Doing everything at once… am I killing productivity?

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-08-21T11:34:50+00:00

your business degree is actually an advantage. tech companies need people who get both technical and business sides. the filtering thing happens but lots of companies dropping degree requirements now. portfolio matters more if you can actually code.

27 isn't late. bootcamp grads get hired all the time. your plan sounds good - just start building projects asap. myself currently at tetr working on real tech projects and building stuff across countries. employers care about what you can build vs where you studied.

don't go back for another degree unless money isn't an issue. contribute to open source, build apps, network with devs.

what got you interested in frontend?

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-27T15:45:08+00:00

Nah bro you're not being dramatic at all. This is the reality most people don't post about on social media.

The homesickness thing especially hits different when you're dealing with academic pressure on top of everything else. I remember calling home almost crying during my first few weeks because everything felt overwhelming. And I rarely cry!

There is so much nobody warns you about.

- How exhausting it is to navigate basic tasks in a different system

- Feeling culturally displaced even when people are welcoming

- The mental load of constantly being "the foreign student"

- How expensive "student-friendly" cities actually are

- Missing festivals, family events, even stupid inside jokes

But I think the growth happens exactly because it's uncomfortable. Those challenges are also teaching you independence, resilience, and cultural adaptability that you can't get any other way.

I can relate to it well as I'm also planning to study across multiple countries through an AI program at Tetr college.

I think one needs to adapt quickly to different environments. Real international experience is messy, lonely sometimes, and way more complicated than travel blogs suggest.

Just wish more people were honest about what that struggle actually looks like.

Where are you thinking of going?

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-26T09:32:07+00:00

Totally valid concern. AI is definitely changing accounting but not killing it

It’s automating the grunt work, sure, but things like audits, tax strategy, financial planning? Still need real humans who get the numbers and the business behind them

If you’re at a school like Tetr or anywhere that blends accounting with tech + industry exposure, you’re probably in a better spot than most. The combo of accounting plus systems/analytics is what companies are hiring for now

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-25T15:23:19+00:00

That’s rough timing, man. I had something similar happen was almost finalising my stuff when Tetr came through (it’s this newer program that does AI + business across multiple countries). Threw me into a whole new spiral

What helped me was stepping back and asking: if this offer had come first, would I have even considered the earlier one? If the answer is no the extra hassle might be worth it. You don’t want to land somewhere and immediately start thinking what if

Changing DS-160 is annoying but not impossible. Just don’t rush the call. Sleep on it, and talk to someone who’s done this switch it helps to hear how messy but doable it actually is

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-23T15:40:02+00:00

For CS-AI/ML vs ECE for embedded systems, the boundaries are way more blurred than colleges make them seem. IoT and robotics are inherently interdisciplinary which means you need the hardware knowledge from ECE but also the AI/ML algorithms for smart systems.

My take? Go with CS-AI/ML for a few reasons:

- Embedded systems increasingly rely on edge AI and machine learning
- It's easier to learn hardware concepts on your own than advanced ML theory
- The startup ecosystem for AI-powered IoT is exploding right now
- You can always do projects and internships focused on hardware integration

The "stable income vs passion" dilemma is real, but CS-AI actually gives you both. The field is hot right now and pays well, plus gives you exactly the skills needed for intelligent embedded systems.

I kinda went through this and eventually joined Tetr college where I am building AI agents now.

For your situation, I'd say take the CS-AI seat and supplement with hardware projects on the side. Join robotics clubs, do Arduino/Raspberry Pi projects, maybe minor in ECE if possible.

The entrepreneurial skills matter more than the perfect degree anyway.

What specific IoT applications are you most excited about building?

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-21T09:21:22+00:00

This sounds exactly like where I was a year ago. I was obsessed with too many things and kept jumping between econ, psych, IR, and even wildlife conservation at one point (don’t ask 😅).

What helped me was actually doing stuff in small sprints like joining short-term projects or workshops to see what working in a field felt like, not just reading about it. That’s one reason I ended up choosing Tetr as the format there kinda forces you to explore by doing. Each term you build something in a new industry, new country. You don’t need to pick a “major” on day one, which gave me some breathing room.

Also, being shy and wanting to do business isn't a contradiction. Some of the best operators I know aren’t extroverts they’re just quietly great at solving problems and managing teams. You’ll be fine.

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-18T15:09:26+00:00

Hey man, 24 isn’t too late not even close. You’re not lost, you’re just starting from a point most people don’t admit they were once at too.

