Live data from Hacker News

Completing a part-time Master's in computer science while working

alexanderell.is

81–90 of 167 posts

Re: Completing a part-time Master's in computer science while working

#81
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

Not going to college is not your failure, that's what world tells most of us, but that's complete bullshit.

I understand what you are saying. In my case, I was a disastrous student and put forth as little effort as possible and spent all of my time on my old PC.

Re: Completing a part-time Master's in computer science while working

#82
post #59

I'm currently in a Master program (data science: maths, maths, maths and maths, oh and maths). I'm almost 50 years old. I was very happy to read that article because it doesn't mention a little detail : age. The sort of effort the author has done is really something he should be proud of, but at 29 your brain is still quite up to to the task. At almost 50 (+kids, +family to keep care of (even if family is incredibly…

This sounds like me a bit. I'm 40. I've worked as a programmer for 15 years, but I've always known my lack of maths is holding me back abd adds to my imposter syndrome. I've decided the new programming language I'm learning is, well maths. I'm just working through khan academy. I'll give myself this year's free(ish) time. I've got a family and a job, but I need to feel some sense of progression. I ll see what happens.

Re: Completing a part-time Master's in computer science while working

#83
post #59

I'm currently in a Master program (data science: maths, maths, maths and maths, oh and maths). I'm almost 50 years old. I was very happy to read that article because it doesn't mention a little detail : age. The sort of effort the author has done is really something he should be proud of, but at 29 your brain is still quite up to to the task. At almost 50 (+kids, +family to keep care of (even if family is incredibly…

> slowed down by a factor of at least 2

How do you even quantify that?

Re: Completing a part-time Master's in computer science while working

#85

My wife is doing a CS master's, after having done another master's during the lockdown. I'm looking over her shoulder, as I did with my brother a few years ago. It's been interesting to see how she thinks about algorithms and coding from a fresh start. As a longtime coder I've found it interesting to dive back into some basic algorithms. Something about how it is taught to students makes it harder than just learning…

> For those interested there's a number of UK universities that offer a remote master's.

Would you say it is worth pursuing Masters from the UK university? If you dont mind which university would you consider worth it?

Re: Completing a part-time Master's in computer science while working

#87
post #59

I'm currently in a Master program (data science: maths, maths, maths and maths, oh and maths). I'm almost 50 years old. I was very happy to read that article because it doesn't mention a little detail : age. The sort of effort the author has done is really something he should be proud of, but at 29 your brain is still quite up to to the task. At almost 50 (+kids, +family to keep care of (even if family is incredibly…

> Your brain has slowed down by a factor of at least 2 I've made it into a mantra to never accept this kind of sentiment (even if it were to be scientifically proven some day). It's dangerous and only serves to undermine motivation. Sure there is an overrepresentation of old people who are tired., but that doesn't mean you have to be.

And so do I. But for the time beingn, I must admit that there's definitely something wrong. By doing that master, I'm actually fighting a lot against that state of mind; a lot harder than those who don't at least :-)

The positive side is that I'm in the second year and things have improved. I suffer less from stress and many maths are now "restored" in my mind. So it gets better. But the price is high :-)

I guess that by the end of the thesis, which is less about emorizing an dmuch more about understanding, I'll feel much better and self confidence will be boosted...

Re: Completing a part-time Master's in computer science while working

#88

For those debating starting a master’s program, the institution makes a big difference about 2 main factors. Required cost (which has been spoken about by multiple people so far), and required effort (which no one has touched on yet, and the reason I’m writing this). While effort isn’t best depicted as a single value, some attributes of effort that I found making the act of getting a MS particularly easier and more e…

To provide a counterpoint: I went the Georgia Tech online MS route and my ML finals coincided with my father’s funeral. I logged-in a few days before to take the final and it was buggy as hell, but my timer (24hrs) kept going. I emailed and slacked the TAs and professors with screenshots, but no one answered. The professor was known for being unsympathetic, so I logged in to see if it worked the morning of my fathers…

You can go above the professor’s head for that stuff. When I was in undergrad and when I was doing the masters at GaTech, it was common for professors to say up front that if you missed assignments or tests for a valid reason, you had to go through the university (I forget what office).

Edit: It’s called the office of student life.

https://catalog.gatech.edu/policies/student-absence-regulati...

They handle dealing with all excused absences. The professor could have responded and told you about this, but I’m assuming it’s just that no one got back in under 24 hours. It’s also expected that you read the syllabus and know this stuff already.

Re: Completing a part-time Master's in computer science while working

#89

I was in the same research lab as the author, but from a different school (BU). When I found out that most of my peers were also doing their master's part time while working, I wished I could do that. But as an international student, there are a lot of restrictions. I had to do it full time (3-4 classes per semester), and I could only work 20 hours part time on campus, usually as a TA and/or research assistant. I did…

>> $117,889

This is just an insane amount of money for a a masters degree. I had no idea it was that expensive. And why did it take you 2 years if it was only a masters? It is only supposed to be 30 credits. I guess spending a year working on just the thesis could explain that.

Re: Completing a part-time Master's in computer science while working

#90
post #59

I'm currently in a Master program (data science: maths, maths, maths and maths, oh and maths). I'm almost 50 years old. I was very happy to read that article because it doesn't mention a little detail : age. The sort of effort the author has done is really something he should be proud of, but at 29 your brain is still quite up to to the task. At almost 50 (+kids, +family to keep care of (even if family is incredibly…

> Your brain has slowed down by a factor of at least 2 I've made it into a mantra to never accept this kind of sentiment (even if it were to be scientifically proven some day). It's dangerous and only serves to undermine motivation. Sure there is an overrepresentation of old people who are tired., but that doesn't mean you have to be.

I agree, and tend to see it more as a defense mechanism. The main thing young people tend to have more of is time.

There's also a use/abuse aspect. My older body creaks not necessarily because it's old, but because I have used (maybe abused - I started Jiu-Jitsu at 40) it physically for 40+ years. I suspect the mind is similar. If it's been abused through stress and/or drugs or let go out of shape by watching TV all day, then yes it's less sharp. But age isn't the driving factor in that case.

Post reply on HN