What am I unsure of?

  1. Need for safety net?

My friend who did his MBA in Arkansa university (ranked 25 in the US), got laid off and is expected to find a job within 2-3 months. He was fired in an instant. He reached out to a couple of companies like Unilever, American express, Zitter health insights etc… and they informed him that they don’t hire internationals. He attributed it to H1B crisis created by Trump.

This is the case for someone who got a 730 in GMAT and an 80% scholarship while studying, first job earns ~70k$ only (110k$ in California probably). I am not really sure if he is the best example. He also mentioned that everyone in the next year got full scholarship in his school. But 730 is considered a very good score.

Another friend of mine is about to study in Cornell having worked a few years in Deloitte in the US. He did a simple masters in management and began his journey with Deloitte. He is about to pay 180k$ for his education and is very confident to get a shit load of money moving into finance or getting back to management consulting.

I don’t believe I am 730 material, yet. It looks really unsafe for me to venture out of NL with the possibility of leaving US empty handed like my former friend’s near fate. Even if I am as good as the former friend, it leaves me at great risk of spending ~20k$ with the worst case being, going back to India. I cannot imagine what I can do in India, I suspect I can’t do much with my skill sets of mechanical engineering.

I suspect I can pull my shit together and be the best version of myself in India too. I suspect my impact would be better just being in NL instead of India.

If Ultimately I am looking to gain skills to lead, and to a foundation to make shit loads of money (investment banking), I suspect I could still do it here in NL. I could apply for a masters here. And attempt going to the US by showing some tangible credentials? Although I have not many examples, of people who have done it, my cousin got a green card from India, by being really good at his shit, and of course a whole load of luck.

The Risk of going to the US to study and find a job and settle there without being able to fall back in NL seems not really rock solid. The pit falls of just staying in NL or waiting for a citizenship before taking the leap, seem to be minor, considering that I can do an MBA here for example, gain the same skills here, and migrate based on potential at a much much later date.

In case I immediately attempt to go to US but then fail at finding a job or I get laid off, then I am not sure what future lies for me in India. I could still be able to make something work I guess, as I am ultimately looking to gain skill and do direct work. With the possible support from 80k hrs, once I have the respectable credentials, then maybe there are still possibilities.

  1. Why do an MBA?

It is a good platform to go to the US. It is a good platform to pursue things like management consulting, finance or investment banking.

There seem to be quite some advantages to moving to the US to find a job. I am afraid it is harder to get a job from here directly in the US, unless I am at the peak of my career. For starters in the industry, people who are in the US, seem to have the access to resources there and the visa for companies to try you for a few years is what I am told. I am not hopeful about Management consulting for sure, with my current skill set.

One last thing to consider would be that cryonics is currently sharp only in the US, and seems to be taking its sweet time to catch up in Europe.

P.S

Heavy procrastination. Barely wrote for 45 mins. After another 30 mins of procrastination, I got in the groove and did some decent writing for ~45 mins. Peace