<p>Hi,
So, I go to a US university but obviously I am international.
As I have been discussing on this forum, I am thinking of majoring in EE with lot and lots of CS course (enough to be a CS major but my school doesn't allow double majoring). I am also doing Applied Math and Management Systems.
The thing is that I have been hearing a "rumor" among EE majors that EE or Hardware Companies haven restrictions on International Employee(as in more than other fields). I know MAE is not international-friendly with all the companies that have contracts with the DOD, but I never thought that could be the same for Hardware/Computer E. companies such as Apple, Dell, Intel...
In fact, out of 40 EE majors in the sophomore class(I am frosh) there are really few internationals and even those who started as EE switch to CS by junior year. While the CS department has around 100 majors (sophomores) with around 25% internationals.</p>
<p>So, would you say that this is totally erroneous? I do realize that the Hardware market is shrinking in total and having a slower growth than software (which is one reason of why I am interested in both software and hardware, but I was just wondering if there are limitations on internationals like in the MAE field.</p>
<p>As an international student, your options in the hardware sector are somewhat limited with the major defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, etc. But in the semiconductor world, most circuit/VLSI people at companies like Intel, Qualcomm and the like, seem to in fact be “internationals”.</p>
<p>Hi,
Thanks for the answer. Yes, I realize that major defense contractors are a “no-go”. However, I am more into semi-conductors, Computer Architecture, Embedded Systems and such. So, I believe what you’re saying is that I won’t have more troubles to get into that sector(as an international) than others, right?</p>
<p>Not at all. You will be the majority.
This seems especially true in most hardware-heavy areas (ie. analog and mixed signal design). </p>
<p>It seems that American undergrads are more inclined towards CS than EE these days, but among international students it still is the other way around, at least at the graduate level.</p>
<p>Hahahaa
It looks like CS is the NEW AMERICAN DREAM.
People are no more dreaming of starting a rock band, but rather of starting a company…(or at least that is the impression I get from my University)</p>
<p>Because they expect to become billionaires by making social web pages and iphone farting applications, rather than something that can actually benefit society. Sigh.</p>
<p>yea semi conductor industry is a lot of internationals. a lot of the companies though require you to have a masters though. Something with work authorization or something, but its easier for a company to let an international work if they are a masters. </p>
<p>Nevertheless I know for a fact that microsoft and qualcomm will hire international BSE’s. Those are the only two I am sure of, i am sure a few others do too.</p>
<p>Is it really that more beneficial to be someone who is making the iphone rather than the iphone farting app. Both seem pretty useless products to me…</p>
