This blog post is written by Karthik Dandavathi.
I wanted to share my why I decided to pursue higher education in US. To tell this I need to go back to some 3 years back in Time capsule when I was a final year BTech student.
First, I was looking for clear thinking and clear view about Higher Education.
I was always a confused guy as to what to do with my future and how should be my career progression.
I was like I was someone who would think twice either to eat bread or Dosa for break fast. Such was my mental balance then. B
ut on one fine day one of my seniors guided me and told me all good things about US (No !! he wasn’t speaking about education .. but things better than that), then I was really fascinated by US life, kind of living there, driving those good-looking cars and last but not the least getting some real quality education.
With those intentions I made up my mind and thought that US is the place to be.
When things were just going my way then this sudden thing of campus placement came and fortunately/unfortunately I got into one MNC 
Now with my typical middle class background and kind of package they are offering… My relatives and closed ones were like praising me like I won a world cup or something. They had a small kind of appreciation party for me at my colony back then (yes it did happen !!)
Now that left in two minds again .. Should I go to US or should I take up my job..
I didn’t even dare to say my family members that I have a desire to study in USA seeing the kind of reception I got after getting my offer. I was sure then that they would not appreciate my decision.
Frankly speaking I was also getting more and more inclined towards taking up a job as it offered lucrative package (that was only on paper though.. I realized it late). And so many perks.
I would be having lot of money in a month . I was very excited and made myself a false promise that I would enjoy for 1 year and then leave my job for Higher Education. I didn’t realize its going to be tough.
After this inner turmoil ended . I was working for an MNC in Chennai for about 6 months.
Initially, I was kind of happy but slowly I started realizing the Salary package was just on Paper and I was getting considerably very less than what was offered.
With no offense to the company I got it wrong. Slowly work pressure was taking charge of me and every time I think of taking GRE there was some XX thing that would intervene..
Two years went like a rocket at work and I never had a chance to follow my desire.
Self realization incubated itself in different stages. It was like one day I bluntly decided that I would take GRE and apply for a MS program.
Again there is a problem here .. My mother and people around me were saying
Why do you want to waste 2 years again in studying .. if you work for 2 more years you may as well get H1B sponsored from your company. This time I decided to educate them. I took a paper and showed them the following
- I’m paid 25,000 rupees.
- Savings = NIL
If I work for 2 more years I may get paid 50K rupees per month savings may be == 10,000 rupees.
If I spend 2 years for MS in USA, I will get paid about $5,000 per month.
I can save some one lakh rupees back here.
And I also said that higher education is not always about money and having a degree from good university in US will definitely help me at some point of time in my life.
I finally got them convinced.
The whole point of this long boring essay was to tell the readers how some person might have to overcome emotional difficulties he may get in his middle class family when he says he will quit job and study.
And moreover they are all my people .. my relatives who were there with my family every good and bad time sand I cannot simply ignore them and go according to my will.
Some people may have an easy road to the MS. Some may have a little bit difficult road like me.
If you have the strong desire MS can be very much possible..
Finally, I’, preparing for Fall 2013. Score 306 306 ( 150 Verbal + 156 Quantitative ) in GRE.
PS: Readers please excuse me for writing a mini book on the pretext of writing a post.
This is my maiden post and do let me know your thoughts about it.
Over To You
What about you? How did you convince your parents about studying in USA?
Do you have a job offer and contemplating about studying abroad?
Hey buddy….
MNC in india is no greater than studying MS in USA…..there will be problems in the first few months of arrival…..but its worth your life……go for MS
This is what i was looking for..:). I am planning for Fall 2014. I dont have much idea about preparation. Should i join any coaching classes or prepare by myself?
hello!
a humble request!everybody who wants to get to USA or anyother country and live there and if they kick you out!
never ever think to get back here!there is something called loayality!if you have any thing like that in you get back here and do something for you people and Change the things that you dont like!! if not stay there and live your creepy wretched life and never think of your motherland and never ever tell your children about it!
Thank you!
Best of luck!!!
I worked for two years in MNC. But I saved some money over those two years. 6 months after I was into job, after a series of downward and upward spirals, I understood that that’s not for me. I started preparing for GRE while travelling to office cuz my work hours completely dominated my life. My dream of going for higher studies took 1 1/2 years to materialize and there were totally hopeless times; But after 2 years experience in MNC, and another 2 1/2 months later, I am here doing my PG studies, with scholarship. But I’m glad I worked for two years cuz it was a paradigm shift and I came to know what I really wanted out of life and the best part – the savings allowed me to take first step towards everything and I’m proud that my education didn’t burden my family financially!
Great Mate .. i am glad you followed your passion
@ Padma Priya .. All the best
All the very best. Had to sail on the save boat to convince my family to opt for studies in US. The only difference is I was passed out in June 2012. Had to struggle for their permission to spend the 10000 bugs. Finally the second attempt on GRE was 301, Verbal 149 and Quants 152. Applied to few Univ’s. and waiting for their approval. I wud have taken up my Gre in my 2 nd year of Engg but it had almost taken 3 years to convince the whole family. Waiting for a gud univ. Lets see
@ Snehal .. What do you mean by same situation.. Is that that you are not able to convince your parents or not able to deciede what to do .. Anyways i will definately help within my domicile.. Do ping me at [email protected]
@ Vivek: Still in the process to apply to universities .. will let u know once i am done
Same situation I am facing nowand not ableto getout of this,can u plz guide me?
dude im really impressed by the way you overcame your emotional difficulties,
May i know the Universities u applied & the Admits u received & the Course in which u applied??
Thanks all
looking forward to hear from you in the next posts as well
Hey thanks .. BTW which univ are you into ?
All the best and Wish you all success
Thanks
hi guys m a june 2012 passout.though i am preaparing for gre since a month still i have doubts whether my parents wud send to US or not.This halts my preparation from tym to tym.but still m preparing hoping to get a good score and planning to pursue few years later,as the score remains valid ,rite nw m not doing any job so is my decision rite to get a score card nw?frndz reply
Have faith in you that’s vital as of now.. Do take the test and later you can convince your parents if u have good score. All the best. Even I’m 2012 passout..:)
I completely understand your situation.
Also, life in US is also not that honky dory as it is made out to me. So come prepared with that mindset.
All the big buildings, cars, glamour that is portrayed is not something that you will get that easily.
Hi Karthik, I think you have taken wise decision to do job in MNC for 2 years and after that pursuing your MS. Good luck for your future, hope all your dreams will be achieved!!!!!!!!!!!
That was a courageous decision you’ve taken for Postgrad in US. May God help you in the rest of the journey ahead.
Hey Guys…
Please suggest me can I do MS without having any Exp. My prob. is that I don my B.Tech. in 2007 and after that I didn’t work anywhere. So can I start my career again with MS??
Thanks…
Yes, of-course! Which year you did your B Tech is not at all important. I too didn’t have any work experience when I joined for MS (but having a work experience is slightly preferred over not having any) — you can mention your B Tech projects, workshops/activities achievements etc. in your resume. Neither the universities, nor the companies in US will bother about your age (there are even students of the age of 50′s). They only want to know whether you have the ability to excel at studies/job. Good luck!
Thanks You so much for reply…