u/Zohairahmedkhan

My_qualifications are: 12th grader

Background:

​Curriculum: India CBSE (10th) / State Board MPC (11th & 12th).

​Academics: 10th Grade: 94%. 11th Grade (Intermediate 1st Year MPC): 83.2% (391/470). I am expecting a massive rebound to 95%+ in 12th grade and targeting a 1530+ on the SAT (790-800 Math).

​Objective: CS Undergrad with concentration in AIML

​The Main Extracurricular / "Spike":

Instead of a generic app, I am building a full-stack Cyber-Physical System with two friends (one mechanical engineering applicant, one 3rd-year university data architect).

​Project: An AI-Predictive Thermal Management System for high-density AI data centers.

​What it does: Uses an ESP32, DHT22 sensors, and a cloud time-series database to stream telemetry data from a physical mock server rack. My specific role is acting as the PM and writing the Python time-series machine learning model to predict heat spikes 30 seconds before they happen, dynamically adjusting PWM cooling fans to preemptively cool the hardware.

​The Impact: Focuses on lowering Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and reducing enterprise energy waste by 20-30%, solving a massive geographical and operational bottleneck for AI data centers.

​My Questions for this Sub:

​The 11th Grade Dip: Will top US engineering schools forgive the 83.2% in 11th grade if my 10th, 12th, and SAT scores are top-tier, and this project proves my technical ability?

​Community Service vs. Enterprise Impact: I keep hearing that colleges want "well-rounded" students who volunteer locally. My project solves an environmental/infrastructure problem rather than a traditional local community service problem. Will admissions officers view this as lacking "impact"?

​Vibe Coding: I am using AI tools to help accelerate the coding process so I can focus on system architecture and product management. As long as I understand and can debug the entire pipeline, is this a red flag for CS admissions?

I had a doubt if working in middle East as an expat requires minimum of 2 years if experience then how do CMUQ grads get jobs? Do they have to relocate to get a job? Also who is considered more superior for a role one with a CMUQ degree and gulf experience or one with a top US degree with US experience?

i am a 16yo indian highschooler used to live in jeddah i was wondering that if i can get into the best university of the middle east KFUPM also now it is ranked 63rd globally i would have a great career in saudi arabia as it is the place i want to end up working in but i got to know that saudisation has made it almost impossible for a fresher expat to get a job in saudi so i wanted to know what are these intl students or even residents going to do to escape this. any response would be helpful

My father is working in ksa since 2003. My father works as a sales and marketing supervisor for pharmaceutical companies but that role is way too small for him compared to the experience he has also he is not a mediocre he is the best sales supervisor of his company he brought maximum sales deals this year, increased his company's revenue from 400k to 4m he also has a deep wasta in western province with big hospitals and now he wants a better job this company undervalued him so much he is literally taking a salary of 9k approx per month and he is a supervisor for like 18 years+ what can he do now I want some suggestions from you guys. Any response will be good also this post is not for asking jobs but for seeking advice

Hi guys I am a young adult who wants to be an ai founder I had a question for you fellow founders if you could write my story with your hands and you have to make me a successful ai founder how would you write i wanna know the story.

This would be very helpful please reply

Hi everyone,

​I am a 16-year-old student based in India, currently working through a heavy math and science curriculum. My ultimate goal is to become a successful AI software startup founder in the Middle East (specifically Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).

​To make sure I have a strong corporate safety net and understand the business side before launching a company, my planned roadmap looks like this:

​Undergrad: Get a high SAT score to enter a top-tier Software Engineering program (targeting strong regional hubs like KFUPM or competitive US/Indian institutions).

​Early Career: Work for 2–3 years as a Software or Applied AI Engineer to build actual technical depth.

​The Pivot: Break into AI Product Management to learn user discovery, product scoping, and business metrics.

​The Network: Get a global top-tier MBA to build an international investor and executive network.

​The Executive Step: Climb to a Director of AI Product role within a major enterprise in the Gulf region to build capital and credibility.

​The Endgame: Exit the corporate world in my early 30s with a cash safety net and network to launch a venture-backed enterprise AI startup.

​My Current Baseline:

To get some practical experience outside of school, I recently used AI-assisted building tools to create a customer-facing AI agent for a local premium car detailing studio. It helps educate their customers on high-ticket services (like paint protection film) and handles basic pricing inquiries and workflows. It was a great early lesson in scoping a product for a real business owner.

​My Questions for the Community:

​The PM Transition: How realistic is it to jump from an early Software Engineering role into Product Management without spending years climbing the engineering ladder first?

​The Executive Trap: For those who reached Director-level tech roles, did the high salary and comfort make it too hard to actually leave and start a company?

​The MBA Question: In the AI space, will a top-tier MBA still be worth the time and money for networking 8–10 years from now, or is raw technical execution all that matters?

