Gen Z: Choosing Between Roots and Wings

Let us grab another cup of chai and continue our chat about whether our kids should chase dreams abroad or stay rooted in the country. We talked about the pull of migration and turning brain drain into gain. Now, for the third part of this series, we are focusing on Gen Z in India – those sharp youngsters born between 1997 and 2012 – and their big question: should they aim for foreign universities or stick with our national treasures like IITs and IIMs? What is the smart move for 2025? I have seen cousins slog for JEE while dreaming of Harvard, and friends return from the US with big degrees but no plan to use them here.

The Big Choice: Abroad or At Home?

The pressure is real. Every year, lakhs of Indian students stare at their screens, JEE results on one side, GRE scores on the other, wondering which road to take. National institutes like IITs, NITs, IIMs, and AIIMS are our pride – tough to get into, but they promise good jobs and respect at home. Then there is the glamour of abroad – universities in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, with top-notch labs and diverse classmates. Is one path better? In 2025, with AI jobs popping up and remote work making borders fuzzy, it is not a simple yes or no.

National institutes are our rock stars. IITs, born in the 1950s with Nehru’s dream of a modern India, have given us names like Sundar Pichai. There are 23 IITs today, and getting in through JEE Advanced is like winning a gold medal – only about 1% make it, tougher than Harvard. Fees are easy on the pocket, around Rs 8 to 10 lakh for four years, and jobs are solid. Top IITs like Bombay or Delhi see average salaries of Rs 20 to 25 lakh. IIMs, for those eyeing management, are just as strong. Crack the CAT exam, pay under Rs 25 lakh for two years, and you could land a job at McKinsey.

Abroad is a different game. Places like MIT or Stanford let in 4 to 5% of applicants and let you switch fields – study AI one day, mix in arts the next. Fees hit hard – $50,000 to $70,000 a year, that’s Rs 40 to 60 lakh. Scholarships like Fulbright help, but many need loans. In 2024, about 7.6 lakh Indian students went abroad, a bit less than 2023’s 8.95 lakh, due to visa delays and costs. Still, the pull is strong – global exposure and networks that land you at Google.

For Gen Z, it is personal. They want skills for a world run by AI. They wonder: will IIT’s strict syllabus get me ready, or does MIT’s mix-and-match style give me an edge? At IITs, you stick to core engineering with little room to explore. Abroad, you can compare computer science with climate change studies. Dropout numbers tell a tale – 20% at IITs due to intense pressure, compared to 4% at MIT, where support makes things easier.

National institutes feel like home – no missing Diwali or dealing with culture shock. For kids who grew up on YouTube tutorials, places like IISc or TIFR offer top research without visa hassles. But more Gen Z kids are picking foreign unis for undergrad, drawn by the freedom to explore, though many IIT students head abroad for master’s degrees to dive into fields like AI or biotech.

Why Gen Z Is Torn: The Pulls and Pushes

Yaar, Gen Z is stuck between two worlds. Foreign unis pull with their fancy labs and classmates from everywhere. Students on social media in 2025 warn against smaller foreign colleges – high fees, low returns – but rave about top ones for connections. The US leads with 3 lakh Indian students in 2024, though Canada’s residency rules and Australia’s work permits are gaining fans. Costs are steep – Rs 40 to 60 lakh for four years – but scholarships soften the blow.

National institutes fight back with low fees and big names. JEE is tough but cracking it gets you into IIT Bombay for Rs 2 lakh a year. IIMs open doors to jobs paying Rs 30 lakh or more. Blogs in 2025 say it is about what suits you – Gen Z kids who love freedom lean toward abroad; those wanting quick jobs stick with national institutes.

This abroad craze is not new – Nehru sent students out in the 1950s. But in 2025, with AI jobs driving demand, many IIT graduates eye master’s degrees abroad. Tighter visa rules, like US H-1B caps or UK work permit limits, are nudging more to come back home.

National Institutes: Our Hidden Gems

Let us give a shout-out to our national institutes – they are no small deal. IITs, with 23 campuses, pump out engineers who power ISRO or startups like Flipkart. Getting in is brutal – 1% acceptance rate, harder than Harvard’s 3.5%. Fees are light – Rs 8 to 10 lakh for a BTech – and jobs pay well, averaging Rs 20 lakh. IIMs, with 21 campuses, are fierce, with CAT letting in 0.5% and fees under Rs 25 lakh for an MBA.

