Earlier quoted context omitted.
A masters with no undergrad? I didn't even know that was a thing.
It requires an undergrad, just not in computer science.
oh okay. thats different
Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
221–230 of 246 posts
Re: Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
#222Earlier quoted context omitted.
I probably should have been more clear in my original post that I don't have a degree. Sometimes I forget that "a degree in something" is really the bare minimum for anyone to take you seriously. I specified a CS degree because what else would I do?
My answers could have been clearer - I totally get your question and where you're starting from. A CS degree from WGU is worth the time and money and it will open the doors you want it, especially with your existing professional experience. Hopefully, that clarifies things.
I appreciate you clarifying. Thank you!
Re: Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
#223Do it if you want to, and can afford it now without putting undue financial burden on yourself. But you have already said you've done the boot camp mill, maybe educating yourself isn't the path forward? Keep in mind that there's not an insignificant amount of hiring managers like myself who don't care, and actively will toss your resume in the trash if the only thing on it is a CS degree. I generally have found CS de…
Perhaps it's not. I've got a much better resume than I did a year ago, and a year before that. I'm actively doing real work. I'm gradually checking the experience boxes as time goes on. Maybe that's my path.
Re: Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
#224Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is exactly it - I have been thrown out 3x with a referral because no degree. Almost all of these were Java shops doing absolutely fuck all in terms of innovation while having an engineering team of hundreds - it seems like the majority of coding roles are these design pattern and degree checkboxes with the slowest, most “enterprise” apps imaginable.
I have an unrelated question. I'm not a Java dev, so I don't really get this, but I keep hearing it. I've heard, and maybe this is an exaggeration, that "scrappy innovative startup types" avoid candidates with only long term Java experience, because that tends to show a dispassion for programming. Is there truth to that? Do Java devs learn Java in college, and just do Java from then on without expanding their knowled…
I think a lot of the “steady, boring” software jobs are in .net and Java, and people tend to spend a long time in those roles, so they get used to the structures of their codebase and the company they work at. They get used to “this is the way things are done” even if there are hundreds of ways with different tradeoffs.
Re: Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
#225Earlier quoted context omitted.
I take issue with your idea that it is "tier 2+" that are the only programs that are worth it. When you make statements like that, or prognostications of that nature, you have to think about how it actually is in reality and not as the kinds of base opinions that are found in Reddit CS careers subs. I think this varies widely for employers and even within teams of large employers, depending on who is the person doing…
The competitive landscape in 2025 is not like it has ever been before for CS grads - and I graduated in 1996. It would be “malpractice” to suggest anyone waste time on a CS degree from anything less than tier 2+ school. My degree is from a no name state college so I’m definitely not looking down on anyone.
That’s just conjecture without evidence. You have a degree so you’ve never experienced being turned down for not having one.
Re: Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
#226Earlier quoted context omitted.
The competitive landscape in 2025 is not like it has ever been before for CS grads - and I graduated in 1996. It would be “malpractice” to suggest anyone waste time on a CS degree from anything less than tier 2+ school. My degree is from a no name state college so I’m definitely not looking down on anyone.
That’s just conjecture without evidence. You have a degree so you’ve never experienced being turned down for not having one.
It’s not “conjecture” that today’s job market is worse for CS grads than it has been at any time since I graduated and you need every competitive advantage you can get. Doors aren’t going to open for you because you got a degree from WGU, Devry or some no name state college.
Re: Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
#227Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am 50 and don’t have anything to prove. I’ve done my time at a “FAANG” and the only reason I’m not at another one right now is that they insisted on RTO. Also I rather get an anal probe with a cactus than ever work for any large company again.
I hear that. My 3 months with Akamai felt like the absolute best case scenario for big corporations. It was pretty good, but I am just not wired up for the corporate cringe that comes with any organization like this.
(yes I’m throwing up in my mouth while responding)
From the thousand-foot view, I actually saw a dynamic environment where operating within a matrixed organization and aligning cross-functional stakeholders were essential levers for driving scalable outcomes. While enterprise-level ecosystems inevitably present change management challenges, I found that viewing the experience through a lens of strategic growth and operational optimization made it incredibly rewarding.
Re: Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
#228Earlier quoted context omitted.
oh, for L3 or entry level, I'm sure they do. But they didn't even ask me about a degree, in fact my boss didn't ask until a year after i'd been working for him. So yes, there isn't a degree requirement, and for senior+ people, they don't care at all. For lower then that, I can't say, i'm sure it matters more the lower the level.
but do you have a degree? and if so, was it on your resume. The place where I always got stuck was getting that first call. In the few interviews that I've had, I've done okay. I've moved past the technical interview in every case, although besides my internship, I wasn't given an offer. I was wondering if they use degrees to rank applications.
>but do you have a degree
No degree. I left any mention of college off my resume, and only included the last 12+ years of relevant experience and was able to get an interview. I have also done extensive open source work though, as well.
Re: Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
#229Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have an unrelated question. I'm not a Java dev, so I don't really get this, but I keep hearing it. I've heard, and maybe this is an exaggeration, that "scrappy innovative startup types" avoid candidates with only long term Java experience, because that tends to show a dispassion for programming. Is there truth to that? Do Java devs learn Java in college, and just do Java from then on without expanding their knowled…
I think a lot of the “steady, boring” software jobs are in .net and Java, and people tend to spend a long time in those roles, so they get used to the structures of their codebase and the company they work at. They get used to “this is the way things are done” even if there are hundreds of ways with different tradeoffs.
> “steady, boring” software jobs are in .net and Java
Amazon and AWS is built mostly on java
Re: Ask HN: CS degrees, do they matter again?
#230Earlier quoted context omitted.
During exams you mean? They swapped to honorlock which seemed way better and less invasive than proctortrack. It’s a necessary evil unfortunately.
Someone mentioned going to a testing center, maybe it’s an option? Although they could put you on camera/facial recognition as well.:-/
I think you had to use the proctoring software. Some people had a dedicated USB stick and would just boot onto that for exams specifically. TAs have to review any flagged exams.
I'm pretty sure it's required for the degree's accreditation. Unfortunately, there is always a small percentage of people who will cheat if they can get away with it.