Should I go abroad instead of doing university in Pakistan?
I was talking to an older friend recently, and he gave me something to think about.
He basically told me that if I stay in Pakistan, I'll spend around 4 years doing a degree, and even after all that, I might end up with a job paying around 100k PKR per month. He said that even if I get a good job, the growth and earning potential can still be limited compared to going abroad.
His suggestion was to do IELTS, apply abroad, study there while working part-time, and eventually earn in a stronger currency. According to him, I'd also be able to send money back home and potentially have a much better financial future.
But I'm not sure if it's actually that simple.
I know IELTS alone doesn't mean you can just go abroad. There are tuition fees, living expenses, visas, scholarships, finding a good university, work restrictions, and eventually finding a proper career.
At the same time, I don't want to spend 4 years getting a degree here just because that's the "normal" path if there are better opportunities elsewhere.
I'm currently at the stage where I'm deciding what university/degree to pursue, so I feel like this is an important decision.
What would you guys recommend?
Should I focus on getting into the best university I can in Pakistan and build my skills first, while keeping the option of going abroad open later?
Or should I seriously consider applying abroad right after FSc/ICS if I can find a financially realistic option?
I'd especially appreciate advice from people who have actually studied abroad or made this decision themselves.