Master’s degrees are the second biggest scam in higher education? • Hacker News Board

Re: Master’s degrees are the second biggest scam in higher education?

#311

Post by depressedpanda » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 7:19 AM UTC

trumpoline wrote: post #261

depressedpanda wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Conversely, I don't even have a bachelor's degree in CS, and I haven't suffered at all because of it. I got a job offer before graduating, and decided my time was better spent earning money than learning stuff I would probably never have any use for. Rather than focusing on degrees, I think it's a lot more important to focus on learning, however you don't know what's important to learn until you actually start workin…

Instead those around you, with a degree, suffered. Having to deal with bricklayers that reinvent the wheel simply because they cant grasp cs topics is annoying.

In my experience, a degree doesn't matter much whether someone is able to 'grasp cs topics'; a willingness to learn on the job is vastly more important.

If others suffered because of me, it would be because I was once a junior developer with no practical experience -- which applies to everyone, regardless of whether they have a degree or not.

Re: Master’s degrees are the second biggest scam in higher education?

#312

Post by depressedpanda » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 7:28 AM UTC

peteretep wrote: post #193

depressedpanda wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Conversely, I don't even have a bachelor's degree in CS, and I haven't suffered at all because of it. I got a job offer before graduating, and decided my time was better spent earning money than learning stuff I would probably never have any use for. Rather than focusing on degrees, I think it's a lot more important to focus on learning, however you don't know what's important to learn until you actually start workin…

I spent the first ten years of my programming career without a degree, like you. I got a SoftEng MSc at 30. It was worth it. Sometimes we just don't know what we don't know.

What made it worth it to you?

Re: Master’s degrees are the second biggest scam in higher education?

#313

Post by psyc » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 7:47 AM UTC

trumpoline wrote: post #261

depressedpanda wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Conversely, I don't even have a bachelor's degree in CS, and I haven't suffered at all because of it. I got a job offer before graduating, and decided my time was better spent earning money than learning stuff I would probably never have any use for. Rather than focusing on degrees, I think it's a lot more important to focus on learning, however you don't know what's important to learn until you actually start workin…

Instead those around you, with a degree, suffered. Having to deal with bricklayers that reinvent the wheel simply because they cant grasp cs topics is annoying.

I wonder if you realize how bigoted and insulting your generalization is.

Re: Master’s degrees are the second biggest scam in higher education?

#314

Post by beefok » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 9:34 PM UTC

zsmi wrote: post #221

beefok wrote: post #218

My college mentor always said, "do not pay for a Master's degree, find a company who will pay for it." Best damn advice I've ever gotten!

Is that possible? Every company I've every worked for offered money for education but usually it only covered slightly over 1/3 of the total expense when everything was said and done. (And this was early 2000s when University was cheaper) Also, two companies required at least a B for reimbursement which is not always that easy in a competitive STEM class. I found I could do work, or school, well. But not work and sch…

Sorry I never responded to this, yes it's absolutely possible. I think things are changing and a lot of companies will pay for your degree. Typically you can also negotiate it in a job interview. Usually it does involve keeping good grades in school (B or above), so yeah, that happens. :)

I ended up leaving the job and having to pay over $7k in classes, but the company I moved to had an even better deal and paid for my entire degree with no qualms. It's a lot of work and stress, but it was worth it. :)

If a company is going to help you get a master's degree, they should understand that they can't push you too hard, considering the degree is a job in itself!

Re: Master’s degrees are the second biggest scam in higher education?

#315

Post by titanomachy » Tue, Jul 27, 2021, 3:27 AM UTC

hedgehawk wrote: post #213

titanomachy wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the easiest path into tech is through internships. Being a student at a well-known university can help get you in the door for good internships, but it doesn’t have to be an expensive private college. Some schools also have a “second bachelor’s” program in CS which might get you into the kind of internships you want. I was in a similar situation as you. I did a 3-month “boot camp” and then worked at an unknow…

Yeah the main thing with OMSCS is that it's part-time and apparently some companies require you to be a full-time student in order to intern. I'm scared I'd be limited if I do OMSCS. In terms of the bootcamp pathway, I feel like I have the foundation to teach myself the skills I need but it seems like the one positive thing that can come out of the bootcamp for me are the potential connections and job placement I wou…

That was my experience. I already had enough skill to be a junior dev but I needed the connections (internship opportunities) that the boot camp provided.