On higher education

Lately, the buzz word among the students have been "higher-education". I have been facing the same questions from various people many times-"Are you preparing for some exams next year?" By this, they basically mean three things- CAT/GRE/GATE in that order of preference. Though I hate being asked this question repeatedly and again, I still mantain composure and answer frankly- "Not as of now". As of now...hmm, does this mean I may prepare in the near future? I cannot answer this question.

Seriously speaking, seeing a lot many people interested in further education(and not to forget the profs emphasising as well) makes me re-think what I had decided once- No further education. Was this BTech any less that I want to go for more? Although my re-thinking on this topic doesn't generate any fruitful results but it makes me think about what other people might be thinking.

Some obvious reasons can be-

• Interest in learning more.
• Branding themselves with a higher degree of education.
• Increased remuneration expectation. Looking at the current market situation, the starting salaries will be going down by one level.
• Parents' pressurising for going for higher studies.

None of these reasons seem to be very lucrative to me. Many people(infact most of us) doesn't think once before making a statement like- Engineering was a waste of time. Most of us think so and voice our feelings that we are learning nothing in college. If this is case and reason to go for higher studies, then what guarantees that we will not say the same thing there as well.

Coming to the salary part, I admit,yes, the starting salaries will no doubt decrease. But it is not only the case here. Even if one goes for higher studies, there as well the starting salaries will be less by one level. Although greater than what one will get as an undergraduate, but there is no reason to beleive that the span of 2 yrs of study will be a proper time-investment and will demand a more hike than the same time spent in industry.

But I do not think that going for higher education is a bad idea-never thought so. This post is all about me and my reasons for re-thinking about it. Even after some musing upon the topic, I could not reach a concrete opinion- I still have to re-think. But for all those going for higher studies all I got to say- Work hard and you will make it!