I don't know what China, Korea and other countries who send students by planeloads to American universities every year are thinking, but here in India affluent and informed parents - who have by and large in the past sworn by an American education - have never seemed as wary in sending their children to the United States. Even the lure of the Ivy League is a tad dimmer.
There remains a large set with a horse-blind focus that continues to be a strong votary of the American education system, but voices of dissent are undoubtedly on the rise in drawing room and dinner party conversations. Counsellors, education consultants and even international schools are all hearing the same refrain: that in the present scenario they'd like their children to apply for studies to all English-speaking countries except the United States.
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Why is the US appearing to be less attractive? One big reason is Donald Trump and the possible racism his leadership could unleash. More than once Trump has aired his bigoted views. A Washington Post editorial last week talks of his plans of "mass deportations" and how he may round up and expel millions of long-time US residents. These may well be empty threats to win votes but empty or not they are enough to scare off many potential students, especially amongst the more targeted and vulnerable communities. Several Muslim parents in particular have struck America off their list.
I personally know of two Indian students who returned jobless from two American colleges this year - both convinced they lost their possible campus jobs to a white American student only on the grounds of colour and citizenship. Both argue their stronger academic and overall credentials ought to have landed them the job. It could be a case of sour grapes but murmurs of this kind are being heard from more than one quarter.
A second equally valid concern for parents is his pro-gun stance. Trump has time and again aired his views on the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. It hasn't helped that in August the state of Texas passed a law permitting students to carry guns on campus and at colleges. The world is already a less safe place but in a bizarre example of inverted logic, supporters of the law argue that it will make college campuses "safer" by not preventing licensed gun owners from defending themselves and possibly saving lives should a mass shooting occur. If Trump indeed wins, many parents fear similar rules may be enforced across more states. For all parents, safety of their wards is paramount but for Indian parents guns are a strict no-no. Asking Indian children to carry a gun to college is as bizarre as mutely accepting their daughters bearing a child out of wedlock.
Two other factors - unrelated to the US and the possible choice of president - have added to US colleges no longer being the primary flavour of the season unlike in the past.
One is that many feel that the US colleges have out-priced themselves. Costs of studying at virtually any college has almost doubled from even five years ago. Any regular university means a hit of around Rs 40 lakh a year. An Ivy League and you are looking at close to Rs 50 lakh a year. UK universities - costs are anywhere between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 30 lakh for a year of study - are appearing as the far more viable option and many parents and students are getting drawn to it. Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and Canada are all cheaper, too.
And finally, the lack of jobs in general in the US is making astute and value for money-driven Indian parents less convinced about their wards heading to America. The old formula of an assured return with a foreign degree stamp no longer holds true. Most Indian students are failing to find jobs and visa troubles ensure that many who do find employment still have to head home. While this is truer for graduates in liberal arts and humanities than business, engineering or technology, there's no denying the change in environment.