​I am looking for a brutal reality check. What are the blind spots in this long-term plan?

Hi everyone,

​I am posting this to seek career advice for my father, a seasoned healthcare professional with 22 years of experience in the Saudi market. He is currently looking for senior-level leadership opportunities in the Western Province (Jeddah).

​The Situation:

My father is currently navigating the job market and finding it challenging. For the past 18 years, he has remained with the same company in a Sales & Marketing Supervisor role. While he has been a consistent top performer, he feels he has hit a ceiling and is eager to move into a role that matches his current level of institutional mastery. We are looking for advice on how to effectively position his extensive tenure so that recruiters see long-term reliability and deep industry knowledge rather than stagnation.

​His Career Highlights:

​Market Mastery: 22 years of experience managing complex tender processes (NUPCO/MOH) and hospital finance workflows across the Western Region.

​Strategic Growth: Before his company entered the government sector, he successfully scaled their regional revenue from SAR 400K to over SAR 4M annually.

​Crisis Resilience: Recently, during a period of significant market downturn, he secured a high-value SAR 600K contract, proving his ability to deliver under pressure.

​Technical Edge: Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB) and Total Quality Management (TQM) expert.

​What I’m asking for:

​Advice on Positioning: How can a senior professional reframe 18 years in one role during interviews? How do we tell the story of "continuous evolution" despite the same job title?

​Networking: Any recommendations for executive search firms or professional groups in Jeddah that specialize in healthcare commercial leadership?

​Alternative Paths: Given his deep experience, he is also exploring independent medical trading or healthcare consultancy. If anyone has made that transition, what is the single biggest "lesson learned"?

​I have an anonymized version of his CV available. If you have any leads, advice, or would be open to an informational chat, please DM me.

Assalamualikum everyone,

​I am posting this to seek career advice for my father, a seasoned healthcare professional with 22 years of experience in the Saudi market. He is currently looking for senior-level leadership opportunities in the Western Province (Jeddah).

​The Situation:

My father is currently navigating the job market and finding it challenging. For the past 18 years, he has remained with the same company in a Sales & Marketing Supervisor role. While he has been a consistent top performer, he feels he has hit a ceiling and is eager to move into a role that matches his current level of institutional mastery. We are looking for advice on how to effectively position his extensive tenure so that recruiters see long-term reliability and deep industry knowledge rather than stagnation.

​His Career Highlights:

​Market Mastery: 22 years of experience managing complex tender processes (NUPCO/MOH) and hospital finance workflows across the Western Region.

​Strategic Growth: Before his company entered the government sector, he successfully scaled their regional revenue from SAR 400K to over SAR 4M annually.

​Crisis Resilience: Recently, during a period of significant market downturn, he secured a high-value SAR 600K contract, proving his ability to deliver under pressure.

​Technical Edge: Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB) and Total Quality Management (TQM) expert.

​What I’m asking for:

​Advice on Positioning: How can a senior professional reframe 18 years in one role during interviews? How do we tell the story of "continuous evolution" despite the same job title?

​Networking: Any recommendations for executive search firms or professional groups in Jeddah that specialize in healthcare commercial leadership?

​Alternative Paths: Given his deep experience, he is also exploring independent medical trading or healthcare consultancy. If anyone has made that transition, what is the single biggest "lesson learned"?

​I have an anonymized version of his CV available. If you have any leads, advice, or would be open to an informational chat, please DM me.

Hi everyone,

I am a 16-year-old student based in India, currently working through a heavy math and science curriculum. My ultimate goal is to become a successful AI software startup founder in the Middle East (specifically Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).

To make sure I have a strong corporate safety net and understand the business side before launching a company, my planned roadmap looks like this:

Undergrad: Get a high SAT score to enter a top-tier Software Engineering program (targeting strong regional hubs like KFUPM or competitive US/Indian institutions).

Early Career: Work for 2–3 years as a Software or Applied AI Engineer to build actual technical depth.

The Pivot: Break into AI Product Management to learn user discovery, product scoping, and business metrics.

The Network: Get a global top-tier MBA to build an international investor and executive network.

The Executive Step: Climb to a Director of AI Product role within a major enterprise in the Gulf region to build capital and credibility.

The Endgame: Exit the corporate world in my early 30s with a cash safety net and network to launch a venture-backed enterprise AI startup.

My Current Baseline:

To get some practical experience outside of school, I recently used AI-assisted building tools to create a customer-facing AI agent for a local premium car detailing studio. It helps educate their customers on high-ticket services (like paint protection film) and handles basic pricing inquiries and workflows. It was a great early lesson in scoping a product for a real business owner.

My Questions for the Community:

The PM Transition: How realistic is it to jump from an early Software Engineering role into Product Management without spending years climbing the engineering ladder first?