Do not forget AIIMS for doctors, NITs for engineers, or IISERs for scientists. These places feel like home – no struggling with foreign food or freezing winters. Studies in 2025 show IITs have a 20% dropout rate due to stress, but they build grit. Gen Z loves the structure if they want fast results.

The catch? The syllabus at IITs is fixed – you cannot easily switch fields. Labs are not as advanced as MIT’s. Reports from 2025 say students go abroad for the freedom to mix fields, like engineering with business. The National Education Policy of 2020 is adding more choices, but foreign unis still tempt with their global vibe.

Abroad: The Shiny Allure and Hidden Costs

Foreign unis pull you in with state-of-the-art labs and diverse classmates. MIT or Stanford takes 4 to 5% of applicants, but fees sting – $50,000 a year, that’s Rs 40 to 50 lakh. Scholarships help, but loans are common. Guides in 2025 say Indian students love the hands-on learning abroad.

Where are they going? The US leads, but Canada’s residency options and Australia’s work permits are catching up. The UK’s short courses are a hit too. You get a global outlook and skills like speaking confidently in meetings. But culture shock hits hard – imagine missing mom’s dal or feeling out of place. Some face racism, and smaller colleges abroad can be a trap – high fees, low job prospects. Visa delays and job hunts add tension. Dropout rates are low at 4%, but mental health struggles are up.

For Gen Z, abroad is an adventure, but national institutes offer stability. Blogs in 2025 say it is about your goals – IITs for quick jobs, abroad for global careers.

The Gen Z Dilemma: What’s Best for India?

Gen Z is split. They are practical, wanting skills for a world where AI is king. Surveys in 2025 show 70% care more about making a difference than earning big bucks. National institutes offer prestige and jobs – IIT Bombay graduates earn Rs 23 lakh on average – but abroad gives freedom to explore. Student mobility is high, but only 20% return after studying abroad.

Why go abroad? To dive into fields like AI ethics or biotech, where our institutes are still growing. Social media posts in 2025 say 20 to 30% of IIT undergraduates chase master’s degrees abroad. But the cost is steep – abroad is 10 times pricier. National institutes are stepping up with more electives and research in 2024. IIMs offer global exchanges. For Gen Z, home means family and comfort, and abroad means adventure.

Success Stories and Lessons

Take Priya, a 2025 IIT Delhi graduate. She cracked JEE, studied computer science, and landed a Rs 40 lakh job in Bangalore. No loans, no culture shock, and she is teaching local kids to code. Then there’s Arjun, who went to Stanford for a master’s in AI. He returned in 2025 to start a green tech company in Hyderabad, using skills from abroad to tackle pollution. Both made it work – Priya stayed rooted, Arjun spread wings but came back.

Not everyone is lucky. Rohan studied at a mid-tier US college, spent Rs 50 lakh, and struggled with visa issues in 2025. He is back home, working at a startup, but regrets the debt. These stories show it is about planning, not just dreaming.

In 2025, India’s tech boom is pulling talent back. Bangalore and Pune are buzzing with AI startups, offering salaries of Rs 30 to 50 lakh. Government schemes give tax breaks, making it easier to return. But visa rules abroad are tighter – US H-1B slots dropped 10% in 2025, pushing more kids home.

What Should Indian Youth Do in 2025?

So, what is the move for Gen Z? First, figure out what you want. Quick results? IITs or IIMs are gold – great jobs, low fees. Global impact? Foreign units build networks. Do not jump blindly – start planning a year early for scholarships to cut costs.

Second, learn extra skills. Platforms like Coursera have free courses on AI to boost your IIT prep. Third, talk to people – join alumni groups or LinkedIn for advice. Fourth, think about money – loans for abroad can weigh you down, while national institutes let you earn sooner.

Fifth, plan to give back. In 2025, Indian enrolments abroad dropped 15% because home opportunities are growing. Sixth, chase what matters – Gen Z loves work that makes a difference. Places like IISc let you research climate tech. Seventh, keep your head clear – IITs can stress you out, abroad can feel lonely. Talk to friends or counselors.

Parents, do not push your kid into one path – support what fits them. Youth, success is not about a foreign stamp; it is about what you do with your skills.

Conclusions

Choosing between roots and wings is personal. National institutes give you a strong base; foreign universities offer global connections. In 2025, with tech making distances smaller, Gen Z can have it all. Do not just fly far – keep your roots strong. What is your plan, dost?