College and Degree Choices

She just beat Sam Altman to found the most valuable AI company in the world. And she did it with a literature degree. Meet Daniela Amodei, President of Anthropic. This week, Anthropic hit a $1 trillion valuation on secondary markets. That's higher than OpenAI's $880 billion. Read that again. The company that built Claude just overtook the company that built ChatGPT. And Daniela didn't take the traditional path to get there. She graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in literature. She worked at Stripe, then joined OpenAI as VP of Operations. In 2021, she co-founded Anthropic with her brother Dario. Three years later, she's running a company that grew from $9 billion to $30 billion in annualized revenue in a single quarter. A 233% increase. In 90 days. But here's what makes Daniela different. She's not just building AI. She's building a company that hires differently. Anthropic doesn't just look for coders. They look for: • Great communicators • People with high EQ • Kind and compassionate humans • Critical thinkers who understand history In an interview, Daniela said something that stuck with me: "In a world where AI is very smart and capable of doing so many things, the things that make us human will become much more important." Google's Steven Johnson called it "the revenge of the humanities." The most powerful AI company in the world isn't betting on technical skills alone. They're betting on what can't be automated. Empathy. Nuance. The ability to understand what it means to be human. So the next time someone tells you a humanities degree is useless, remind them: The president of the world's most valuable AI company majored in literature. And she just beat Sam Altman. 🔔 Follow Jenny Stojkovic for more women leading in technology.

“What do I tell my kid to study?” I spend my days discussing GPU shortages, agentic architectures, and ROI with CEOs. But the question I get most often lately—usually at dinner parties—has nothing to do with the P&L. It resonates because I have a teenager at home currently applying to college and facing the same decision. And I tell him that predicting job titles for 2035 is like reading tarot cards. Five years ago, I might have said “learn to code.” Today, that advice looks very different. We have to accept that the era of fixed-point education—where you learn a trade once and deploy it for forty years—is over. So I don’t focus on the what. I focus on the how. My advice centers on a single distinction: the difference between infinite data and imperfect data. In a world of infinite data, the machine will always win. It can process, sort, and analyze faster than any human brain. If a job relies on clear inputs and outputs, AI will eventually do it better. But business—and life—is almost never about infinite data. It is about not enough data. Entrepreneurship, leadership, and strategy are about making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information. That is the definition of judgment. And that is where human exceptionalism lives. So I encourage students to double down on the timeless attributes machines struggle to replicate: agency, empathy, curiosity. And above all, adaptability. Because in a world where the tools change every semester, the only future-proof skill is the ability to adjust.

Where the Best Brains Go: Top 25 Universities Outside the U.S. in 2025 When I walked into Oxford as a student, I knew I was stepping into history. But I didn’t yet realise I was stepping onto a launchpad. Now, as someone who mentors investors, students, and professionals across the globe, I’m often asked: “Where should my son/daughter (or I) study if I want the best global opportunities?” The answer? It’s not just about prestige. It’s about networks, innovation, employability, and mindset. And yes, UK universities still lead the pack. According to the latest 2025 rankings from Times Higher Education, QS, and ARWU, here’s what the world looks like outside the U.S. - and the UK is right at the top. 🇬🇧 The UK: Still an Academic Superpower 🔹 University of Oxford – #1 in THE, top across all rankings 🔹 University of Cambridge – Dominant in research, STEM, and humanities 🔹 Imperial College London – A global hub for tech, engineering, and health innovation 🔹 UCL (University College London) – Architecture, life sciences, and global diversity 🔹 University of Edinburgh – Top choice for AI, law, and humanities 🔹 King’s College London – Known for global policy, medicine, and influence These institutions aren’t just schools. They’re career accelerators. Beyond Britain: Global Competitors to Watch 🔹 ETH Zurich – Europe’s MIT 🔹 NUS (Singapore) – Asia’s highest-ranked university 🔹 University of Toronto – Canada’s research and AI powerhouse 🔹 Tsinghua & Peking (China) – Rising global stars in STEM 🔹 University of Tokyo – Leading Asia in Nobel-winning research What Should Students and Parents Consider? Want a research career? Consider: Oxford, Cambridge, ETH Zurich Looking for tech/startup exposure? Consider: Imperial College London, University of Toronto, TUM (Germany) Focused on employability after graduation? Consider: UCL, National University of Singapore (NUS), University of Melbourne Prefer a vibrant, global city experience? Consider: UCL, King’s College London, NUS, University of Hong Kong Need affordable top-tier education options? Consider: University of Edinburgh, LMU Munich, KU Leuven (Belgium) Final Thought If you're choosing a university - for yourself or your child - go beyond the brand. Look for networks, mentors, ecosystems. As an Oxford alum and investor, I can confidently say: Where you study can shape how you think, who you meet, and where you end up. Choose wisely. The rankings are here. The opportunity is yours. Read the full breakdown: https://lnkd.in/efPXiipG

