A Delhi-based student’s dream of studying in the United States hit an unexpected roadblock when his F-1 student visa was denied, despite securing admission to CUNY Baruch College for a Master’s in Finance and arranging a hefty budget of ₹1 crore (approximately $116,000). The rejection came as a shock, especially considering his well-documented finances, prompting him to turn to Reddit for answers.
The student shared the details of his visa interview, which took place at the US Consulate in New Delhi at 8:30 AM. According to his Reddit post, the interview began with the usual pleasantries and document checks. The Visa Officer (VO) asked basic questions about his university choice, to which the student responded that he found CUNY Baruch while looking for institutions that accept 3-year undergraduate degrees in the US. He also mentioned reading positive reviews about the college on LinkedIn.
The VO then inquired about other universities the student had applied to — a list that included University of Denver, Rochester, Babson, UMass Boston, University of Arizona, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. When asked about funding, the student said he had secured a loan of ₹50 lakh and that his father had another ₹50 lakh in savings. Despite this solid financial plan, the VO responded with a visa denial.
Perplexed and disheartened, the student asked the Reddit community why his visa might have been rejected and whether reapplying would make sense. The responses poured in, many pointing out subtle but critical flaws in his interview.
Several users noted that his answer regarding why he chose Baruch lacked depth and appeared generic — giving the impression that he made a quick decision rather than showing real academic intent. “It feels like you Googled universities for 10 minutes and picked one,” one user remarked, highlighting how visa officers look for strong academic alignment and genuine motivation.
Others pointed out inconsistencies in the caliber of schools he applied to. Mixing top-tier schools like Rochester and Babson with more moderately ranked ones like CUNY seemed odd to some, possibly raising doubts about the authenticity of his application strategy.
The order in which he described his funding also drew scrutiny. “Always start with your parents’ savings before mentioning a loan,” advised one Redditor, noting that leading with the loan might make it seem like the student intends to work in the U.S. to repay it — a red flag under student visa terms.
Suggestions for improvement included giving a more personal, academically driven response to why he chose Baruch. For instance, referencing a faculty member or research program he’s excited to work with would show greater commitment and planning.
In summary, while the student’s financials were solid, his lack of a compelling academic narrative and minor missteps in how he presented his plans might have contributed to the visa denial. As Reddit users emphasized, reapplying is an option — but only with a stronger, more personal story that demonstrates genuine academic intent and consistency across all aspects of the application.
