of which the Chennai consulate alone accounted for 24,975.
With a rising middle class in India able to afford American university programmes and schools actively recruiting them, Indians have become the largest group of international students in the US.
Experts point that the increase in the flow of Indian students could also be reasoned to America now accepting the three-year bachelor degree programme as a valid one for entry to their graduate schools. [View Full Article]