I had applied for the GATE exam with the hope of studying well and getting good score. But eventually, I ended up concentrating more on job search and did not study for GATE at all. A day or two before exam, I just solved one paper, but did not care about reading any topics that I don't understand well. I didn't do anything else, nada, nothing.
I appeared for the exam for the sake of 1500 Rs. Eventually I got a score of ~40, with a rank of 32xx.
During my job search, I realized how foolish I had been. I belong from a private college(BE CSE), and it's been dead hard to find any decent job. I had thought earlier that it would be very easy to get a job with 2L-3L salary in backend API development or Linux, container stuff. But it seems no one gives these jobs to private college students.
So now I am on the crossroads. I have few options and I'm very confused. I hope you people can give me some advice or share our experience.
1. I could just keep trying for job. But as more and more time is passing, I am getting more tensed about finding a job.
2. I have applied to IIST and IIIT-D. Also applied to BITS exam. If I get admission there, I'd join. But I know my chances are very less, given how few seats they have.
3. I could take a year gap and try for GATE again.
Regarding taking a gap, I wonder if I'll not be able to do any better due to pressure. This year, I appeared for the exam without any pressure, as if it was some midterm exam. Never had I felt like that. I guess it was partially responsible for me being able to answer questions from subjects I hadn't read for 1-2 years. But pressure would be much higher if I take a gap. But then again maybe if I can score 40 without studying, I might be able to reach 70 by studying for a year.
If I take a gap, I'd have no option but to succeed. Failure means dead end for my career.
The only reason I want to do MTech though is to get the college name. I have finally realised that what matters most is where you belong from, and not what you know. I have no more interest in formal education. Online courses and self study works best for me, but I guess I need a better dog tag.
What do you suggest?
