Way to go, my friend! Best of luck in your career and life!
Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
31–40 of 140 posts
Re: Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
#32I am finishing my bachelors in CompSci at Harvard Extension and just got hired by Google. And I've got about 20 years on you. So yeah, absolutely, this can work! It was fun and challenging competing with top computer science students. In the long run, my organizational skills, focus, determination and world experience outweighed their raw brainpower and better memory. It's an ultramarathon, not a sprint.
I’d love to hear more about this. You feel it was worth the cost? Did you do all classes online or did you go in person for some / all? Did you work in technology previously?
>You feel it was worth the cost?
Harvard Extension is a bargain compared to most colleges. $1500-$2500 for most 4 credit classes. Don't tell those smart college students that you are getting the same class for less than half the price. I tried the online thing (Coursera, edX, Udemy, etc.) but was never as motivated as competing against real students in a real class with deadlines that have consequences. Fear of failure is a great motivator :)
> Did you do all classes online or did you go in person for some / all?
It was a mix. The online classes were more time efficient. The person classes built rewarding personal relationships with faculty and older students.
> Did you work in technology previously?
Yes, was primarily self taught. Only had access to a lousy community college in my teens. Turned me off school then.
Re: Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
#33I remember that question/conversation. So pleased it worked out. Mind sharing a few thoughts about your experience as an "older" student? Any surprises about the coursework/assignments/fellow students? Comparing my oldest child's recent university experience to mine (in the 70s) it's like a different world. Much more paper submission & grading online, much more 'handholding' and support from the instructors, more tea…
I"m working on a BS in Software Development at 27. I 100% agree with the hand holding statement. It feels to me like universities are lowering expectations so students pass rather than fail them. I know one individual who is a senior in this Software Development program who doesn't understand basic concepts but his professors have been passing him. I don't think this benefits the student, school, or society. In fact,…
I've also noticed this trend, at my university and from what I hear many from the region I'm in. I don't think that it is an isolated event.
In many classes attendance makes up a comparable portion of grades as tests, which means in order to pass classes you need attendance points and class assignments, many of which are "effort based", so in most cases one can fail 75% of tests and still pass with decent grades.
Re: Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
#34That's awesome, and an inspiration. And I really encourage you to find a good team (rather than just focusing on salary), it'll really level you up quickly — and set you up for lots of good opportunities as the years go by.
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Re: Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
#35Interesting. Here I am trying to figure out what I can do to get out of technology at 40+. Congrats on finishing school!
I have just gone opposite route. I turn 42 this year and just started job in a more technical role having spent 8 years in management. I moved into management because I was a very good developer. I don't think I was a bad manager, my teams did well and won awards. However, I couldn't stomach the endless meetings and admin tasks that came with being a manager. I carried on reading Hacker News trying to keep up with the latest trends instead of moving on to reading management and finance sites. In the end, despite the ageism stories abound I decided to go back to technology. Its been 3 weeks into the new job. I am appreciating the time I have to immerse myself in the technology. Good luck with your quest.
Re: Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
#36You have no idea how helpful to me it was reading your post. Congratulations my dude, godspeed!
Re: Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
I"m working on a BS in Software Development at 27. I 100% agree with the hand holding statement. It feels to me like universities are lowering expectations so students pass rather than fail them. I know one individual who is a senior in this Software Development program who doesn't understand basic concepts but his professors have been passing him. I don't think this benefits the student, school, or society. In fact,…
I've also noticed this trend, at my university and from what I hear many from the region I'm in. I don't think that it is an isolated event. In many classes attendance makes up a comparable portion of grades as tests, which means in order to pass classes you need attendance points and class assignments, many of which are "effort based", so in most cases one can fail 75% of tests and still pass with decent grades.
To play devil’s advocate, degrees are getting more and more expensive, making it less and less acceptable for customers to not get something for their money. If I pay $100K and dont drop out, and still don’t get the degree, I’m going to be enraged.
Re: Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
#38I am finishing my bachelors in CompSci at Harvard Extension and just got hired by Google. And I've got about 20 years on you. So yeah, absolutely, this can work! It was fun and challenging competing with top computer science students. In the long run, my organizational skills, focus, determination and world experience outweighed their raw brainpower and better memory. It's an ultramarathon, not a sprint.
I’d love to hear more about this. You feel it was worth the cost? Did you do all classes online or did you go in person for some / all? Did you work in technology previously?
I'm also a grad of the Extension School, although not in CS. In-class instruction is fantastic for certain programs, with access to Harvard faculty, instructors, and other resources. I've blogged about it extensively here: http://harvardextended.blogspot.com/
Some undergraduate and graduate programs enable Extension students to attend Harvard College or GSAS classes. I don't remember the requirements/restrictions, but look up "special student" status on the HES website for details.
Re: Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
#39Is this age and sex bias a silicon valley problem? I am nearly 40 and most of the developers I have worked with in the past 10+ years have always been older than me (aside from college new hires). They have also been 20-40% female. I have spent this time working in the Westlake, Irving, Plano technology corridor of north DFW. I would like to hear what kind of demographics people encounter by geographic location. I al…
Probably. I would say it's possibly just the market. Companies outside of the SVs/NYCs/Austins can't afford to be as picky because the talent pool isn't as large. Also probably because the SV culture isn't as pervasive in the industry as those in the HN bubble would have you believe.
Re: Tell HN: I just wanted to say: thank you, Hacker News
#40Is this age and sex bias a silicon valley problem? I am nearly 40 and most of the developers I have worked with in the past 10+ years have always been older than me (aside from college new hires). They have also been 20-40% female. I have spent this time working in the Westlake, Irving, Plano technology corridor of north DFW. I would like to hear what kind of demographics people encounter by geographic location. I al…
SV skews young due to startups with low seed outlay. The risk and reward tends to attract young men[1], and then the culture that results continues that bias.
Established companies with good work-life balance, solid benefits, and internal advancement opportunities are much closer to your experience.
1 - Edit because I've been hammered for saying this before. Many studies have shown significantly increased financial, business, and physical risk taking in men. That's the type I'm referring to.