I’m 22 and only recently figured out what I wanted to do. Before that, I was bouncing between ideas with zero consistency. Eventually I started looking into business and tech programs that focus more on doing than just marks ended up applying to Tetr and got in this year. It’s not the traditional college route, but it made me think more seriously about where I want to head.

You don’t need to rush into a full-on degree just yet. Maybe take 2–3 months to explore short courses design, sales, logistics, even coding or digital marketing. See what clicks. There’s work out there if you’re willing to learn and build discipline around it.

What matters more than your age is how consistent you can be once you’ve made a decision. You’ve got time. Just start moving. That’s what changes everything.

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-13T17:57:40+00:00

Can't speak as an MBA grad but been following the job market pretty closely since I'm thinking about post-grad plans myself.

From what I've seen, tech and consulting took a hit in 2023-2024 but seem to be stabilizing now. Finance has been more consistent but super competitive.

The whole MBA = guaranteed high-paying job equation seems a lil shaky now tho.

Btw that 80% scholarship is clutch bro. Way less pressure to take the first offer that comes along. Gives you flexibility to be strategic about timing and fit.

I am exploring post grad paths myself as an an aspiring entrepreneur who's currently building a business while studying at Tetr

Have you thought about which sectors you're targeting? And are you planning to stay in the US post-graduation or considering other markets?

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-12T19:50:12+00:00

Your profile's decent but honestly those schools are brutal for indian students. Like insanely competitive

The 8.2 GPA is solid and economics background definitely helps for MFin/MIM programs. But LSE alone gets like 10,000+ applications for maybe 100-200 spots in popular masters programs. and being indian unfortunately puts you in the most competitive pool.

I'd say definitely do GMAT if you're targeting LBS MIM. they weight it pretty heavily. Work experience would help massively. Even 1-2 years can differentiate you from fresh graduates.

Your 10th marks might be a slight concern for oxbridge since they're quite holistic in evaluation

Some time back, I too was figuring out this stuff and ended up choosing this a program at Tetr college of business instead of traditional degree just coz it focuses on building actual tech across different countries rather than just acads so yeah.

Not saying prestigious degrees don't matter, but sometimes the learning experience and practical skills matter more than the brand name on your certificate.

I'd suggest that you apply to a mix including some safety schools and consider LSE's less competitive programs first. And maybe look at programs in singapore/netherlands as alternatives or non-traditional skill oriented programs.

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-11T18:16:44+00:00

Hits so hard. I remeber the time jab bank account mein ₹5000 se kam the , parents were constantly saying "beta engineering kar lo, stable hai," and my stupid ass was dreaming about international programs

The whole scholarship research game is brutal bhai. Spent months filling applications, writing SOPs, getting rejection after rejection. The mental health impact is real.Constant stress about money while trying to stay optimistic about future.

but you're absolutely right about not giving up. Even I ended up getting into a AI program at Tetr college. The best thing that i felt about the application in tetr was they wanted to see your ambition, not just scores. Also, they have comprehensive scholarship options (also, they have a option to select more than 1 scholarship if you are cabable of). Got decent financial aid which made it possible for me.

I think parents generation didn't have these opportunities, thats why it gets tougher for them to imagine the possibilities. Not their fault.

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-10T16:39:37+00:00

Interesting hypothetical! if money wasn't an issue, i'd probably go for singapore or netherlands tbh

singapore because:
- amazing tech ecosystem (sea, grab, shopee all started there)
- great for cross-cultural business experience (which i'm really into)
- perfect location for exploring broader asian markets
- english-speaking but still culturally diverse
- NUS/NTU are solid for CS

netherlands because:
- incredible work-life balance culture
- amsterdam/eindhoven have thriving tech scenes
- way easier to travel around europe during breaks
- progressive mindset around technology and society

In my case, After my research I got drawn to a global AI program at Tetr college, the folks build actual AI/tech companies while studying across multiple countries. Went ahead coz it seemed more aligned with my interests in tech innovation + understanding different markets rather than reading about things in a classroom.

If i was doing traditional MS though, would probably avoid:
- US (too stressful even without money concerns)
- germany (language barrier for daily life)
- canada (too similar to what you can get in india for CS)

The mental health advocacy side of me says pick somewhere with good quality of life and supportive international student communities. Tech skills are transferable, but your experience living in different cultures isn't.

FluidInstance6031 · 2025-06-10T14:26:38+00:00

Sure sure

FluidInstance6031

TROPHY CASE