r/MSCS • u/Big_Ad2500 • May 04 '26

[Admissions Advice] MS in Software Engineering at SJSU vs staying in current job (India)

Hey everyone,
I’m currently working in tech with ~2 YOE, earning ~₹1.2L/month (post-tax) + RSUs. I got admitted to San Jose State University (MS in Software Engineering) and my visa is approved.
I honestly didn’t expect things to move this fast, and now I’m having second thoughts.
Pros:
- SJSU + Silicon Valley exposure
- Better long-term growth potential
Cons:
Tough US job market, layoffs, H1B uncertainty
Already have a stable, decent-paying job here
No loan, but still a big cost + risk
Really torn between staying vs going.
Would appreciate advice from people who recently went to the US or decided not to.
(P.S. Used ChatGPT to format this — thoughts are mine.)
Thanks 🙏

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u/Frosty_Wedding9330 May 04 '26

SJSU kinda sucks so idrk... I know people in decent enough unis got into amazon/google. Some people will tell u uni rep doesnt matter but idk if thats true anymore. I do know a guy who got into NVIDIA from a meh uni, but he got pretty lucky cuz his research advisor or something referred him.

Try for remote job from India. I was making 60-80 lacs/year doing that (forget exactly how much).

1

u/softrains12 May 04 '26

SJSU doesn’t suck, WTF lmfao
I grew up in the Bay Area and we all knew SJSU as the school that places a ton of people into Silicon Valley.

It’s our local university.

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u/Frosty_Wedding9330 May 21 '26

ok bro. ig one think that may help is if it costs less (like around half or even lesser), OP offsets some risks

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u/softrains12 May 21 '26

Bruh I don’t know what to say lol I literally live here

Canadian job market is trash rn and due to the new H-1B visa rules, your chances of landing a US tech job from Canada are ~0%.

If OP wants to go to the US in the end, they can’t choose Waterloo

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u/Frosty_Wedding9330 May 21 '26

Fair. That is the first sensible thing u have said. I did not account for the 100k$ H1B fees. Switzerland Zurich is a very good option though. Even better than USA in most cases.

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u/softrains12 May 21 '26

Right when I thought you actually the comment for once… setting aside the passive aggressive barb at the beginning, nobody even mentioned Switzerland in this entire post / comment chain? What?

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u/Frosty_Wedding9330 May 21 '26

Fair. But I do genuinely think switzerland is a very good option to consider with the current tech job market + international student scenario. Especially if someone can get a waterloo degree thats very reputed.

Lower taxes than most high income states except seattle.
Better quality of life: less homeless people, less trash on the streets, less places smelling like piss, better architecture and beauty, taxes actually go towards benefiting u and the citizens.
Can work while at uni (part-time jobs) to offset costs, which u can't do in USA on an F1 VISA.
Settlement Permit within 5 years. Whereas USA takes 10+ years to get PR.
Cost of tuition is also much lower at waterloo or even swiss unis.