u/AloneAdvertising6335

https://preview.redd.it/2lt7mchyh3uh1.png?width=763&format=png&auto=webp&s=785135c9862739161e2ba17ccff928ab1e0e45e0

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Profile (my_qualifications):

* 26M

* Old IIT CSE(top 3 in nirf for reference)

* CGPA: 8.7/10

* C++ Dev / Infra at an Indian HFT

* Interned at the same firm

* TC: ~₹1.6 Cr (base + bonus, all cash)

I'm considering doing an MS in CS, but I'm not sure whether it actually makes sense given my current situation.

My main motivation for an MS would be to increase my savings/investment potential and potentially reach FatFIRE by my late 30s. I don't want to settle abroad permanently. Ideally, I'd like to work in the US for several years, save/invest aggressively, and eventually return to India.

I feel that even though I'm earning quite well in India, the absolute savings potential in the US could still be substantially higher. However, an MS also comes with a significant opportunity cost , tuition, two years of lost income, and the risk that the additional US earnings don't justify those costs.

So, is an MSCS actually worth it for someone in my position?

I also feel that, if I were to move into Big Tech, the compensation is much more compelling in the US than in India, given how compressed the Indian pay bands are. One of the main attractions of doing an MS would therefore be getting into the US market and potentially accumulating a significant amount of RSUs/equity over several years.

At the same time, I'm wondering how realistic it is to assume that Big Tech compensation and equity will compound at anything close to the rate we've seen over the past decade. The major tech companies are already sitting at ~$4–5T valuations, so I'm not sure how much room there is for the same kind of stock appreciation going forward. Obviously, compensation growth doesn't depend entirely on stock appreciation, but this is something I'm factoring into the decision.

Would appreciate perspectives from people who have been in a similar situation or have worked in both India and the US.

Also what unis can I target with my profile?do uni abroad consider hft experience as a valuable one?i am kinda skeptical abt it.