Should I take the full-ride scholarship to study in the US or not?

Hey Everyone, I'm an international student from Southeast Asia and got a full scholarship (from the government) to study in the USA (one of the top engineering universities in IL). I was really excited to pursue my undergrad abroad since I was in high school. Therefore, I prepared everything for that, including achievements in the olympiad and competition for scholarship eligibility, a high SAT score, a high GPA, good ECs, and essays.

Now that I actually got the offer, I’m lowkey conflicted. I don’t know whether I should go for it or turn it down. Here’s what I’m thinking:

Pros of studying in the US:

  1. Pride / Ego – I know this might sound kinda shallow, but it’s real. Imo US is still the leading in academia, industry, economics, and geopolitical influence, and is still the greatest country in the world. Just being able to say I studied there feels like a huge flex, especially compared to most people from my hometown.
  2. Opportunities + Quality – I’ve compared the education system here vs. the US, and it’s honestly night and day. The research, internships, professors, facilities, quality of life, and travel chances — it all feels like a much brighter future.
  3. Future prospects, I've heard so many success stories that someone who graduated from US universities as a fresh graduate can even get a salary of 70,000 USD per year, work for a multinational company, and even after a certain years most of international students there are being CEO and director in the companies that really inspired me to one day being that person

Cons / Concerns:

  1. I come from a middle-income family and am the first person in my generation to study abroad. My big family (not my parent) is mostly old-fashioned and conservative. Some of them are straight-up against studying overseas, especially in the USA, because of the liberal life (including lgbtq, drugs, hookup culture, and other freedom lifestyle)
  2. Political Concerns – My fam’s also been stressed about the stuff going on in the US lately. They're upset about how the US handles pro-Palestine support, like revoking visas or punishing students for speaking up. They see it as super unethical (They are big supporters of Palestine's freedom). On top of that, they're worried about the situation there since Donald Trump was elected, like political tension, trade wars, industry collapses, etc. Even though they’re kinda overreacting to news without looking at the bigger picture, it still influences their opinion.
  3. Scholarship Contract – Since the scholarship is from the gov, I’d be required to return home and work for them for a few years after graduation (the job might or might not be related to my major). Honestly, that sounds like it could hold me back from chasing my career goals or limit my freedom long-term.

So I really need your help on this.

Please help me with:

  1. Solid arguments I can use to convince my family that studying in the US is worth it (if you think it is).
  2. Counterpoints, if you think the US isn’t worth it, in my case.
  3. Any advice or alternative options — like, should I just stay and study in my home country instead?

So, is studying in the US really worth it for me?

Posted May 7, 2025, 2:40 PM UTC

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