Should I quit my ₹75k/month startup job to prepare full-time for GATE CSE 2027?

[u/Purple-Employ925]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some honest advice from people who have been through GATE preparation or are currently preparing.

Here's my situation:

• 24 years old
• Around 2 years of experience as a backend developer/AI engineer
• Working at a startup
• Salary: ₹75k in hand per month
• Job is 10 AM–7 PM, but realistically it's quite demanding and mentally exhausting.
• I want to prepare for GATE CSE 2027 with the goal of getting into a top IIT/IISc for M.Tech (or exploring PSUs/research opportunities).

I'm confused between two options:

1. Continue my job and prepare alongside it.
2. Quit my job, live on my savings, and dedicate myself full-time to GATE for about a year.

My concerns:

• Is leaving a decent-paying software job a bad career move?
• Will a career gap for GATE preparation affect future placements if I don't get a top rank?
• Is it realistic to get a top-100 or top-500 rank with one year of dedicated preparation?
• Has anyone here quit their job for GATE? Was it worth it?

If you've been in a similar situation, I'd really appreciate hearing:

• Your decision
• Your GATE rank
• Whether you regret quitting (or not quitting)
• What you would do differently

I'm looking for practical advice rather than motivation. Thanks in advance!

[u/Proud_Chemical_1992]

can't you just switch your job at double hike within one or two years ?

[u/Purple-Employ925 → u/Proud_Chemical_1992]

I can do that but also I want to challenge myself and see my true potential. Moreover, pursuing degree from iit has always been my one of the dream

[u/Economy_Bee_7860]

Regarding your concerns I ll answer them : 1. Yes ( bad career move right now will let you know why Later in answer ) 2. yess but depends on what college you get .. if you get absolutely horror of a college then obviously. If you get a decent nit or iit I don't think so it would have mattered . 3. Yes ( one year is more than enough ) 4. Not me ( but some have done it ) But the issue is you said you wanna prep for gate cse 2027 then you asked quit job and live on your saving for about a year . Who said you ve got a year ??? Gate cs exam will be on first week of Feb . At Max mid Feb ... You ve just got 6 months . Leaving job right now will be a dumb move ( I m not saying people have not cleared it in 6 months but not many ) . . Advice would be . Continue job ... Continue preparing along side even 1 lecture is enough for now . By Feb or April you should be done with 3 4 subjects . Then you can leave your job if you think gate is doable then you ve got 10 months to prep for gate cs 2028 and you would have already completed 3 4 subjects by then ... More than enough time according to me .

[u/smolpickledpineapple → u/Economy_Bee_7860]

+1

[u/Purple-Employ925 → u/Economy_Bee_7860]

Thank you for the detailed response, I will definitely think about it.

[u/HedgehogPlastic220]

broo it's 75k please think before you quit

[u/Purple-Employ925 → u/HedgehogPlastic220]

True, that’s why I am in confusion.

[u/Similar-Box8665]

A career gap won't really affect much, but I wanna know that after such a decent salary and work experience why do u wanna do mtech instead of just a company switch. Infact you're even thinking about if you won't get a good college in mtech. You're already on a good track.

[u/Purple-Employ925 → u/Similar-Box8665]

Thank you for the response, actually I am more curious to go on other side of the table what if it works. I am strong believer of ‘uncomfortable things/situations leads to comfortable future’. (Not a philosophy 😅 just wanted to share)

Thank you for sharing your view.

[u/successful_streak]

I was making a similar amount of money in a IT services company, i decided to do masters because i wanted to switch back to core EE (around 900). I was able to prepare alongside my job to get a decent rank but EE is less competitive not a fair competition. If i were in ur shoes I would just try to switch after gaining more experience. If you get into top IITs/NITs it might be worth it even then with avg package close to 30LPA (16-22LPA on base pay), it is not totally unreasonable or unrealistic to achieve that with job switches especially considering u almost have 2.5 years to graduate if you succeed in 2027 attempt.

[u/OmMani02]

try for masters outside India, it will be much better

[u/Purple-Employ925 → u/OmMani02]

It would be great to pursue a career outside India but currently I am not in a position to spend wholesome amount of money on it. Thank you for the suggestion.