[2TR-FE]

Hi All,

I have got a fully funded MS opportunity from a prestigious university (non Ivy League) in the USA. This opportunity seems to be very attractive yet I have my own concerns which need to be addressed before I take a call for MS. Considering all our experienced members here, I would like to get answers for my questions. I am super confused with what I wanna do, what people do and what people want me to do?

Let me brief you about my educational background.

Senior Secondary: Completed in 2017
Bachelor's in Elec Engineering: Passed out in 2021 from a Tier 1 college in India.

I have been in the Gulf since my birth and seen all the struggles of expats there. The usual saga of job insecurity there (read sponsorship system) has lead me to believe that India is the safest place to work. The employment related freedom in India can never be replaced with the inflated paychecks internationally. This perception in general has turned me into an anti NRI who would prefer to work for a bit less money than living freedom-less life overseas.

Back to my case of MS, my parents want me to start working for it and move to US ASAP. At the same time, they have made it clear that they don't want me to stay back in USA forever. Their wish is to get the knowledge (read degree) and few years of experience from the USA and then settle back in the gulf with them.

Now comes the catch! I have negligible interest in settling abroad. Moreover, the fact that I will be going through the study cycle of classes and exams again makes me anxious. This is particularly due to the fear I have developed from studying. All thanks to Covid, Clearing my last few semesters of bachelor's with no study yet flying colours had been the norm!

And the biggest fear is: What if I don't get a job after my master's there in USA? This particular question has been haunting me too much. This is also quite relevant for me considering my master's would be in quite a different domain when compared to my bachelor's and the work I have been doing in last 2 years.

Are the efforts to move into US for MS really worth it? (Do mind that the Expenses are relatively negligible considering the fully funded prog).

Is masters in US just an exit path to avoid the competition here in India? Or is it that I am afraid of challenges?

Should I look at this as a trap to get into the materialistic world or an opportunity to see the world which won't come back again?

When professional experience is what my employer wants, why to waste an additional 2 years of my time in the name of masters?

Once settled in US, Will I be under the same sword (of probably the sponsorship system or some other form) as in the gulf?

Too much of confusion. My life's windshield has got too misty. Please help me defog it with your valuable inputs.

[narayans80]

By full funding, you mean a fee waiver for the 1st semester or entire period of study or research assistantship with a professor?

If you have a fee waiver for the entire duration or research opportunity, its a no brainer, provided you have the interest to study.

Where you want to settle is purely your personal decision.

I returned back to India after MS, started my career in India. I don't regret 'wasting' those years of my 20s, for the exposure I gained during that time.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

Once settled in US, Will I be under the same sword (of probably the sponsorship system or some other form) as in the gulf? .

The sword is made of valyrian steel if you are born in India(or china). Otherwise, its just a plastic sword.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

Hi All,

I have got a fully funded MS opportunity from a prestigious university (non Ivy League) in the USA. This opportunity seems to be very attractive yet I have my own concerns which need to be addressed before I take a call for MS. Considering all our experienced members here, I would like to get answers for my questions.
Too much of confusion. My life's windshield has got too misty. Please help me defog it with your valuable inputs.

That is a marvellously mature and thoughtful post you wrote. Not at all unusual to be confused. Confusion at this juncture indicates you are deep inside open to different life paths and not wedded to one route. And at this age you shouldn't be. My youngest who is maybe 3 to 4 years older to you hit exactly this juncture 4 years ago - ditto situation - Ivy league except it was Oxbridge in her case - wants to work in India, confused for choice like your situation. Here is what I guided her and the same I offer for your evaluation.

First, never ever ever lose an opportunity to do a Masters at an Ivy League University. It is an education & qualification that will always be handy all your life and the Alumni network is priceless. I did my Masters too from a similar University and it was the best education I ever got and the alumni network to which I am wired today is worth its weight in gold. The sheer quality and calibre of teachers {two of whom were Indians!} was so far ahead of my Indian Masters that it wasn't funny. And as all the fellow students were toppers in their own way I got my backside set on fire keeping pace.

