Reality check needed: Quitting Meta (USA, H1B) to prepare for UPSC at 24?

Hi everyone,

I need a genuine reality check from current aspirants or people who’ve been through the grind.

I’m a 24-year-old general category male, currently working at Meta in the USA on an H1B visa. On paper, things look great—but honestly, I don’t like this life. Being so far away from my parents, the uncertainty of visas, and working in corporate tech doesn’t give me a sense of meaning.

I’ve always wanted to contribute to improving the lives of people in my country in a more direct and meaningful way, and UPSC has been on my mind for a long time. This is also personal, my father reached the interview stage but couldn’t clear the final list, and that journey has deeply influenced me.

I’m considering quitting my job, moving back to India, and preparing full-time for UPSC. At the same time, I’m not naive: I know the odds are brutal, especially for general category I know preparation can take multiple years with no guarantee I know giving up a high-paying job abroad is a big irreversible decision So I want honest inputs, not motivation: Is this a foolish decision given my current position? For someone with no prior UPSC prep background, how realistic is it to start now at 24? If you were in my place, would you take this risk? What do aspirants often underestimate before jumping in?

Please be blunt. I’m not looking for validation—just clarity.

PS: used AI to for making a clear and concise post