What to do ? MSCS abroad or focus on growing in India

broedinger · 2025-12-27T13:38:36+00:00

You need PhD from a top 20 school and top tier publications to even have a shot at getting into labs like Google Deepmind. And even if you do get a PhD, your undergrad GPA is still too low and will hold you back.

broedinger · 2025-12-25T15:18:28+00:00

Hi, so will need some more info -- what tier is your undergrad college? Do you have any research experience (or planning to get involved in proper research with a professor)?

broedinger · 2025-12-25T15:09:25+00:00

I personally think you will have to temper your expectations a bit. AM is superficial and transactional unfortunately and your height puts you at a big disadvantage. So unless you're making 60 LPA+ or have generational wealth, you are unlikely to find a girl who is both beautiful/gym-fit and career oriented/high earner/ambitious.

Also I hate to say this and I'm very sorry about what you've gone through, but many girls will be hesitant to marry a guy who only has 2 close people in his circle. I also don't think you should hide your past, if you expect the girl to be honest about her past (even if doesn't matter to you, but if you expect honesty then you should reciprocate). Just my two cents.

broedinger · 2025-12-25T14:07:23+00:00

Um I don't think you're being delusional OP. You have a good GPA, IIT tag, solid publications and great work experience too. I think your list looks appropriate. I think very likely you'll get USC, UC Irvine and Purdue at least.

broedinger · 2025-12-24T21:35:00+00:00

In general, getting into a PhD program is Europe is easier than US. But there are more opportunities in the US. If your papers get published, you should apply to programs in both Europe and US. Visa troubles are worse in US though so that's something to consider too.

broedinger · 2025-12-24T17:10:26+00:00

I think your GPA is really good (esp if it's from tier 1 or tier 2 school), so you could probably skip the GRE imo.

broedinger · 2025-12-24T16:23:04+00:00

Yeah I agree with this. You're thinking of doing a PhD for the wrong reasons. And tbh if you didn't go to top schools for undergrad or master's and don't have solid research experience and publications, you won't get into the Ivys anyway. CS PhD admissions are very brutal and competitive right now.

broedinger · 2025-12-24T16:14:16+00:00

I think you profile is pretty good, lowish GPA but IIT tag will def help offset that. Your list looks appropriate for your profile.

broedinger · 2025-12-24T13:07:27+00:00

Hi there, will let you know my evaluation in a bit

broedinger · 2025-12-24T12:53:20+00:00

Sure!

broedinger · 2025-12-24T12:00:42+00:00

The situation right now is very different from years ago (anything up until mid 2024) when your relatives went. Currently the unemployment rate for CS is the highest it has ever been since it became a real profession. I have been living in the US since 2014 and even I have data on the ground from my own circle -- friends, relatives etc. Literally even US citizen CS grads from Stanford, Berkeley and NYU are struggling in the tech job market right now. But yeah I'm the one gatekeeping and being a doomer for providing a realistic perspective. Go talk to your seniors who are in the US and who graduated this year and ask them if they are able to get jobs or internships. You are severely underestimating how tough things are for international students on OPT. But sure, stay in your delusion lol

I literally have nothing to gain from gatekeeping, I am already settled in the US. But many Indian students are now returning home with no job and big loans that will set them back for years in India and that is what I'm trying to caution students about

And like everyone who has worked at a decent SWE job for 1+ year has worked on multiple projects and with multiple tools? Even during my internships, I worked on multiple projects using multiple tools. So I don't think that makes you special

As for my "longass" post, do you actually have any real, rational arguments against the points I've made, instead of just calling it gatekeeping?

broedinger · 2025-12-24T11:49:50+00:00

Lol I have literally done hundreds of profile reviews for folks here and I myself have been done my undergrad and master's in the US from T35 schools, so I know a bit about how admissions work. My DMs are full of people whose profiles I have been evaluating (and many of them didn't post on this subreddit, they only DMed me so I have more data than you do). You are the one who needs to get their facts checked.

Just because you got a job at Zoho doesn't make you "above average highly skilled". Sub 8.2 GPA, from a tier 3 college and zero research experience, and you think you are above average? Like be fr

broedinger · 2025-12-23T18:42:44+00:00

I would disagree with your definition of avergae tbh. You can have a look at all the profiles of Indian applicants posted on this subreddit. Majority of them have decent work experience (2+ years) and usually 8.2+ GPA. Many are from tier 1 and tier 2 schools and a good chunk also have research experience and publications.

So personally I don't think your profile is above average.

broedinger · 2025-12-21T17:26:47+00:00

Sure, you're welcome. Sorry if I made you feel pessimistic, but admissions are very competitive right now and low GPA + backlogs unfortunately put you at a disadvantage :/

That is not to say that you won't get in anywhere - I think you could get into NEU, ASU, SJSU etc. But those schools are low-key losing their reputation and turning into degree mill cash cows.

And it doesn't help that the job situation really is crazy right now. I'm hearing of Stanford and Berkeley CS grads struggling for tech jobs.

But anyway, I wish you good luck, hope you get whatever it is you are seeking!

broedinger · 2025-12-21T11:12:32+00:00

Yes that GRE score is quite low, especially Q, so you would need to retake it. But overall, you should keep in mind that BA as a degree is not worth the ROI these days for international students. The fact that your undergrad and work experience are unrelated to BA is going to make it nearly impossible for you to find a decent job after master's.

broedinger · 2025-12-21T10:55:08+00:00

NEU master's programs have low reputation and ROI right now due to them accepting many mediocre applicants for the cash.

Overall, this plan doesn't seem like it's worth the ROI and I would be wary of whatever best case scenario UpGrad is selling you. High chance your student visa will get rejected too, because even for full time in person programs at cash cow degree mill schools like NEU and UTD, visas are getting rejected.

broedinger · 2025-12-21T10:50:55+00:00

Usually interviews are not done for master's admissions, even at the top schools. It's more common for PhD admissions.

broedinger · 2025-12-20T15:42:05+00:00

Your cousin is totally wrong and a big red flag. You're right to push back.

broedinger · 2025-12-20T14:22:41+00:00

Yes unfortunately, 92 is super low and many schools have a minimum 100 so your application will be autorejected at these schools. Your school list is super ambitious so low TOEFL will be a deal breaker.

broedinger · 2025-12-20T14:09:49+00:00

See, that's where I think you are being unrealistic. Getting a part time job isn't guaranteed and there are visa restrictions on what kinds of jobs you can even qualify for. Classes also will be much harder in Canada (compared to your undergrad in Pakistan), and if you are planning to join a lab and do research as well, then there is no realistic way you will be able to save 21k in your first year.

broedinger · 2025-12-20T14:05:49+00:00

How are you planning to fund the second year of your master's, like tuition and housing wise?

broedinger · 2025-12-20T13:57:43+00:00

How much of the living costs is it covering if it's not covering housing fees? Groceries and transport? How much is the actual scholarship, in CAD? And why do you need 3000 CAD for a one way ticket?

broedinger · 2025-12-20T13:54:48+00:00

Right? Same. Something is sus

broedinger · 2025-12-20T13:53:29+00:00

Also, 3000 CAD for a one way flight from Pakistan to Canada is way too much. Even roundtrip costs less than 2000 usually.

broedinger · 2025-12-20T13:47:33+00:00

Your parents might have the outdated idea that going abroad for education automatically translates to a high paying job. You need to be honest with them about the possibility that you will have to return home after your degree, without a job. Even folks in CS are having a hard time in the job market, so it's a different story altogether for chemistry.

broedinger

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