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Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?

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Re: Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?

#71

Post by mathattack »

Only a few data points as an outside observer, but...

1 - The people I've seen doing it are learning A LOT - more than another online program I've seen.

2 - They're also working A LOT - it intrudes on all aspects of their personal life. It's as much or more work than doing an in person CS degree.

3 - The folks I know don't have CS undergrads, which also makes it more difficult.

Net - it can be worth it if you missed CS as an undergrad, but you'll have to work. You need to ask if there are enough people in Brazil who value the credential (or implied skills) to make it worth the time. The time investment is more expensive than the $s. (It will be thousands of hours)

Re: Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?

#72

Post by lemonghost »

BOBOTWINSTON wrote: post #35
lemonghost wrote: post #8

I'm halfway through the OMSCS in the machine learning specialization. It has been a great experience so far and definitely worth it for me. A couple of things to consider: As you mentioned, it is more focused on Computer Science than Software Engineering/Development. There are a couple of Software Engineering/Architecture/Testing courses but I haven't taken them so I can't comment on how relevant I think they are to…

Can you think of any comparable programs that are more focused on Software Engineering? I am about to apply for this program actually, but if there was an SE focused alternative I would lean that way.

There is a specialization for Computing Systems:

https://www.omscs.gatech.edu/specialization-computing-system...

I think most Computer Science education is focused on fundamentals. So there isn't anything that's CS that will focus on the latest thing. That said, I think any of the specializations will make you a better software engineer. Also, the price... you just can't beat 7K. I don't think there's anything out there that competes on price and quality.

Re: Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?

#74

Post by lemonghost »

BlackjackCF wrote: post #49
vikascoder wrote: post #34

Current working professional and an OMSCS student here. It highly depends on the context. Biggest pros are: 1. This is perhaps the cheapest Computer Science masters in the United States from a premier school. The degree is exactly the same as offered to the residential program and the credits acquired are all legit and transferable to other universities. I had friends who transferred from OMSCS to a regular school an…

I work full time as a systems engineer and have been a software engineer professionally for the last 3 years. I have a Bachelor's but it's not in anything remotely related to CS. Is it possible to be working full time and doing the OMSCS and succeed?

Yes but it's a significant commitment. I work full time and take one course a semester. It's definitely doable but occasionally very stressful.

Re: Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?

#75

Post by mywittyname »

neuromancer2701 wrote: post #52
bkanber wrote: post #6

Worth it -- based on what metric? My wife did an online master's degree (at a legit university that also had an online program). You have to be very good at self-pacing, diligence, and learning autonomously. You have to be so good at it, in fact, that the type of person who would succeed in an online master's program is the same type of person who would succeed in self-learning without the master's program. So if you…

I would say that I am an engineer than need motivation to do course work outside of school/work. These classes are not your average MOOC that you can just forget about. I think there is enough structure and incentive to encourage you on. CV was pretty brutal because it has been so long from any decent math for me and AI was insane as well.

Agreed, it's easy to let things go when there's no disincentive to do so.

Plus, I tend to be more project-oriented, so I quit learning stuff once I've built up the toolkit I need to solve my particular problem. I'm sure a lot of other people are the same way

Re: Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?

#76

Post by lemonghost »

bmay wrote: post #50
BlackjackCF wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work full time as a systems engineer and have been a software engineer professionally for the last 3 years. I have a Bachelor's but it's not in anything remotely related to CS. Is it possible to be working full time and doing the OMSCS and succeed?

Hopefully, because I'm in a similar situation and starting the program in a week!

Get on the omscs-study slack. It's really helpful (and fun). Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?

#77

Post by throwawayaug15 »

nheskia wrote: post #70
throwawayaug15 wrote: post #47

Logging in as a throwaway. The program only costs $5k but it was one of the most expensive things I've done in my life. Got a job at Google directly because of this program (a few classes like CCA helped a lot with interviews). I'm aware of at least a couple dozen of us from OMS here. The program cost me dearly. It cost me my relationship with the SO and it cost me my health (staying up late nights, lots of coffee).…

while the degree has led to you getting a job at Google, you're saying it's a throwaway because it costed you your mental health/relationship? not trying to question your assessment- just wondering whether or not you think you could have gotten a job at Google otherwise and that's why the program was a throwaway?

Fair question. Throwaway because I don't want my personal comment history to be tagged as "the opinion of a Google Engineer". It's a card that I don't like to pull out in discussions, but it's relevant here.

Also the personal stuff to some extent. Point is, I gained a lot from the program, but it hurt me in other ways and money is the least of these worries.

Re: Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?

#79

Post by [deleted] »

nheskia wrote: post #70
throwawayaug15 wrote: post #47

Logging in as a throwaway. The program only costs $5k but it was one of the most expensive things I've done in my life. Got a job at Google directly because of this program (a few classes like CCA helped a lot with interviews). I'm aware of at least a couple dozen of us from OMS here. The program cost me dearly. It cost me my relationship with the SO and it cost me my health (staying up late nights, lots of coffee).…

while the degree has led to you getting a job at Google, you're saying it's a throwaway because it costed you your mental health/relationship? not trying to question your assessment- just wondering whether or not you think you could have gotten a job at Google otherwise and that's why the program was a throwaway?

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?

#80

Post by rripken »

BlackjackCF wrote: post #49
vikascoder wrote: post #34

Current working professional and an OMSCS student here. It highly depends on the context. Biggest pros are: 1. This is perhaps the cheapest Computer Science masters in the United States from a premier school. The degree is exactly the same as offered to the residential program and the credits acquired are all legit and transferable to other universities. I had friends who transferred from OMSCS to a regular school an…

I work full time as a systems engineer and have been a software engineer professionally for the last 3 years. I have a Bachelor's but it's not in anything remotely related to CS. Is it possible to be working full time and doing the OMSCS and succeed?

I'm half way through OMSCS while working a full time software job with an hour commute and a family with kids. It is doable but difficult. Large portions of my weekends are spent on homework and assignments. I find I spend about 20 hours a week on school. I haven't had to miss soccer matches or piano recitals but I've frequently skipped mowing the lawn or working out to finish assignments.
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