TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Amuedo-Dorantes, Catalina
AU  - Shih, Kevin Y.
AU  - Xu, Huanan
        TI  - International Student Enrollments and Selectivity: Evidence from the Optional Practical Training Program
        PY  - 2020/Sep/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 13730
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp13730
        AB  - We examine how the 17 month extension of Optional Practical Training—a program that allows international Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) majors the opportunity to work in the United States for 1-2 years following graduation—affects the quantity and quality of international students. Extension benefits not only include extended work duration, but also an additional attempt at securing more permanent employment through an H-1B visa. We find sizable positive treatment effects on the number of students matriculating into U.S. higher education, and also increases in the quality of students, as captured by the selectivity of institutions they attend.
        KW  - selectivity
KW  - optional practical training
KW  - international students
KW  - enrollments
KW  - United States
        ER  -