For many Indian students heading abroad, landing a high-paying job in the US is seen as the end goal. But a recent Reddit post tells a slightly different story, where even after securing a job worth around $120,000 (roughly Rs 1.12 crore), one student says they are already thinking of leaving and coming back home.
They also mentioned having a loan of around $40,000 and said they are trying to understand if staying in the US for a few years is even worth it. “I want to save at 1 to 1.5cr INR..is it pipe-dream in 3/4 years. Is it pipe dream?” the post read.
The tone of the post shows confusion more than anything else. There is a clear push to earn and repay the loan, but at the same time, there is a strong urge to leave quickly.
In replies, the user opened up more about their state of mind. “Honestly don't have hopes for h1b extension. Also every day feel like a ticking time bomb here so don't know if I will survive even for the 3 years,” they wrote.
When asked what is causing the stress, the user said, “Worse. Every day feels like a ticking time bomb. Plus the constant pressure to upskill.” That line stood out for many readers, especially those working in tech, where skill upgrades never really stop.
Others shared their own experiences to give perspective. One comment read, “I was able to save $150k with $72k job in Florida in four years, lived very frugally like a student in shared accommodation and without a car, no fancy trips & restaurants, was able to cap the monthly expenses to $1k a month.”
There were also more practical suggestions. A user advised, “Your primary objective should be to pay off your loan while you can earn in USD.” Another pointed towards lifestyle changes, saying, “Try to make friends who have similar interests. Austin is good place for outdoor activities.”
Some comments moved away from money and focused on mental health. One user simply said, “Bro, talk to a psychiatrist and see if it makes sense for you to be on anti depression meds.” Another added a different perspective: “That isn’t a US exclusive problem. That’s the tech market problem.”
There were also lighter responses, including “Bro go gym,” showing how online conversations often shift tone quickly.
What makes this post relatable is that it is not really about salary. It is about whether staying abroad is worth it when things don’t feel right personally. The user themselves admitted they may stay at least until the loan is cleared, writing, “Atleast until clearing the loan have to manage.”
Struggling despite a high-paying offer
In the post, the user shared that they are about to complete their MS from Indiana and already have a job lined up in Austin. Still, things are not as straightforward. They wrote, “I'm too depressed right now and just want to save as much as possible before returning.”They also mentioned having a loan of around $40,000 and said they are trying to understand if staying in the US for a few years is even worth it. “I want to save at 1 to 1.5cr INR..is it pipe-dream in 3/4 years. Is it pipe dream?” the post read.
The tone of the post shows confusion more than anything else. There is a clear push to earn and repay the loan, but at the same time, there is a strong urge to leave quickly.
In replies, the user opened up more about their state of mind. “Honestly don't have hopes for h1b extension. Also every day feel like a ticking time bomb here so don't know if I will survive even for the 3 years,” they wrote.
When asked what is causing the stress, the user said, “Worse. Every day feels like a ticking time bomb. Plus the constant pressure to upskill.” That line stood out for many readers, especially those working in tech, where skill upgrades never really stop.
Mixed reactions from Reddit users
The comments section turned into a mix of financial advice and personal suggestions. Some users tried to break down the math. One user said, “Honestly, the math doesn't math for me... With your loan and your savings goal you need around 200K. Doing that in 3 years means you invest 60K a year (which is basically impossible)..and hope it goes up. 6 years is do-able IMO.”Others shared their own experiences to give perspective. One comment read, “I was able to save $150k with $72k job in Florida in four years, lived very frugally like a student in shared accommodation and without a car, no fancy trips & restaurants, was able to cap the monthly expenses to $1k a month.”
There were also more practical suggestions. A user advised, “Your primary objective should be to pay off your loan while you can earn in USD.” Another pointed towards lifestyle changes, saying, “Try to make friends who have similar interests. Austin is good place for outdoor activities.”
Some comments moved away from money and focused on mental health. One user simply said, “Bro, talk to a psychiatrist and see if it makes sense for you to be on anti depression meds.” Another added a different perspective: “That isn’t a US exclusive problem. That’s the tech market problem.”
There were also lighter responses, including “Bro go gym,” showing how online conversations often shift tone quickly.
What makes this post relatable is that it is not really about salary. It is about whether staying abroad is worth it when things don’t feel right personally. The user themselves admitted they may stay at least until the loan is cleared, writing, “Atleast until clearing the loan have to manage.”
