Completing a computer science degree on Coursera • Hacker News Board

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#141

Post by coldstartops » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 10:33 AM UTC

angarg12 wrote: post #10

I got a Bachelor, Master, and PhD in Computer Science, with a total of 11 years of education. It's the biggest waste of time of my entire life. As I progress in my professional career I'm more convinced that pretty much everything in tech is on-the-job learning, and universities are little more than a social club. Nowadays you can learn everything you do at university and far more online and for free. Universities (e…

Got a Bachelor + Master, best investment in my life (in terms of time, as I did not pay for education, EU and such).

Job stuff not much related with stuff learned in school, sometimes related to some degree.

Skill stuff very closely tied to constantly applying stuff learned in school, but mostly on how to attack problems.

Me learn stuff because me like know stuff and level up. (edit: do not get me wrong, learning is still painful, and thinking even more painful)

Me job stuff because me like food and amneties, until the learn stuff transfers into sustainable food and amneties.

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#142

Post by tajd » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 10:42 AM UTC

Congratulations that's a great achievement!

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#143

Post by LtWorf » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 10:48 AM UTC

austin-cheney wrote: post #139

LtWorf wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have worked with self taught programmers and the fact that they don't know the first thing about the most basic and well known algorithms makes cooperating with them painful.

Yeah, I have never bothered with memorizing patterns myself. I always found that to be a waste of time.

Yep, it is, if you always work with more experienced people who are there to guide you.

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#144

Post by StefanBatory » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 10:49 AM UTC

__rito__ wrote: post #122

mathisfun123 wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Johns Hopkins Masters in AI (online) do whichever one of these online MS which permit you to leave off the "online" part (i.e., are awarded through the conventional faculty). i'm not sure johns hopkins does but OMSCS from gatech does.

GaTech only permits OMSCS if you have a 4 year undergrad. In many countries undergrads are three years. Even you have a Master's, that is also not counted. 4 years undergrad or nothing.

Yup, in Europe I think almost every undergrad is either 3 years, or 3.5 if you are to get engineer title afterwards.

But then Masters is way more common to do afterwards compared to American system where it's rarity.

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#145

Post by StefanBatory » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 10:50 AM UTC

SolarNet wrote: post #123

appplication wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had an unrelated undergrad did my MSCS online (not JHU but same idea). It was great. But if you’re already senior at FAANG I’m not sure you need further legitimacy.

The actual education can be useful. I dont think my masters degree has ever landed me job. But I would not have been able to deliver many of the things that got me a leadership position, nor be as capable as an engineer as I am today without the experience. The milage obviously varies greatly here based on where one goes.

It depends, as always. My Masters degree at a Polish (good) university was... Let's say I didn't learn anything during these three semesters and the only upside is that I have paper now.

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#146

Post by oceansky » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 10:59 AM UTC

__rito__ wrote: post #122

mathisfun123 wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Johns Hopkins Masters in AI (online) do whichever one of these online MS which permit you to leave off the "online" part (i.e., are awarded through the conventional faculty). i'm not sure johns hopkins does but OMSCS from gatech does.

GaTech only permits OMSCS if you have a 4 year undergrad. In many countries undergrads are three years. Even you have a Master's, that is also not counted. 4 years undergrad or nothing.

It is 4 years in Brazil. Sometimes 5.

There are 3 years non-BS degrees though.

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#147

Post by mailship » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 11:08 AM UTC

Damn, you got some confidence of adding this on your CV

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#148

Post by sscaryterry » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 11:10 AM UTC

Uni is there to teach you how to learn/think about problems.

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#149

Post by pipes » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 11:14 AM UTC

I'd really love to know how this person filled the gaps in their maths knowledge, it's the thing that put me off trying this in the past.

Re: Completing a computer science degree on Coursera

#150

Post by 13hours » Mon, Jul 06, 2026, 11:28 AM UTC

That's more expensive than I expected. In South Africa you can do a 3 year degree at a top university (in SA terms, top 300 in the world) for about that, including lodging, food and other expenses. Mind, not foreigners, that's the tax subsidised cost for locals.