Second, don't mix up getting your Masters from an Ivy League with what you'll do next. Two entirely different matters. The Masters will enhance your options and your ability to decide what to do next. Take this from an experienced parent - by then you'd be older, more confident, wiser and financially more independent and have greater agency to decide your course and lesser susceptibility to what parents say!

Third, don't plan your long term right now as you don't know what is cooking in your name in the womb of time. Your destiny and your preferences will emerge on their own over these two years. Then decide.

Fourth, after your Masters you can always return to India and search for a job just the way you would search for one in USA or UAE. I agree for building a career no place like home. Even better work in USA with an MNC and have them post you back to India as their employee - that is often a practical segway into the Indian environment. Going from USA to an Indian family owned firm can be a wide gap to bridge.

Fifth, I firmly believe and am glad my kid agrees, that for young people with brains and a stomach for challenge India is a great place to build a career. It is on a long term upward trajectory that is independent of who is in power. It is also a great place, with an Ivy League M.S., to straddle the US-India bridge as a versatile international citizen who knows how to live & work in India as well as in USA. There are several on Team BHP who fall into this bucket of being a versatile international citizen & professional - some names that come to my mind are - Jeroen, Turbanator, Samurai and I dare say myself. Far too many of my batch mates who settled in USA are as parochial as an Indian professional working in a jute factory in West Bengal. They couldn't work outside the narrow sterile Amercian environment - working or even merely surviving in India's more challenging seas is an impossibility for them. Maybe most don't care.

To round up the post - in my case, like you, I had zero desire to settle in the West, am a die hard desh bhakt and built my business as a first generation entrepreneur in India with all its brain chewing challenges and later set up significant facilities in the Middle East and 4 countries in the West.

The world is your oyster. Grab that M.S. degree and vastly improve the array of opportunities, both within India and across the world, that will open up for you.

[androdev]

Ride a tiger:
Take on a responsibility or embark on a course of action which subsequently cannot safely be abandoned. The expression comes from the Chinese proverb "He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount".

Going for MS in a good university, entering the job market, applying for GC, marrying and planning life around career and getting disconnected from parents and siblings, etc.

In 2023, my advise to well-to-do Indian youth is to go abroad for the experience but don't "ride the tiger". Listen to your heart and pursue a more balanced life in which there is place for yourself, parents, siblings, children and the things/places you loved as a child.

It seemed to him that all his life he had followed the ideals that other people, by their words or their writings, had instilled into him, and never the desires of his own heart. Always his course had been swayed by what he thought he should do and never by what he wanted with his whole soul to do. He put all that aside now with a gesture of impatience. He had lived always in the future, and the present always, always had slipped through his fingers. His ideals? He thought of his desire to make a design, intricate and beautiful, out of the myriad, meaningless facts of life: had he not seen also that the simplest pattern, that in which a man was born, worked, married, had children, and died, was likewise the most perfect? It might be that to surrender to happiness was to accept defeat, but it was a defeat better than many victories.

― W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

And the biggest fear is: What if I don't get a job after my master's there in USA? This particular question has been haunting me too much. This is also quite relevant for me considering my master's would be in quite a different domain when compared to my bachelor's and the work I have been doing in last 2 years.

This fear is relevant no matter which part of the world one is, and the field of study. Secondly, a significant no. of people choose to get a post-grad degree to change their vocation.

That you have secured admission means the University has done their due diligence on your fit - trust me, US universities (esp. top tier) do not hand out admissions easily. Especially to Indians, where competition is incredibly intense. (I was on the Admissions Committee of a US top-15 business school so I know first hand how it works)

Are the efforts to move into US for MS really worth it? (Do mind that the Expenses are relatively negligible considering the fully funded prog).

Education and exposure never go waste. That said, is this MS program in a field that you want to do pursue a career in short/medium term. Or is it something you want/have to do just to tick that box of a US education. If it is what you interests you, go ahead without a second thought. But if you're doing just to get it out of the way, don't. Or do so in the field that interests you.

