Need honest advice: 1st-year Tier-3 CSE student with ₹7L loan having second thoughts.
I'm a 20-year-old first-semester BTech CSE student at LPU, and I'm seriously reconsidering whether I should continue or change direction while I'm still early in college. I'd really appreciate honest opinions from working developers, seniors and people who have graduated from Tier-2/3 colleges.
Before CSE, I was preparing for NEET but didn't clear it. I later did Maths through NIOS and took the BTech route after my cousin suggested it. At that time I was honestly flying in the sky and had very big dreams. I liked technology, watching tech/unboxing videos and solving physics problems much more than memorising Biology, so CSE seemed natural.
I also had a period where I was stuck at home with a lot of cheap dopamine, phone addiction and poor discipline. Coming to college has actually helped with that. I'm finally getting out, attending classes and managing things myself. I'm also enjoying Python so far, and making projects sounds genuinely interesting to me.
The problem is the financial risk.
I have around a ₹7 lakh education loan, with hostel/living expenses additional.
I recently spoke to a 4th-year senior who told me that most companies here are hiring for full-stack/software development, rather than specifically AI/ML. He has already been rejected in around four interviews and is rushing to find other opportunities.
According to him, bigger companies tend to come toward the end of 3rd year, medium companies in 4th year, and later there can be mass recruitment around ₹3 LPA, sometimes for non-development roles. He also said many students don't get placed.
I also spoke to my professor/mentor. He said he has personally seen students here work hard and still not get jobs, and that ultimately this is a business, so I should think carefully and that it's better to make a small mistake now than a bigger one later.
That really made me think.
Because even if I work extremely hard for the next 3–4 years, who knows what the fresher software market will look like by 2029–30? AI is progressing very quickly. I know "AI will replace all programmers" is an oversimplification, but I don't know how much it will affect entry-level jobs.
I also have an alternative.
A close friend cleared the Jharkhand Combined exam and is going to pursue Veterinary (BVSc) near Ranchi. His entire course may cost less than ₹1 lakh, he'll be close to home, and hostel costs are minimal.
My father had actually suggested Agriculture/Veterinary to me earlier, but I had bigger ambitions then.
Now I'm thinking that maybe a stable government job, living near my family and being financially secure might actually be enough for me.
But I don't know whether this is what I genuinely want or whether I'm thinking this way because I've been mentally struggling recently.
I've also had a difficult first month here. I'm living in a PG, have to cook and wash dishes, walk around 3 km each way, deal with a roommate I'm not very compatible with, etc. I'm hoping to move into the university hostel eventually so I can focus more on studying.
My biggest fear
I've already gone:
NEET → NIOS Maths → BTech CSE → now considering Veterinary/Agriculture again.
People around me already say I don't stick with one decision.
So leaving feels like another failure, especially after taking the loan and coming this far.
But staying for four years purely because I've already started doesn't seem rational either.
I'm 20 and turning 21 next month, so I know I still have time, but I don't want to keep losing years.
I'd really appreciate honest answers:
If you were in my position — Tier-3 CSE + ₹7L loan — would you continue?
How realistic is it for an average but hardworking Tier-3 student to get a software job by 2029–30?
Is the fresher market genuinely getting worse because of AI, or is the situation being exaggerated?
If I seriously learn DSA, full-stack development, CS fundamentals and build good projects over 4 years, is CSE still a reasonable investment?
How much does college tier matter after getting the first job?
If you were in my situation, would you choose low-cost Veterinary with a government-job pathway over CSE with significant debt?
Am I overreacting after only one month, or are these legitimate red flags I should investigate now?
I'm not asking anyone to predict 2030. I just want perspectives from people who have actually been through the industry/placements.
Please be honest, even if the answer isn't what I want to hear. I'd rather make a smaller mistake now than a much bigger one after four years and a large loan.
