Descrete Math is so important to understand the analysis of the algorithms (esp. a new problem). However, I did not find any useful course except the one you mentioned.
This looks latest (fall 2014). Thanks :) Will try it out, I was looking for descrete mathematics course almost 2 years back and could find only MIT one. Good to see some options now.
MIT also has a pretty solid discrete math course on OCW (I admit, I only watched the lectures, but they were a good refresher for me going into interviews).
I think it's even better if someone comes to the US, gets some exposure, learn many soft skills and then go back to India, instead of not coming here at all.
I won't deny the value of exposure. But I think soft skills and a lot of other things are over hyped. Some of the best engineers I know can't put together a sentence in English.
I can't speak for how it is in US because I haven't been there. But I really can't think of anything that can be done only in valley but not in India. But yeah again, I can't be so sure, because I have seen the things only from one side.
How about networking?
e.g. meetup.com. I found very good speakers giving talks in my area of interest.
About soft skills, I felt considerable writing efforts are required here as part of the normal master's degree. I am doing my master's degree in CS here. Even if I am writing a simple report on some project I spend extra hours to think from the reader's perspective. That builds up writing skills. You get constructive feedback if you present something. That builds up the presentation skills. May be this is a personal experience.
I also felt that you start appreciating positive things about your country more but this experience may not be specific to US.