There would be virtually ZERO debate over whether college is 'worth the cost' or whether it 'prepared you well for life after,' IF college delivered on six essential experiences for EVERY student. On the likelihood of "strongly agreeing" college is worth the cost: -1.9x higher if a student had a mentor who encouraged their goals and dreams -1.9x higher if a student said their professors cared about them as a person -1.8x higher if a student said they had at least one professor who made them excited about learning -1.6x higher if they worked on a long term project that took a semester or longer to complete -1.6x higher if they were extremely involved in an extra-curricular organization -1.5x higher if they had a job or internship where they were able to apply what they were learning in the classroom And if a student hits all six of these, 82% strongly agree they were well prepared for life after college vs. just 5% if they hit none. If college delivers on this, there is no debate about its value. The value debate is because only 3% hit the mark on all six of these. #highered #talentdevelopment

“You’re too smart for Community College.” A well meaning but misinformed teacher said that to our daughter. Sophia had a 4.5 GPA her senior year and chose to enroll in Community College. College costs have skyrocketed in the past few decades. 17 and 18 year olds are getting loans for tens of thousands of dollars that they don’t understand the terms of. Some end up in debilitating debt for decades. Debt that can leave them feeling overwhelmed before they even start their first job. We didn’t want that for our kid. We looked at what we could afford, not where she could get in. There was no ‘dream’ school. We didn’t set foot on a campus that was out of our budget. We knew we could cash flow two years of a California UC or state school. We encouraged her to take the Community College route, transfer to a state or UC and graduate debt free. Did you know that Community College is FREE in over 30 states? Shaving two years off the costs of a four year degree can save a student anywhere between $60,000-$170,000+. Sophia worked while living at home attending Sierra College. She’ll graduate debt free with tens of thousands in investments and savings. This took delayed gratification on her part, but it paid off. As a transfer student she was just accepted to: UC San Diego UC Davis UC Santa Barbara Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and waitlisted at UC Berkeley and UCLA She accepted admission to Cal Poly SLO. She’s setting herself up for a lifetime of success. Debt free after college, with a hefty savings and investment amount. What I wish the teacher who told her was too smart for Sierra knew, is that she is actually wise beyond her years. As graduation approaches, celebrate all kids. The ones going into trades, the military, entrepreneurship, Community College or straight to a university. There is no ‘right’ path. Only what’s best for your kid. Source: Amy Perkins AlwaysFeelHappy.com ___ #FinancialLiteracy #DebtFree #CalPolySLO

“𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮 𝟯.𝟴/𝟰.𝟬 𝗚𝗣𝗔 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆-𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.” I used to believe grades were everything. If you were smart enough, surely universities and funding bodies would line up to give you money, right? Then I watched brilliant students with near-perfect GPAs get rejection emails—while others with average grades got FULLY FUNDED. That’s when I learned the truth: 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬. They ask: ✅ Who are you as a leader? ✅ What IMPACT have you made outside the classroom? ✅ Can you bring value to the program and community? And you know what? Most students FAIL to show this because their 𝗖𝗩𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘀. If you want to stand out in a holistic review, your CV must go beyond listing grades and internships. It needs to tell a story of IMPACT and POTENTIAL. The 5 sections you CANNOT ignore are: 1️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 – Show initiative, even in small ways. 2️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 – Highlight curiosity and academic engagement. 3️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 – Funders LOVE people who give back. 4️⃣ 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 & 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Build credibility with awards or recognition. 5️⃣ 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 & 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 – Global opportunities value technical & transferable skills. Your GPA might open the door, but THESE are what get you through it. 𝗦𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: If your CV landed on an admissions officer’s desk today, would it prove you’re a well-rounded, high-impact candidate—or just a student with good grades? 💬 Comment “𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪” and I’ll personally go through your CV/Resume before you submit your applications. #ScholarshipSuccess #HolisticAdmissions #FullyFundedScholarships #AcademicExcellence #ScholarshipTips #StudyAbroadDreams #TheCVMaster #InternationalStudents

