<p>Hi all,
Not sure if this is the right place to post but here goes..I have been admitted to MS in Material Science at Columbia University, New York for Fall 2010. </p>
<p>I have not received financial aid, and estimated expenses are 71000 USD as per the Columbia website. So I will have to take big loans. I want to know if going there is worth it? Are there sufficient jobs in Material Science and what are the salaries?</p>
<p>I am in my final semester in IIT Bombay, Material Science department. I also have a job in Piramal group automotive company, with a pay of Rs 5.5 lpa.....that comes to about 12,200 USD per annum. So, should I leave this thing to go for MS in Columbia?</p>
<p>Any info will be helpful. Thanks :)</p>
<p>-Hrishikesh Tiwari</p>
<p>Paying $71k for MS in MS is unusual. How do you plan to pay it off?
I am surprised that with your IIT background you are not getting any FA - even a TA position?</p>
<p>the 71k is including estimated living expenses (estimated by Columbia, surely an overestimation but lets take worst case scenario) , the tuition fees being about 40k. Getting FA in Masters is rare even for IITians. We get that only in PhD programs. </p>
<p>I plan to take bank loans up to Rs 25 lacs, i.e. $55.5 k and for the rest I plan to work part time. If that isnt possible, my parents have savings.</p>
<p>The point is, that it is a stretch financially. I want to know if it is worth it?</p>
<p>My opinion is that $71k or 50k is not worth it just for doing MS even if it is Columbia. (MIT or CalTech is a different story). I am just expressing my opinion without any basis.</p>
<p>What do you plan to do after graduation? Go back to India or seek employment in US?
Why not go for PhD?</p>
<p>I want to be employed in the US after graduation. This is because MS in India has little value, especially in Material Science. I dont want to do PhD, because its 5 years in a university, I dont think I will have the patience.</p>
<p>I know 71k is a big amount, but if I can repay it in a couple of years, I think its worth it. Thats why I want to know the job prospects in US</p>
<p>hrishi123, I think you should go with your instincts or consult someone at Columbia about employment opportunities after MS. </p>
<p>I am beginning to understand your point of view. You see it as an investment towards settling in US and you are trying to see how good an investment this will be. Good luck.</p>