The Executive Trap: For those who reached Director-level tech roles, did the high salary and comfort make it too hard to actually leave and start a company?

The MBA Question: In the AI space, will a top-tier MBA still be worth the time and money for networking 8–10 years from now, or is raw technical execution all that matters?

I am looking for a brutal reality check. What are the blind spots in this long-term plan?

I heard this year addmissions got way harder for gettng into bachelors i heard people got 1550 and 15/15 and still got rejected so i was wondering if the situation is same for residents or it it just for intl students and if its nit same then how much should i get as a resident in SAT and math test for getting into majors like CS, SWE, electrical engineering, etc.

I am in 12th currently my_qualifications are i got 94% in 10th

I want to have a good CS career in Middle east i know it is super unstable but still

Also i want a university from which i can move to US, UK, Australia if i want as middle east is unstable

Initially i thought aboit kfupm university but i saw it is very competitive now even 1570 SAT score cant get you in same with universities like NYUAD and CMUQ that is why i am confused.

The problem is not high SAT score requirement but they are rejecting high scorers too.

Please help it would be great if someone replies.

I am indian student currently in class 12th i recently got to know about NYUAD so i wanted some info about:

1. How are the professors?
2. How is the placements for non-emiratis?
3. I heard it has potential for getting students into top 3 US mba schools is it true?
4. If an indian student wants to get into what all should he do?
5. how is it compared to cmuq?

It would be really helpful if someone answers

Thanks in advance

I am indian student currently in class 12th i recently got to know about NYUAD so i wanted some info about:

1. How are the professors?

2. How is the placements for non-emiratis?

3. I heard it has potential for getting students into top 3 US mba schools is it true?

4. If an indian student wants to get into what all should he do?

It would be really helpful if someone answers

Thanks in advance

hi everyone,

i am a student studying high school in India currently and I was looking forward for joining NYUAD can anyone who already did this help me i just want to know:

1. is it worth it for Indian students?

2. how much SAT score and high school marks required for entering CS?

3. how are job opportunities later?

4. what are the extracurriculars required?

thanks in advance.

Hey everyone,

​I’m currently finishing my high school in India and I'm planning to apply to KFUPM for Computer Science and AI. I’ve heard a lot about the mandatory 28-week COOP program, but I wanted to get the ground reality for international students.

​Specifically:Hey everyone,

​I’m currently finishing my intermediate studies in India and I'm planning to apply to KFUPM for Computer Science and AI. I’ve heard a lot about the mandatory 28-week COOP program, but I wanted to get the ground reality for international students.

​Specifically:

​

​Company Bias: Do top-tier companies like Aramco, NEOM, or Lucid Motors hire international students for COOP, or is there a strong preference for Saudi nationals due to Nitaqat/Saudization?

​Stipends: I know scholarships usually cover a base stipend, but do companies typically pay international students an additional amount during the COOP?

​Post-Graduation: For those who finished their COOP, did it often lead to full-time job offers (Sponsorship) for international grads, or is it mostly just for the experience?

​AI/CS Specifics: Are there specific tech hubs or startups in Riyadh/Dhahran that are particularly friendly to international talent from KFUPM?

​I’d love to hear from any current international students or alumni who have gone through the process recently.

​Thanks in advance for the help!

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some new anime to watch and I'm hoping you can help me out based on my favorites. I really love time-travel anime, but my biggest requirement right now is that I want the protagonist to be strong, brave, and intelligent. I love high-stakes action, genius mind games, and cool power systems.

Here is what I’ve loved so far and exactly what I liked about them:

• Summertime Rendering: The time travel, suspense, action, and incredibly powerful/terrifying villains.
• Steins;Gate: The time travel mechanics, the action, the adventure, the great story, and a smart hero.
• Erased: The time travel mystery and action.
• Death Note: The genius-level cat-and-mouse game between a smart hero and villain, plus the supernatural Death Note ability.
• Code Geass: The supernatural abilities and a really solid, strategic hero.
• Attack on Titan: The epic story, Titan powers, raw emotion, and intense action.
• Dragon Ball Z: The character development, Saiyan powers, and pure action.

What I'm looking for: Ideally, I want a show with a heavy time-travel element where the MC isn't helpless or whiny—I want someone smart, courageous, and physically/mentally capable. Throw in some supernatural abilities, high suspense, a great villain, and solid action, and that would be a 10/10 for me.

Does anyone have any recommendations that perfectly hit this vibe? Thanks in advance!

my_qualifications I am currently in class 12th and i am fixed that i want to work in saudi arabia for my whole life or atleast middle east as i grew up there so i was wondering which university to choose for having the best career in ksa i am interested in CS. Also indian universities are bery tough to get in so looking for global universities can be anywhere around the world. My main concern is it should have good global value and exceelent value in ksa. And also what are thoughts about universities like KFUPM.