Less than 50% PhD graduates in STEM are American born!
That is ridiculously crazy. American born have all the advantages, such as English proficiency, possible help in US $$$ from parents/savings/jobs, knowledge of American culture, etc.
When I arrived as a student to work on Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, I had no such advantages. My parents could only pay for 1 semesters tuition. Rest was up to me. I worked part time jobs washing utensils in hospital cafeteria, and part time job in physics dept editing data received from satellites, to support my education.
And it was hard for me to find a good job after graduation because I was on student visa and spoke with an accent. When I found a job walking streets of Chicago in a manufacturing outfit, I did not even ask what my wages would be. I started at the lowest level job in engineering dept doing drafting work. But no one can hold back brains and talent if one possesses those traits. I succeeded beyond my wildest imagination in my jobs. Received promotions after promotions, and ended of as corporate manager of computer aided engineering and manufacturing operations. Engineers from as far away as Germany came to visit my manufacturing plant to observe our processes, because our reputation had spread through the vendors of CNC machines which we were using.
Less than 50% PhD graduates in STEM are American born!
That doesn't contradict what I said.