Most of them who come for undergrad studies with scholarships have a very hard life and it feels like ages to complete the undergrad. Graduate students usually do good after their studies, esp if they are in the IT field. Getting a job in other field might be challenging. Basically, those with assistantships have a good life during studies, while for others life is a real struggle. Regarding girls in US, it depends. Like in boys, there are good and bad changes.