Hello everyone!
I’m currently an international student from Vietnam studying junior year in the US. I haven’t had much experiences or informations to know how colleges and universities here work. But I do know the last stop of all these years studying and working hard is to have a good, stabe job.
I’ve always dream to study in the Health Care field, and always focus all my studies on the prerequsites needed for such careers. I’m looking into Dentistry or Physician Assistant as possible career major. But there’s a BIG problem blocking me: How hard it is to find a job for these majors, ESPECIALLY FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CITIZEN, to have a job in the US? I mean, what are some possibilities for me to be able to get a job after I gradutated from uiversity and grad school?
Because in the end, what would I do with a paper of certificate if I can’t get a decent job to take care of my life?
Thank you! 
As an international citizen, you won’t qualify for any loans or other financial aid for dental school or physician assistant programs, so you’ll need to have $200 thousand or more saved up, or find a U.S. co-signer for these loans. Also, it’s very difficult to be admitted to most programs as an international student, although private schools are a bit more lenient on this.
There is demand for nurses. I know of Filipino ones who land US work visas.
A dentistry assistant in the US is usually an Oral Hygenist. This is an occupation that requires only a 2-yr Associate’s Degree and is probsbly not “skilled” enough to garner a US work visa.
Here’s some wage statistics for dentists and physician assistants:
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291021.htm
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291071.htm
Keep in mind that you’ll need a work visa (H-1B), which is a cost- and labor-intensive process for your employer. Employers generally resort to work visas for one of two reasons: either Americans don’t want the job (e.g. prison doctors) or it doesn’t pay enough. Either way, don’t expect to earn above the 10th percentile of the income distribution for your profession until you have a green card. Depending on your nationality and the path you pursue to get it, that process might take 20 years from the time you get your work visa.
Also keep in mind that whether your employer sponsors you for a green card is entirely up to them. They might sponsor you for a work visa and then let the work visa expire without ever filing the green card petition. And even if they do file the petition, there’s no guarantee that it will be granted.
While in theory it is possible to self-petition for a green card via a “national interest waiver”, that process would be difficult for an ordinary dentist or physician assistant. You’d have to demonstrate, among other things, that your contribution to this country would be of national interest (vs the local impact of most healthcare providers) and that an American citizen with your basic qualifications (e.g. dental degree) would not be able to make those same contributions.
Thank you so much for all your replies! I never knew that beyond the doors of universities there’re tons of more things to take into consideration.
No doubt that it will be along and hard road for me, but I’ve been dreaming to be a physician assistant( or a dentist, I haven’t decided yet because both jobs fit my interests and the job descriptions and shadowing really appeal to my personality, strenghts and career path) since forever. Is there any careers in the health care field where opportunities for international citizens are better? Except for nursing( personal and family reasons).
Are you a junior in high school in the US?
One thing that will improve your job search later, the other in Vietnam or the US, is increasing your use of the English language. Practice writing every day and speaking to people.