Almost every time I speak with juniors or college students, I get asked the same question: “I’m not sure what field I want to work in. How do I decide what to do?” It’s a completely normal feeling — and honestly, I’ve been there too. When I first entered college, I had no clue what specialization to take or what career path to pursue. But here’s the truth: You don’t need to have it all figured out right away. What you need is a plan to explore and narrow it down. Here’s what I tell anyone who asks: 📍 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 — 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 List a few things you genuinely enjoy or find intriguing — like writing, data analysis, designing, or public speaking. Don’t worry about how they translate into a career just yet Action Step: Write down your interests without worrying about how they translate into a career. The point is to recognize your natural inclinations. 📍 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Try out your interests through short-term activities like joining a club, taking a beginner’s course, or volunteering for a project. Give it 2–4 weeks and see if you enjoy the process Action Step: Try something for 2–4 weeks and assess: Did you enjoy the process? Did it feel meaningful? 📍 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘁 Reach out to people working in fields you’re curious about. Ask about their day-to-day work, the skills they use, and what they enjoy or dislike about their roles Action Step: Message 3 professionals on LinkedIn and politely ask for a 15-minute chat. Most people are willing to help if you’re genuinely curious and respectful of their time. 📍 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 Identify the skills you want to develop rather than getting stuck on job titles. Whether it’s data analysis, storytelling, or management, skills are transferable and will shape your career regardless of the role Action Step: Pick one skill you’re curious about and spend an hour a week learning or practicing it. 📍 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 Your first choice doesn’t have to be your final choice. Reflect every few months to see if you’re still enjoying your current path. It’s okay to change directions as you learn more Action Step: Set a reminder to reflect every 3 months: Are you still enjoying your current path? If not, what’s next? The Bottom Line: You don’t have to know your exact career path at 20. Just focus on exploring, learning, and building foundational skills — the clarity will follow. To everyone feeling overwhelmed — take it one step at a time. And remember, not having it all figured out is okay — it’s part of the journey. What’s one career option you’re currently exploring? Share below — I’d love to hear your thoughts!👇 #CareerAdvice #CollegeTips #FindingYourPath #SkillBuilding #CareerExploration #EarlyCareerInsights

A PhD is not for everyone. That is not meant to discourage students from pursuing one. It is meant to encourage them to make the decision with their eyes wide open. Too often, smart students think of a PhD as the obvious next step because they are ambitious, curious, or good at school. It is not. A PhD can be wonderful. It can give you time to think deeply, work on questions that matter to you, & become part of an intellectual community. But it is also a long, uncertain, & uneven path. Why? Because there are no guarantees — in any discipline — that you will land the job, or the life, that you want. Before pursuing a PhD, I would think seriously about 3 things. 1. A PhD gives you the chance to go deep. You get to spend years developing expertise, asking hard questions, and learning how to create knowledge rather than simply consume it. But depth also brings uncertainty. Progress is slow. Feedback can be hard. You may spend months on a project that does not work. Some ideas fail. Some papers stall. Some paths take longer than expected. To survive that, you need to be passionate not only about the topic, but also about the process of research itself. 2. A PhD can open doors - but make sure it's a door you want to open. It can prepare you for academic, research, policy, industry, or technical roles that may otherwise be hard to access. But it does not automatically lead to a long-term job. Academic job markets are uncertain, & not all PhD programs provide the same training, networks, funding, mentoring, or placement opportunities. Program fit matters. Advisor fit matters. Funding matters. But also: personal fit matters. Earning a PhD may be for you. An academic career may not be. So before enrolling, ask yourself: If I do not become a professor, what does this PhD prepare me to do outside of academia? If no good answer comes to mind, think carefully about whether the time, cost, & opportunity cost of the degree are worth it. 3. A PhD can be personally meaningful. There is real satisfaction in becoming someone who can ask better questions, write more clearly, teach more thoughtfully, & contribute something original. But meaning does not erase opportunity costs. A PhD takes years. It affects income, relationships, family planning, & mental health. Those tradeoffs may be worth it, but they should be part of your decision-making process. Before applying, & certainly before enrolling, make a simple decision table. Write down the pros, cons, risks, & opportunities of earning a PhD. If you decide it is worth it, then do not look back. Chase the opportunity. So what is my bottom line? My advice is not “don’t do a PhD.” My advice is: pursue a PhD if you understand what the path demands, know what kind of training you are seeking, & can imagine a good life on the other side, including a good life if the tenure-track job does not happen. A PhD can be a great choice. It just should not be an accidental one. #academicjourney