I'm reiterating: there's nothing like studying in a new culture - the amount you learn outside the classroom is invaluable, and pays very rich dividends through your life.

Should I look at this as a trap to get into the materialistic world or an opportunity to see the world which won't come back again?

You're far too young to worry about this, just yet.

When professional experience is what my employer wants, why to waste an additional 2 years of my time in the name of masters?

Again, education and exposure never go waste. Look at this degree for your personal growth, not just as a means to get a job.

Once settled in US, Will I be under the same sword (of probably the sponsorship system or some other form) as in the gulf?

This would prevail in every country except that of which you're a citizen.

EDIT: are you born AND a citizen of a Gulf country? The US Green Card has a separate queue for each country. And they look at country of birth as well, not just citizenship. So, if you're birth was outside India, and you're not an Indian citizen, your GC might be a matter of months vs. the two/three decades that most Indians have to face right now.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

I have got a fully funded MS opportunity from a prestigious university (non Ivy League) in the USA.

I agree with V.Narayan. If you can get a MS in USA without falling into a big debt trap, then do it. But don't do it with the expectation that you will get a job in USA and get GC later, etc. I have seen many younger friends fall into this trap and suffer the Trishanku heaven.

Do your MS, and then check out the job situation. If it is not satisfactory, come back and work in India. Don't get into a debt trap.

[2TR-FE]

Originally Posted by narayans80

By full funding, you mean a fee waiver for the 1st semester or entire period of study or research assistantship with a professor?

The scholarship is based on a research assistantship with full waiver.

Thanks a lot! There are numerous examples on this forum returning back from the so called dream life of USA. Interesting indeed.

Originally Posted by tsk1979

The sword is made of valyrian steel if you are born in India(or china). Otherwise, its just a plastic sword.

Valyrian Steel. Born in KSA but no significant benefit there. Gulf countries in specific don't give any regards to the place of birth.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

The world is your oyster. Grab that M.S. degree and vastly improve the array of opportunities, both within India and across the world, that will open up for you.

Thanks a lot Sir. This guidance was really needed. Shall start working soon. BTW, Mine isn't an Ivy League. Can try for one considering my bachelor's record but let me think of it some other day.

Originally Posted by androdev

Ride a tiger:
Take on a responsibility or embark on a course of action which subsequently cannot safely be abandoned. The expression comes from the Chinese proverb "He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount".

In 2023, my advise to well-to-do Indian youth is to go abroad for the experience but don't "ride the tiger". Listen to your heart and pursue a more balanced life in which there is place for yourself, parents, siblings, children and the things/places you loved as a child.

That's where the catch was! The fear of losing out by not following parent's wish is giving nightmares. Is it that I am staying in my comfort zone in the name of following what my heart says? Or is it my Jawani ka Josh that is making me follow something blindly which I may end up regretting later?

Nevertheless, V. Narayan Sir's post has made me understand many things for now. Gave a clear idea what and how to progress from this junction.

Originally Posted by libranof1987

This fear is relevant no matter which part of the world one is, and the field of study. Secondly, a significant no. of people choose to get a post-grad degree to change their vocation.

EDIT: are you born AND a citizen of a Gulf country? The US Green Card has a separate queue for each country. And they look at country of birth as well, not just citizenship. So, if you're birth was outside India, and you're not an Indian citizen, your GC might be a matter of months vs. the two/three decades that most Indians have to face right now.

Yes and No!

Born in KSA but a purely Indian Citizen. Still, some say GC is relatively easy for Saudi born kids. Not sure how true this is. But anyhow, I have not thought of so long. Let me take one step at a time.

[Samurai]

GC quota is based on country of birth, not citizenship. You do have some advantage there.

[2TR-FE]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Education and exposure never go waste. That said, is this MS program in a field that you want to do pursue a career in short/medium term. Or is it something you want/have to do just to tick that box of a US education. If it is what you interests you, go ahead without a second thought. But if you're doing just to get it out of the way, don't. Or do so in the field that interests you.

