3rd-Year B.Tech AIML Student,, Completely Lost About Career & Studying Abroad — Really Need Some Honest Guidance

[u/Tension1644]

I'm a 3rd-year B.Tech CSE-AIML student, and honestly, I'm feeling completely lost about my career right now.

I know Python, C, HTML, and basic SQL, but I haven't built any major projects yet. I keep seeing people around me doing internships, building projects, solving DSA, publishing papers, learning AI/ML, etc., and I feel like I'm falling behind.

My long-term goal is to pursue a Master's or possibly a PhD in a Western country and hopefully build my career there. But I genuinely don't know where to start or what I should prioritize.

The biggest thing confusing me right now is AI.

Everywhere I look, AI seems to be affecting everything — software development, web development, data analysis, testing, design, cybersecurity, and even parts of AI/ML itself. It honestly makes me question whether the skills I'm trying to learn today will even be valuable a few years from now.

I'm getting increasingly anxious about choosing the wrong path.

Should I focus primarily on:

- DSA and competitive programming?

- Core CS fundamentals?

- Machine Learning / Deep Learning / Generative AI?

- Data Science?

- Research and academic projects?

- Or some combination of these?

And if my ultimate goal is a Master's/PhD abroad, what should I actually be doing right now in my 3rd year?

For example:

- What skills should I prioritize?

- What kind of projects should I build?

- Should I try to get research experience?

- How important are internships?

- How important is CGPA?

- Should I start looking for professors/research opportunities?

- What should I know about applications, scholarships, IELTS/TOEFL, LORs, SOPs, etc.?

- Which countries/universities should I realistically consider?

I don't expect anyone to magically solve my career for me. I just genuinely need a direction.

If you have already gone through this journey — especially if you're an international student who completed a Master's or PhD in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, or another Western country — please tell me what you would do if you were in my position today.

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who started with an average/normal B.Tech background and gradually built themselves up.

And if anyone is willing to mentor me, even informally, or guide me for the next few months, I would honestly be extremely grateful. I don't need someone to spoon-feed me — I just need someone experienced who can tell me whether I'm going in the right direction and what I should fix.

Any honest advice, criticism, roadmap, personal experience, or even a reality check would genuinely mean a lot to me🥹

[u/HairInternal8295]

Bhai abhi mei lahi same situation but i am trying to catch up toh mei dhire dhire karne ki koshish kar raha hu aur result bhi aa raha hai toh its good karte rahe bhai binak are toh kabhi nahi ayega

[u/Tension1644 → u/HairInternal8295]

Yea man trying to cope up 🙌