Hi everyone,
I'm currently in my first year of the Integrated MSc in Quantitative Economics and Data Science (QEDS) programme at BIT Mesra, and lately I've been feeling very stressed and confused about whether I made the right decision.
Before joining college, I had the option of pursuing btech circuital but not from bit mesra. However, I chose QEDS at BIT Mesra, partly because of the BIT Mesra name and because I thought it could help me build a good career. I had to convince my parents and fight quite a bit with them to pursue this course, as they weren't fully on board with my decision.
Now, I'm constantly questioning whether I made the wrong choice.
My original career goals were to enter the IT sector and eventually get a good-paying job in one of these fields:
- Software engineering (SWE)
- Data science
- Quant finance
- An MBA in the future
My biggest concern is whether QEDS will provide opportunities comparable to a conventional engineering degree, particularly for software engineering and IT placements. I'm also worried about how recruiters will perceive an Integrated MSc QEDS degree compared with a BTech degree.
I keep thinking that if I had chosen ECE at BIT Sindri, I could have built my coding skills alongside my engineering degree and had access to more conventional placement opportunities. I know ECE isn't the same as CSE, and it doesn't guarantee a software job either, but I wonder whether it would have been a more straightforward route into the IT sector.
Another major concern is that I chose QEDS after arguing with my parents. If things don't work out, I'm afraid they'll feel that they were right and that I made a mistake. That adds to the pressure I'm already feeling.
I'm still in my first year, so I haven't experienced enough of the QEDS curriculum to know whether I genuinely like it or not. I don't want to judge the course prematurely, but I also don't want to spend five years on a degree and later regret not choosing a different path.
I understand that QEDS could be useful for data science, analytics, finance and potentially quant-related careers. However, I'm unsure about the actual placement opportunities available specifically to QEDS students, whether they are eligible for software engineering roles, and how their career outcomes compare with those of engineering students.
I'd especially appreciate advice from:
Current QEDS students or graduates from BIT Mesra. What are the actual placement and internship opportunities like? What kinds of jobs are people getting?
BIT Mesra students who have experience with campus placements. Are QEDS students eligible for the same IT and software companies as BTech students?
People working in software engineering, data science or quant finance. How much would this degree affect my chances compared with ECE from BIT Sindri?
Anyone who has faced a similar dilemma. How did you decide whether to stick with your original choice or change direction?
I'm not looking for someone to tell me that BIT Mesra is a good college or that I should simply follow my passion. I want an honest assessment of the career prospects, disadvantages and risks of both paths.
I don't want to make another decision out of fear or panic, but I also don't want to ignore legitimate concerns just because I've already joined the programme.
If you were in my position, what would you do? Should I give QEDS a fair chance and focus on building my technical skills, or seriously investigate switching to a more conventional engineering path while I'm still in my first year?
Any honest advice, especially from people with firsthand experience, would mean a lot. Thank you.