Missed out this question.

Yes. I am interested to pursue the same area in my master's in which I have been working since the last few months. Planning to continue the same field after attaining expertise in masters.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

Back to my case of MS, my parents want me to start working for it and move to US ASAP. At the same time, they have made it clear that they don't want me to stay back in USA forever. Their wish is to get the knowledge (read degree) and few years of experience from the USA and then settle back in the gulf with them.

Are you doing this MS for yourself or for your parents? A full-ride scholarship is a great thing to have either way, but most of your post seems to be about your parents wishes.

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

What if I don't get a job after my master's there in USA? This particular question has been haunting me too much. This is also quite relevant for me considering my master's would be in quite a different domain when compared to my bachelor's and the work I have been doing in last 2 years.

If you graduated from a Tier 1 Indian engineerinng college - IIT B/D/M/K/Kgp/ BITS P are the only ones IMHO - then you should have no problem getting a job in India, if you don't get a job in the US. Since you're not spending much for your US MS, it makes no material difference. Even if you're from one of the newer IITs or better NITs, your chances of employment are pretty good in India. I assume you did an engineering degree of some sort, given the four year time frame.

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

Are the efforts to move into US for MS really worth it? (Do mind that the Expenses are relatively negligible considering the fully funded prog).

Yes, they are worth it. You will meet new people, learn new things, experience new cultures. Every new place is a learning that you are lucky to have, whether positive or negative. And since your expenses are near zero, what efforts remain to be made?

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

Should I look at this as a trap to get into the materialistic world or an opportunity to see the world which won't come back again?

What does this even mean?

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

The employment related freedom in India can never be replaced with the inflated paychecks internationally.

I hear this a lot here. And yet people will spend their entire working lives in the Gulf. All the second-guessing seems to occur only on online forums.

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

Too much of confusion. My life's windshield has got too misty. Please help me defog it with your valuable inputs.

Don't worry too much. Take the full-ride MS, do what you enjoy, work hard, enjoy your life, see the world. You have a great degree and you'll never starve.

[landcruiser123]

Let me answer some questions as someone a few years ahead. The US is a great place to study, no matter what people tell you. With all the research and innovation opportunities, the country is definitely the most attractive, despite the immigration issues.

In your case, it is a no-brainer to take the opportunity and learn more(unless - read the next part after the quote!!)

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

Back to my case of MS, my parents want me to start working for it and move to US ASAP. At the same time, they have made it clear that they don't want me to stay back in USA forever. Their wish is to get the knowledge (read degree) and few years of experience from the USA and then settle back in the gulf with them.

Now comes the catch! I have negligible interest in settling abroad. Moreover, the fact that I will be going through the study cycle of classes and exams again makes me anxious. This is particularly due to the fear I have developed from studying.

The question you have to answer is:
"What do I want from this MS program?"

After that, please talk to a mental health professional about managing anxiety and go ahead with your MS when ready.

And the biggest fear is: What if I don't get a job after my master's there in USA? This particular question has been haunting me too much. This is also quite relevant for me considering my master's would be in quite a different domain when compared to my bachelor's and the work I have been doing in last 2 years.

Are the efforts to move into US for MS really worth it? (Do mind that the Expenses are relatively negligible considering the fully funded prog). Is masters in US just an exit path to avoid the competition here in India? Or is it that I am afraid of challenges?

Well, the risk of getting a job & H-1B is always there. Considering funding, I assume your debt will be pretty manageable, you can always find jobs in other markets as long as you have the skills the market needs. I know people who couldn't get jobs in the US, but they went back to India and are doing extremely well for themselves.

Also, the experience of interacting & working with immigrants while learning more in the US makes a compelling case that you should do MS.

Should I look at this as a trap to get into the materialistic world or an opportunity to see the world which won't come back again?

There are options. You can spend how much or how little (in the budget range of the area you live in) you want.

When professional experience is what my employer wants, why to waste an additional 2 years of my time in the name of masters?

