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Ask HN: Help me solve a dilemma, study in the US or take a job in the EU?

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11–20 of 107 posts

Re: Ask HN: Help me solve a dilemma, study in the US or take a job in the EU?

#11
Moving to the US is a much better deal than moving to Europe. Much higher salaries and you'll encounter way less racism in the US. However, undergrad in the US will not give you an automatic path to residency. So you might get kicked out of the country after you graduate.

But it's still the better deal. Europe should be your plan B.

Re: Ask HN: Help me solve a dilemma, study in the US or take a job in the EU?

#12

It comes down to preferences and priorities. The decision is personal. Here are some aids. US: + once you finish education, and if you start employment in tech sector, you get to make more money(I’d even dare to say more than 2x, considering taxes, geography etc). + for the tech sector, US is where the hotness is. More opportunities, fuel for ambition. + while single and young, US can get you a lot of disposable inco…

I think the lifestyle part depends a lot on where in the US OP would end up. Places like Boston and NYC are not car-dependent at all and most people you will meet are a normal weight and have a decent diet. There is also a ton of cultural diversity within NYC and lots of amazing food (especially if you have disposable income). Boston has many students and postdocs coming from all over, so in an academic circle you will easily have a young diverse friend group. It's definitely a different lifestyle than living in some other parts of the US, which probably are more of a negative compared to EU - though if you're into nature there are some really beautiful sights in parts of the US that make for relatively cheap vacations. There's also something to be said for the US college experience, like I wouldn't want to live in a smaller college town as an adult but some of them are super fun while you're an undergrad.

Re: Ask HN: Help me solve a dilemma, study in the US or take a job in the EU?

#15
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I'm deciding between X and Y, here are some of my specific concerns, anyone chime in?" "You might die, you're not in control of the future, do what you want" Neat list of platitudes, not really helpful here.

Concerns are just illusions of egoic mind who believe death is not real. There are no concerns in reality. Reality is binary. Either you are alive or not alive.

Are you an AI?

Re: Ask HN: Help me solve a dilemma, study in the US or take a job in the EU?

#17
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Concerns are just illusions of egoic mind who believe death is not real. There are no concerns in reality. Reality is binary. Either you are alive or not alive.

Are you an AI?

Does it matter what you choose to call me?

Re: Ask HN: Help me solve a dilemma, study in the US or take a job in the EU?

#18
East European here, a bit similar similar history to yours in that I've also got a scholarship in the US and I went the college route. In between the college years I've taken a few years of "leave of absence" to work in industry (back in Europe) - the US colleges (at least mine, but I suppose it's similar for most of them) do enable students to pause the education and return a bit later without any hassle, even my scholarship was still kept.

I'd never go back to change getting the degree - it's a great stepping stone in the professional world, opens doors and interviews, you can go back to industry any time later on. However the college is much "easier" when you are 20 - easier to fit in, make friends etc. With life, responsibilities will pile up and there can and will be much more friction to decide and get back to college later on.

College then led to masters (in ML) and that has become and still is a technical basis of all my professional career, so I have a deepest gratitude for all of these educational opportunities.

Re: Ask HN: Help me solve a dilemma, study in the US or take a job in the EU?

#20
If money is important to you, take the US option. Do well in school and you will have a job on graduation. Total lifetime earnings in the US will be higher.

If lifestyle and proximity to South Asia is important, take the Europe option. German work culture has a good work-life balance. Flying back home will be cheaper and faster.

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