I'm in a pickle, guys. I have until tomorrow to decide where I'll spend my next years as a student. I have to choose between China and Netherlands.
In China I was awarded a scholarship, everything included for a BSc in Computer Science and Technology (not sure if it's called BSc there). I'm being reluctant because I was not admitted in the university that I chose and I've end up in one that's top 100+ (the Liaoning province). I don't really know what to expect, given that I can't even work on a student visa. I'll be bound for the next 5 years without a choice but to finish it. The only good part of this is learning mandarin and studying other subjects that I'm interested in like electronics and computer memory.
On the other hand, in Netherlands, I was admitted in a top university that teaches AI, the field in which I want to end up doing research. It requires me to find my own place to live, food, utilities and pay 2000 Euros for tuition each year. My parents aren't able to fully support me, so I'll have to make a loan. This university only takes 3 years to finish and you are allowed to have part time jobs while studying. It's courses are great. Really great. Given that it takes so little to finish, I'll be able to start my MSc in Neuroscience much faster.
I don't know what to do. Take the easy route in China and try to continue learning AI on my own or go to Netherlands and struggle for a bit, but also lose on electronics, mandarin and other computer science related subjects.
I'm also not sure how much I'll be able to learn in China, given the internet censorship.
I hope that you guys can help me make up my mind and not regret the decision I make.
[–]DangZagnut5 points6 points7 points (4 children) | Copy Link
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Hohoo, you got me. I am from a Central-Eastern European country and just finished high-school from a Mathematics - Computer Science program. I've taken the time to study Linear Algebra and Calculus, but statistics wasn't part of my curriculum. I realised last month that I have to get started with it when I stumbled upon a few formulas that I've never seen in my life.
I already am in the field of AI. I've done the Machine Learning course from Andrew Ng and now I'm finishing the deeplearning.ai specialization. I try to keep up with papers on arXiv and I've also started working with some companies doing things like data analysis/ regression or applying computer vision models in python. All of these were done in my free time, the school curriculum was, honestly, a joke.
I'm the type of guy that likes to spend time alone, studying. I even try to go to gym at 7:00 AM, when no one is there. I don't hate human contact, I just enjoy solitude. For me, it's more important to build social links and have more opportunities at making money as fast as possible. In my mind, trading these first years for a carefree life later on is worth it.
So, to answer your last question, in 10-15 years I see myself hopping from country to country on my motorcycle. I don't know why, but I would like to get to know as many languages as possible and have enough money to splurge on experiences. I also see myself in a white coat doing research in a lab and working on mimicking the human brain. Heck, even getting in brain-computer interfaces. The possibilities are unlimited in this field, so I want to learn as much as possible to be prepared for anything that comes my way.
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Yup. Changed my mind today. I was blinded by the lack of money required.
I will try to find a place to work in the first month in Netherlands to, hopefully, pay my rent. It won't be easy, but hey, at least I'm free! No need to bind myself to any contract.
Thanks for your message, it made that gut feeling of regret I had disappear.
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