This is a great question. IMHO, the MS program will:
1. Give you the opportunity to learn a skill that you can't learn at work.
2. Opportunities to improve your critical thinking skills
3. Be a platform that helps to pivot from one field to another (like me - mechanical engineering to math modeling)

If you think the above doesn't apply to you, I guess you might benefit more from the professional experience

[kovilkalai]

A bit of background: I left India to get a Masters in the USA. I ended up working there for 10 years and came back to India after that. My decision to move was not driven by any personal or professional factor. In fact, I was indifferent to where I lived. I have been in India for 15 years now.

With that out of the way, as long as you conscientious when it comes to study and work, you will be fine, whatever option you choose. Like others have posted, there is a tremendous benefit to studying in the US and even starting your career there - there are things that you learn about one's approach to work that are priceless.

You will also notice that your opinions and preferences change with time. I know people who told themselves that they would come back after 5 years and decided to stay on indefinitely. I know people who came back but couldn't fit into the work culture here and went back. None of these are poor decisions. They are simply people testing out hypotheses and correcting course when things don't work out. You shouldn't feel guilty about changing your mind.

If you have personal connects in India i.e. family here, it is possible that you may HAVE to come back, but not WANT to. This is perhaps the only downside of pursuing a career in a foreign country - something that will materially affect your happiness.

Lastly, the USA is not like the Middle East. Free will of employees and employers governs all rules. That means you can quit whenever you want and companies can fire you whenever they want. The only wrinkle in all this is your visa status. If you quit a job, you have finite time to get another one and get your visa sorted.

[charanreddy]

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

Hi All,

I have got a fully funded MS opportunity from a prestigious university (non Ivy League) in the USA. This opportunity seems to be very attractive yet I have my own concerns which need to be addressed before I take a call for MS. Considering all our experienced members here, I would like to get answers for my questions. I am super confused with what I wanna do, what people do and what people want me to do?

….

In addition to the treasure trove of guidance and thoughts our very successful forum members have given ( BTW these are worth getting framed ) let me add my own small perspective.

I believe the most important investment at a young age is investing in yourself. Take my word, there is no way you will not get a job that you like and deserve. How fulfilling the job is and what your new levels of awareness are depends on how much you are willing to push yourself at this formative stage of your career. If this is a MS at the college you enrolled in , go for it. If in your heart you know it’s a relatively safe bet then pursue something that gets your heart racing. dont worry too much about work permits and visa etc. things have a funny and most unexpected way of figuring themselves out in a good way. Rest assured what ever you want will happen but you will realise what you want changes based on your experiences.

Personally I belonged to a tier 2 (or 3 ) institute in my under-graduation from a small town before internet became mainstream and information isn’t as available as it is now. I got into a masters degree in a tier 1 college just because I wanted to compete and spend time with the best minds I could have access to ( we were strictly middle class , so a US degree was out of the picture) . My first job from college was in an interesting but pretty much an unknown field at the time I joined it about 16 years back. I can look back and say the decisions and paths I took with a leap of faith have been the most fulfilling and have given me unimaginable ( to me at that point in time ) progress.

This is the age where you should be challenging yourself on what you can learn and accomplish and hopefully, after 10 years you look back and say I gave it the absolute best I could . The more unbelievable and insurmountable the goal appears , the more you should chase it. This will enable you to expand your horizons on what you can do and help you discover your new limits.

All Parents want to make sure their kids don’t go through hardships , this is a measure of their love and hence their recommendations for safe choices. But you are around 22 old and graduating from one of the best colleges in India, you can presume to have a much better understanding of your capabilities and work your own way towards achieving what you want.

[Imran.Syed]

Originally Posted by 2TR-FE

I have been in the Gulf since my birth and seen all the struggles of expats there. The usual saga of job insecurity there (read sponsorship system) has lead me to believe that India is the safest place to work. The employment related freedom in India can never be replaced with the inflated paychecks internationally. This perception in general has turned me into an anti NRI who would prefer to work for a bit less money than living freedom-less life overseas.

