Ready Set Do w/ Naman Pandey

In this episode featured not-expert is Ratik Dutta. Ratik is a Marketing Ops Assistant Manager at SEED Global Education, which is a role he recently started after returning to India - having finished his Masters in Marketing degree from Purdue University in the US. Ratik takes us through the realities of a move back to India after a Master’s in the US - the reverse culture shock, prospects of getting jobs and perception of foreign grads, and somewhat paradoxically, settling back into one’s home. This is a topic that almost every international Indian student has wondered about - and we leave no stone unturned in terms of covering all the logistical and mental preparations that must go into this decision. We also contrast MBAs in India vs Masters in the US, and what Ratik thinks about the India growth story. If you are someone that is considering going back, please do reach out ad/or let us know in the comments.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the Ready Set Do podcast: 1. Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/AJpppY42zy 2. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ready.set.do 3. Twitter: https://x.com/ReadySetDo_ 4. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/namanpandey0796/ 5. Get cashback EVERY time you buy anything online: https://www.rakuten.com/r/YOURSS30?eeid=44971 6. Get $100 With Discover Credit Card (Student Friendly, no Credit History required): https://refer.discover.com/s/namanpandey07966?advocate.partner_share_id=3718798779 7. Get 60k Bonus Points (~$600) with Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card: https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19P/4D173KLQF5 8. Get $25 On SoFi 4.2% High-Yield Savings Account: https://www.sofi.com/invite/money?gcp=76a5cd36-026a-4d9e-acd0-b0d252d2238e&isAliasGcp=false 9. Free Stock On Robinhood: https://join.robinhood.com/namanp-e93ca04 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resources: Ratik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ratik-datta-a9856074/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Background + Introduction

(02:37) Masters degree experience in the US
(06:39) Situation after graduation in the US - final months
(10:34) Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita
(12:38) Status of Ratik's graduating cohort + Ways to stop OPT clock
(18:35) Logistics of leaving the US - please do all these!
(21:53) First two weeks in India immediately after returning
(23:48) Differences between the US and India - what did Ratik miss the most?
(29:13) Lifestyle Differences: US vs. India
(32:02) Pollution - no escape?
(34:12) Perception of foreign grads in India (SHOCKING!)
(39:45) Job situation in India
(40:48) MS in USA vs MBA in India - Which is better?
(45:38) Are extra-curriculars in foreign schools THAT important?
(47:13) Feeling like an outsider in your own country :(
(50:44) Does Ratik believe in the India Growth Story?
(53:31) Advice for current students