> and really ensure your mindset ("set") is positive and open
Everyone says this and it's little more than bro science. So if you have a bad experience from the drugs, it was because you weren't in a positive headspace? Sounds like No True Scotsman.
My parents are immigrants. I wish we would just let in a random sample of the global population instead of having selection factors. Or maybe not let in any immigrants at all.
The purpose of these kinds of requirements is to bring in workers for rich American CEOs. It's not because we enjoy the company of immigrants or want to learn their culture. Artificial selection for master degrees just creates stereotypes and leads to things like "the model minority". Imagine if we only let in strong physical laborers and the type of stereotypes and race dynamics that would create. The kind of cultural displacement you feel as an immigrant that is toiling away in a lab to try to serve some rich CEO while you're away from all your like-minded friends/family is depressing.
I haven't read literature on this, it's just my gut feeling.