Now comes the catch! I have negligible interest in settling abroad. Moreover, the fact that I will be going through the study cycle of classes and exams again makes me anxious. This is particularly due to the fear I have developed from studying. All thanks to Covid, Clearing my last few semesters of bachelor's with no study yet flying colours had been the norm!

And the biggest fear is: What if I don't get a job after my master's there in USA? This particular question has been haunting me too much. This is also quite relevant for me considering my master's would be in quite a different domain when compared to my bachelor's and the work I have been doing in last 2 years.

Are the efforts to move into US for MS really worth it? (Do mind that the Expenses are relatively negligible considering the fully funded prog).

Is masters in US just an exit path to avoid the competition here in India? Or is it that I am afraid of challenges?

Should I look at this as a trap to get into the materialistic world or an opportunity to see the world which won't come back again?

When professional experience is what my employer wants, why to waste an additional 2 years of my time in the name of masters?

Once settled in US, Will I be under the same sword (of probably the sponsorship system or some other form) as in the gulf?

Too much of confusion. My life's windshield has got too misty. Please help me defog it with your valuable inputs.

I have a few questions to ask without any judgement.

You have asked a few things here that seem contradictory to me.

You have negligible interest in settling abroad but question if you will be under the sword of sponsorship in the USA? Is sponsorship (or lack thereof) the only thing you are worried about in your decision to move (further) abroad? Does the difference of culture, lifestyle, technology and/or innovation not worry/excite you bout moving?

Do you even want to switch domains? How badly and why? (dont have to answer this here but I'd ask this to myself)

You have said that your parents want you to get the knowledge/degree and come back to settle in the Gulf with them. But you and your parents know or at least agree that there is no "settling" in Gulf easily. Either gotta have exceptional credentials or a lot of money. Have you discussed this with your parents? Are your parents open to maybe moving to the US with you? I dont know their occupations so I know this is not possible always.

Secondly, have you ever worked in a role for some time in India? Did you like the type of work, level of expertise, work culture, pay and/or work balance stuff like that? Did you leave to GCC immediately after finishing your studies in India?

How much less money is acceptably a bit less for you? I know talented BITS Pilani civil engineers who moved to India during the 2008 Dubai bust and got into consulting roles here, make/made good money according to India but a fraction of what they were making in UAE. Some were/are happy, some not so much.

To give you some context about me:
I was born and grew up in Saudi Arabia, moved to India for Bachelor's degree, said nope (like you) to the sponsorship system in Saudi Arabia and tried to establish myself in India because I too loved the freedom of not having that sword hanging up on me like it does for my father.
For reasons that I faced after actually working in India, primarily things like too much competition, traffic & pollution (due to line of work) and narrow mindedness of people around me started affecting me too much and I left India after three years of finishing my Bachelors degree.
But the top reason for leaving India was my line of work and how competitive and unrewarding it was there.
In total, I spent 6-7 years before calling it quits.

So if you can find India rewarding enough for your needs and wants professionally and personally, man I would any day prefer India over USA. But not straightaway.
India is a good place to start your career, it can be way more innovative and research heavy than GCC. GCC is only implementation and/or maintenance... But GCC and India is all you know right now and you have the privilege to explore and travel across the world on a fully paid up scholarship.
This is a real privilege and you should take it because believe me, it gets more difficult as you age out. I will not advise to get comfortable this early in your career. You should be very open to trying things out, garnering new experiences which may come at the cost of your comfort or your current thought process.
Even the most anti-emigration man I know on Tbhp has supported you going away for studies so it really does say something haha.
Sponsorship is not something I would worry about this early on. GCC or USA, its not too difficult to figure it out. Every country in the world wants talented and young skilled immigrants. Eg if US GC does not work out, there is always Canada and the TN visa program. :P

Like Charanreddy said, our parents try to shield us from hardships. Mine did too, quite vehemently. But these hardships are so crucial in shaping us and making us better in all aspects of life and growth. Please embrace them.
Do contact me via DMs if you need any further help.