Take a look at the OMSCS. Great degree, very cheap, and you can do it while you work.
Happy to chat about my experience with the program, feel free to email me: hn@sjer.red
Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
11–20 of 92 posts
Re: Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
#12We have a product analytics team where people have transitioned from being fully PM focused to being deeply data analysis oriented. It starts with using code-lite tools like Tableau and SQL queries then easily opens up into running data transform jobs with Python scheduled on a cluster. It would probably be easier and more financially remunerative to be at a company where you provide value in a product role, and continue providing that value as you slowly transition to a more engineering role.
Re: Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
#13For what it's worth, I don't think not having a masters degree would be an impediment to job progression, but it sounds like you might want one and are just looking for a reason.
Re: Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
#14Get an MBA
Re: Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
#15Consider that taking 5-10 graduate courses and writing a master's level thesis or project will generally take all of your free time and a bunch of your savings over the course of two or more years. (I sure hope you're not thinking to take on debt for this!) And while you'll absolutely learn some things and find yourself excited about some ideas in those couple years, you will forget almost all of the stuff your learn…
Yes, I want to be a PM with deep technical understanding. What are the other more efficient paths?
Re: Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
#16Careful about aging out. At your age you have about 10 years before age discrimination will hit you hard at the individual contributor level if you haven’t moved into management. Maybe a dual master program to obtain the MS in computer science and an MBA simultaneously? That way you show deep knowledge of business and the technology.
Re: Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
#17Take a look at the OMSCS. Great degree, very cheap, and you can do it while you work. https://omscs.gatech.edu/ Happy to chat about my experience with the program, feel free to email me: hn@sjer.red
Can attest to the program being worth it!
Re: Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
#18Careful about aging out. At your age you have about 10 years before age discrimination will hit you hard at the individual contributor level if you haven’t moved into management. Maybe a dual master program to obtain the MS in computer science and an MBA simultaneously? That way you show deep knowledge of business and the technology.
There are plenty of us in our late 40’s and above who work as IC engineers.
Re: Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
#19Consider that taking 5-10 graduate courses and writing a master's level thesis or project will generally take all of your free time and a bunch of your savings over the course of two or more years. (I sure hope you're not thinking to take on debt for this!) And while you'll absolutely learn some things and find yourself excited about some ideas in those couple years, you will forget almost all of the stuff your learn…
Yes, I want to be a PM with deep technical understanding. What are the other more efficient paths?
A lot of people who are switching to SWE from other areas are advised to write a few personal projects.
Re: Ask HN: Is a Masters in CS/Engineering worth it for a mid-career PM?
#20Consider that taking 5-10 graduate courses and writing a master's level thesis or project will generally take all of your free time and a bunch of your savings over the course of two or more years. (I sure hope you're not thinking to take on debt for this!) And while you'll absolutely learn some things and find yourself excited about some ideas in those couple years, you will forget almost all of the stuff your learn…
> Consider that taking 5-10 graduate courses and writing a master's level thesis or project will generally take all of your free time and a bunch of your savings over the course of two or more years. (I sure hope you're not thinking to take on debt for this!)
OMSCS graduate. The program certainly ate up most of my free time for 2.5 years, but on the other hand, the whole degree was about $8k for me and required no thesis or capstone project--just grinding through 10 classes worth of assignments and exams. Also, it was 100% online, so that flexibility frees up time.
Theoretically, if you do 1-2 easy-ish classes per semester, you can minimize the free time impact. But I was less interested in the credential and more interested in the learning experience, so I took difficult classes and worked as a TA.
Caveat: I graduated in 2021 so things may have changed since then.