Dropping out of grad program to move to HK?

Hi, I am an American of Korean descent currently living in America but I want to move out for personal reasons. I would like to move to Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea or China, but I have just started studying Japanese and Mandarin, so I'd probably have to spend 1-2 years in a language intensive program before I become fluent in either of them. I also don't speak Korean well


I am currently a grad student in Physics but have another year to go to get my MS. I don't enjoy my grad program, so I'd really like to drop out asap. I'm not really sure what kind of career I want to have, but I am considering finding work as a software engineer, statistician, financial engineer, actuary or materials engineer.


Also, my undergrad and grad schools are considered almost the same prestige-wise by US standards. However, by East Asian standards, my undergrad school is considered much more prestigious than my grad school(I can PM you the name of the schools)


I don't have much experience/skills in programming or stats, as I only know a little bit of C++ and SPSS.

1. I have also thought about transferring to an MS program in finance or statistics in HK instead of staying in my current program. What do you guys think about that? How much better does it look to employers in Asia to have an MS degree in Physics in the US vs an MS degree in finance/stats in HK?

2. Would enrolling in a language intensive program be a waste of time?

3. What about working as an English teacher in those countries and then using my free time to network and improve my programming skills?

To finish your degree which is only one year away would give you solid backing into any field you wished to pursue thereafter. You would always have something to fall back on, even if you did not wish to continue in that chosen field. That degree would help you get into the first phase of finding a job, and would also help you to commence another course in a different subject, should you wish. The initial degree would show you are capable of obtaining such an educational standard. Without some such confirmation of educational standard you would have to return to Square One, which is always difficult. With only one year to go, and once the degree is obtained, you could look at all your options again, and indeed contact the right people at university to help you forward on your chosen path. My best wishes to you, and all good luck for your exciting future. Regards J.Pride

yes, I know having the skills employers are looking for is the most important thing. But I'm not really gaining any programming or stats skills in my Physics program, which is why I want to transfer to a stats or finance MS program or just apply for jobs now

1. I suggest you do not drop out with just one year left. Finish your MS whether in the US or HK. Higher degrees are well respected in Asia and will help open doors in the future.


2. If you want to be fluent quickly then study intensive Mandarin in China or Taiwan, not HK.


3. From what I can tell, there are good self-taught programmers already in Asia. They are your competition and speak native Mandarin and some can also speak English. But not many have an MS so that sets you apart.


As for the prestige (or lack thereof) of your grad school, unless it is an Ivy League university or equivalent, it doesn't really matter in Asia. For years I watched my boss talk about his unaccredited law school in CA like he had graduated from Harvard Law, no one was the wiser.