CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#1

Post by leeshire » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 2:38 AM UTC

I'm 29 years old I put my education on hold for a while in order to just work and survive make a livng but it hasn't worked out and now I'm ready for something bigger.

I been wanting to learn web development for a while or any field in information technology I enjoy working with computers and websites.

Is it better to go pursue a 4 year computer science degree at this age or learn web development maybe get some certifcate and get hired that way.

My main thing is to get out of poverty and become a bit more successful than just making minumum wage jobs in labor construction which I do not enjoy.

any advice please would help direct me in picking the right choice of what I want to do with my life.

I've managed to download Ubuntu and played with linux for a while and some code editors (phpstorm) and learning PHP in order to understand this field. I like it so far.

I guess the only thing is I don't have any network so maybe a CS degree could help me get my foot in the door?

I live in Seattle so much opportunity here but no network for me it's sad and codefellows it's expensive.

Re: CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#2

Post by hsikka » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 2:50 AM UTC

I did a bootcamp and then went on to get my master's in CS. I think it would be more useful to you to do something like Lambda School or Hack Reactor, rather than go back for a 4 year degree. A lot of real engineering skills can and are learned by thousands on the fly as they work as Software Engineers. Programs like Lambda get you the essential toolkit and teach you how to learn, while degrees offer breadth in a lot of different types of topics including some very theoretical ones and can be offbeat with what is happening in industry. If you really do enjoy it, you can always work for a year or two as a software engineer, and decide you want to study Computer Science more formally and save up for that. Just my 2 cents, and I'm someone who's applying to CS PhD programs right now.

Re: CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#3

Post by leeshire » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 2:54 AM UTC

hsikka wrote: post #2

I did a bootcamp and then went on to get my master's in CS. I think it would be more useful to you to do something like Lambda School or Hack Reactor, rather than go back for a 4 year degree. A lot of real engineering skills can and are learned by thousands on the fly as they work as Software Engineers. Programs like Lambda get you the essential toolkit and teach you how to learn, while degrees offer breadth in a lot…

wow good for you that's interesting, where I am in Seattle is there Lambda I'll check it out is it expensive?

Re: CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#4

Post by aiscapehumanity » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 3:12 AM UTC

leeshire wrote: post #3

hsikka wrote: post #2

I did a bootcamp and then went on to get my master's in CS. I think it would be more useful to you to do something like Lambda School or Hack Reactor, rather than go back for a 4 year degree. A lot of real engineering skills can and are learned by thousands on the fly as they work as Software Engineers. Programs like Lambda get you the essential toolkit and teach you how to learn, while degrees offer breadth in a lot…

wow good for you that's interesting, where I am in Seattle is there Lambda I'll check it out is it expensive?

I think Lambda is all online

Re: CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#5

Post by sesuximo » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 3:41 AM UTC

I think a deciding factor would be your ability to get a scholarship for college. If you can do a 2/4 year degree without going into massive debt, then definitely do that.

If school == expensive no matter what, then maybe it's worth self teaching a little longer. Try to get one or two interviews (after at least a few months! probably won't happen overnight) and if it's really not working, then you can reevaluate.

Re: CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#6

Post by fuball63 » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 3:46 AM UTC

Don't forget to check out some 2 year programs at your local community college. They usually offer more flexible schedules, so you can work while you go to school, and tuition is generally lower. Had a friend that recently did this for a career change and landed a job at at Fortune 25 company.

Good luck!

Re: CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#7

Post by leeshire » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 3:56 AM UTC

fuball63 wrote: post #6

Don't forget to check out some 2 year programs at your local community college. They usually offer more flexible schedules, so you can work while you go to school, and tuition is generally lower. Had a friend that recently did this for a career change and landed a job at at Fortune 25 company. Good luck!

better to go to local college first than University?

Re: CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#8

Post by leeshire » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 3:56 AM UTC

sesuximo wrote: post #5

I think a deciding factor would be your ability to get a scholarship for college. If you can do a 2/4 year degree without going into massive debt, then definitely do that. If school == expensive no matter what, then maybe it's worth self teaching a little longer. Try to get one or two interviews (after at least a few months! probably won't happen overnight) and if it's really not working, then you can reevaluate.

can you recommend some good scholarships to apply towards? how do people even get scholarships they seem like a dream almost

Re: CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#9

Post by mattbrewsbytes » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 1:34 PM UTC

Something others haven't mentioned might help along the way: see if you can get an office-type job at a construction company while you are self-learning and/or going to school. It could even be volunteering where you currently work to help out with any IT stuff.

You already know a lot more about construction than others like processes, procedures, etc. and in an office setting you will likely run into IT related work that needs to get done. It may not be building websites but it might lead to that ... lots of web applications are just a few steps beyond someone's Excel/Access contraption.

Re: CS degree or learn Web development on my own?

#10

Post by sesuximo » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 1:35 PM UTC

leeshire wrote: post #8

sesuximo wrote: post #5

I think a deciding factor would be your ability to get a scholarship for college. If you can do a 2/4 year degree without going into massive debt, then definitely do that. If school == expensive no matter what, then maybe it's worth self teaching a little longer. Try to get one or two interviews (after at least a few months! probably won't happen overnight) and if it's really not working, then you can reevaluate.

can you recommend some good scholarships to apply towards? how do people even get scholarships they seem like a dream almost

I'm not sure off the top of my head, but you could try asking administrators at a few schools nearby. They might say on their website.