The findings of a qualitative study of migrant graduate students from India who now reside in the United State is presented. Through a series of interviews with students attending three U.S. universities, a model of the migratory process was developed. Much recent work on migratory theory has focused on the lack of opportunities in the students' home country ("push" factors) and the greater opportunities afforded by industrializated nations ("pull" factors). The model developed in this study argues that it is necessary to look beyond push and pull factors to cultural conditions--of both the student's home country and the "world-student" culture--as creating a field of norms and identities that shapes student actions. The relationship between the world-student culture and world-system structures is examined, with the result being a unique description of the so-called "brain drain" phenomena. A 12-item bibliography is included. (DB)