Studying in the US is every Indian student’s dream—but today, the reality goes far beyond tuition fees and admissions letters. From soaring hidden costs to unpredictable visa revocations, from AI-driven surveillance of social media to fears around free speech and part-time jobs—international students face challenges that test more than just academics. In this chat, Ankita Chaturvedi, Regional Manager, Texas A&M University San Antonio unpacks the hard truths, the ground reality at Texas A&M–San Antonio, and what prospective students must know before they pack their bags.