r2i forum

Hello,

My first post: My wife is already in Bangalore working and my 9 year old daughter goes to local school. I am planning to make a final move through my company in Dec. We have no issues in adjusting to Indian negatives (traffic, corruption, professionalism etc.) We both turned 40 and we find absolute peace in being in India. We are simple down to earth people who do not like lavish life style. We have become more philosophical and materialism in us has eroded. We decided to move out of US for not having sense of belonging. We hope to have close friends circle and have a good life. However what bothers us is our daughter's education. We both went to Ivy league (I to Columbia and my wife to IIM calcutta) and we see the opportunities these universities bring. With so much competition in India we feel our daughter might have to study abroad . I am of the opinion that with our participation and good idian education we can build a good profile for our daughter and shoot for ivy leagues abroad. My wife on the other hand believes staying in US is better for giving good life to our kid. With our move underway I am completely torn and anxious. I would like to know from people how do you think about this situation.

Financially we have saved fair amount of money for our daughters education and we still have another 20 years of work life left. Does everyone worry about kids higher education in India and if so what are your thoughts.

:confused:

One of the prime deterrents in our R2I is higher education for our child. I would love to settle down in India for good, but when I do r2i, i don't want to send my child to USA for undergrad. With the state of things related to reservation and higher education in India, procuring admission to a decent (not necessarily IIT) college seems almost impossible. I don't want to R2I, just to come back again and am not comfortable sending my child away to USA @ 18. Unfortunately, an intelligent, hardworking child DOES NOT have the same chances in pursuing their desired field of education, in India, as they do in USA. Its one of the main negatives for us to go back. Some people who r2i go with the idea that they can just procure seats in colleges which accepts payment, but atleast in TN, what I have seen is "YOU DONT GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR". Some are not even fit to be deemed as colleges, with the quality of the infrastructure and faculty. I dont see a point in sending your children here after shelling out loads of money (due to being an NRI/USC).

So that inner peace that I so long for, is still elusive. Blessed is my spouse, who finds inner peace no matter where we choose to live :) I am trying to motivate myself to get to that state..

anandnk;468505With so much competition in India we feel our daughter might have to study abroad . I am of the opinion that with our participation and good idian education we can build a good profile for our daughter and shoot for ivy leagues abroad.

Very good first post.

I think i am also coming to conclusion that you can get better Higher education or value for money in US than in India. Reservations and PIO/OCI quota makes it very complicated to get in good college. Lot of kids prepare for SAT in india and come to study in US. Recently girl from Delhi got perfect score in SAT.

anandnk;468505Hello,
My first post: My wife is already in Bangalore working and my 9 year old daughter goes to local school. I am planning to make a final move through my company in Dec. We have no issues in adjusting to Indian negatives (traffic, corruption, professionalism etc.) We both turned 40 and we find absolute peace in being in India. We are simple down to earth people who do not like lavish life style. We have become more philosophical and materialism in us has eroded. We decided to move out of US for not having sense of belonging. We hope to have close friends circle and have a good life. However what bothers us is our daughter's education. We both went to Ivy league (I to Columbia and my wife to IIM calcutta) and we see the opportunities these universities bring. With so much competition in India we feel our daughter might have to study abroad . I am of the opinion that with our participation and good idian education we can build a good profile for our daughter and shoot for ivy leagues abroad. My wife on the other hand believes staying in US is better for giving good life to our kid. With our move underway I am completely torn and anxious. I would like to know from people how do you think about this situation.

Financially we have saved fair amount of money for our daughters education and we still have another 20 years of work life left. Does everyone worry about kids higher education in India and if so what are your thoughts.

:confused:

Please explain this: Couldn't you find absolute peace without the listed Indian negatives ?

IIM Calcutta plays in the Ivy League ?

Ivy league is an ATHLETIC CONFERENCE of private american colleges in the northeastern United States. Wiki says this:

[QUOTE]The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions ofhigher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group.[SUP][2][/SUP] The eight institutions are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University,Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University....

My thinking is other way round. I'm more worried about my kids excelling in the US. The competitive market in India will only bring out the better side of your kids. Remember, kids adapt to the surrounding and if you know the nature and capabilities of your kids, then you can prepare them accordingly for any challenges. The early years of Indian education will make your kids more competitive. You actually have an advantage as you and your wife studied in the US - you can contribute a lot to your kids education & possible prepare them for the good schools. If you want to escape the quota system or reservations, then there are options too - private colleges & good private universities.

#1 -- Higher education is easier and better in US. At the same time if the kid studies in US and chose some exotic subjects, then she may not be able to find a job in India. For example if she does law then she can not practice in India if she wants in later stage of life. That will force you to LIA forever to be closer to her. Also kids in US grow up independent and your influence declines as they grow into teen years and beyond. They may end up picking some weird majors like Greek History and you will then wonder what is the use of living in a country with excellent universities.

Many parents think they can advise their kids to follow their choice of career and education. You will just be a financier and then watch from the sidelines. Remember USA is not India, you need to think different.

You should r2i for your own need and not worry about kid's education. If they are good they can excel in this tough environment too. There is no easy answer for such questions. We modern parents think and worry too much about future, all the result of Internet and this forum.

I think higher education is good in US unless you get into IIT's, IIM's or other such schools which is going to be difficult or next to impossible for our kids.If they can somehow manage to get into these institutes, I will be happy for them to stay here and study or else we will send them back to US and go with them. We personally didnt R2I for education reasons . Our kids are born in US, so we think ultimately they will wind up there only. It is their choice.

anandnk;468505. We both went to Ivy league (I to Columbia and my wife to IIM Calcutta)

:confused:

With educated parents like you, the kid should excel no matter where she is.

When they grow up after 15-20 years later, Indian education system may change for better (hoping) and can become world class.

We will see US students are going to India and China for better and cheaper education in 2025.

IMO, if your kid is not interested in Medicine or Engineering then US may be the better place for college studies. I know that there are many Indian universities which have great faculties and infrastructure in non-Engineering and non-Medicine fields, but from a job perspective and class enviroment perspective (not-so-motivated students and lecturers) they may not be that good.

Old-Spice2;468573#1 -- Higher education is easier and better in US. At the same time if the kid studies in US and chose some exotic subjects, then she may not be able to find a job in India. For example if she does law then she can not practice in India if she wants in later stage of life. That will force you to LIA forever to be closer to her. Also kids in US grow up independent and your influence declines as they grow into teen years and beyond. They may end up picking some weird majors like Greek History and you will then wonder what is the use of living in a country with excellent universities.

Many parents think they can advise their kids to follow their choice of career and education. You will just be a financier and then watch from the sidelines. Remember USA is not India, you need to think different.

You should r2i for your own need and not worry about kid's education. If they are good they can excel in this tough environment too. There is no easy answer for such questions. We modern parents think and worry too much about future, all the result of Internet and this forum.

Parenting is a complex endeavor. A liberal education (More Greek History is now being made.... but there is no major called "Current Events") is a useful thing in many dimensions. One can be glad that the child is able to get past high-school and go on to college. If the child is taught early as to how she ought to look at paybacks for effort, she would choose well.... no matter what she plans to do. As for the ability to make an independent living, a clever child with a liberal education is better off in a first world country than in India.