A few colleges in Europe are not just teaching Indians AI and SpaceTech, but also paying them to study there... And several options have come up across Germany, France and Luxembourg where international students are being given scholarships as well as monthly stipends to study courses in English... as well as have a path to living in those countries after the program is over... 1/ The first option is Germany's DAAD scholarships such as at the Konrad Zuse Schools of Excellence in AI - which offers 15-20 fully funded masters' scholarships with a monthly stipend of approx EUR ~1000... There are a number of scholarships at universities like TU Munich and a bunch of others, which students can see at daad <dot> de... The benefit of Germany is that it allows students to stay in the country for 18 months on Job Seeker Visa after the program to search for jobs and there is no immediate need to go back... this can be converted to the EU Blue Card... 2/ Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters' programs award over 200 fully funded scholarships (each worth roughly Rs 50 lakhs) across universities in Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Slovenia... with again a monthly allowance of over EUR 1000... In a number of European countries like France, after your masters' you're allowed to spend up to 24 months on job search visas... As the US and UK tighten immigration laws, there are a number of European and SE Asian universities that will benefit because they are cheaper, but have not been pushed by career counsellors because they don't offer big commissions to agents. #casarthakahuja

Stop picking universities based on rankings alone. Here are 5 things that actually matter if you are applying in 2026. 👇 📍Total cost (not just tuition) → Tuition varies wildly from $20k–$60k/year depending on program and university type → Living costs range from $1,200/month (Houston, Atlanta) to $2,500+/month (NYC, SF, LA) → Hidden costs add up: health insurance ($1,000–$3,000/year), books ($500–$1,000/year), flights ($2000/year) → A #50 ranked school in Houston could cost you $70k less over two years than a #30 ranked school in San Francisco with identical job outcomes 📍Location & weather (yes, this matters!) → 66% of international students cite 'cost' as their top concern - and location directly impacts your budget → Weather affects your quality of life: can you handle harsh winters in Boston or extreme heat in Arizona? → City matters for industry: Seattle for tech, NYC for finance, Houston for energy → Proximity to industry hubs = more internships, networking, and job opportunities → Strong local alumni networks can open doors that rankings could never will 📍Employment outcomes → 72% of Gen Z students now care more about job outcomes than university rankings → Check 6-month post-graduation employment rates for your specific program → Research starting salaries by program, not university-wide averages → For international students: OPT/CPT placement rates matter a lot → See which companies actively recruit from that program → If a university flaunts rankings but hides program-level outcomes, that’s a red flag 🚩 📍Career services & international student support → Dedicated international student career counselors (not all schools have them) → CPT/OPT/H-1B visa guidance integrated into career services → Employer databases showing visa sponsorship history and international-friendly companies → Alumni mentorship programs specifically for international students → Job boards with filters for visa sponsorship roles (platforms like Interstride) 📍Financial aid & scholarships → Merit-based scholarships specifically for international students (many schools offer 20-50% tuition waivers) → Graduate assistantships that include tuition waiver + monthly stipend ($1,500–$2,500/month) → Research opportunities with funding attached to them → On-campus employment options to offset living costs → A lesser-ranked school offering 50% scholarship often delivers better ROI than top-10 at full price You're spending $100k+ not to get a degree, but to build a career, expertise, and skills that will compound over your lifetime. Choose accordingly. ⚠️ Disclaimer: I'm not an immigration lawyer. This information is compiled from publicly available sources and years of research to help you understand university selection factors. For guidance specific to your situation, consult with education counselors and immigration attorneys. — 🌿 Re-post if this resonated. 👉 Follow for more such resources for intl students.