[General Question] NEED Serious Career Advice...Please PLEASE HELP
Some background: I am a 2024 pass out and I was planning for 2026 Fall Masters in the US for MSCS courses. But amidst the process last year, I decided to drop the plans. This is my profile:
Education: B. Tech 2024 in CSE
CGPA: 9.4 / 10.0
Work Experience:
- Currently working as Software Developer for past year at a MNC. It will become 3 years by next year.
- Summer interned at another MNC.
GRE: 320 (167Q, 153V, 4AWA)
TOEFL: 110/120
Publications:
- 1 Paper at IEEE conference
LORs: Combination of College(2) + Corporate(1)
Target schools: UTA, Georgia Tech, UCSD, UCSB, UCI, UIUC (MCS)
But the thoughts of masters keep coming to me now and then and I am unable to decide. My main aim to do masters is to get international exposure in software engineering and workout on really amazing tech with amazing people. Education comes secondary to me. And of course, earn in $$. I have literally enhanced my profile, updated my resume and tried for international jobs / remote jobs for 3-4 months but unfortunately no luck.
I AM STUCK :
- Am I over-thinking a lot because of the risk ? I do not want to repent later that I didn't take the risk. I have my friends who went, and they are candidates with good / decent profiles....are they not seeing the risk I am seeing (they have gone on loans) Or AM I not able to see the upside and mind you, I am not one of them who is planning to go because "friends are going". What if I miss out on opportunities that I am actually capable of ? (I am not boasting myself, I do have decent skills)
- What if everything works out and I get the internship / job. I really don't mind not getting the H1b after 3 attempts. I can come back to India or try for another country. I want the exposure
Need an honest perspective from people who've faced this decision. I'm an SWE at a well-known MNC with ~2 YOE(Next year it'll become 3), targeting AI/backend roles.. My motivation is exposure to the US tech ecosystem, learning, networking, and long-term career growth. The downside is taking a loan(It'll be a combination of my savings + loan) in today's uncertain job market. For people who've been through this recently, would you still make the same decision today, and why?
u/gradpilot your suggestions would really help me