Already a software engineer, degree worth it?

[mahaganapati]

I first want to express my gratitude to all the people here who have shared their time and resources to help those who want to get a degree.

Secondly, this is my existential rambling with little expectation for - but very welcome to - feedback.

I dropped out of a college and spent a lot of time wandering. I settled on a job at a library putting away carts of books. Eventually I worked up to the highest desk staff position that didn't require a degree. From there I was able to get a remote support engineer role for a start up. At that start up I was able to be trained in software development. I left that job to be employed officially as a software engineer for the past five years.

I've been incredibly lucky and blessed, something that I can only thank God for.

And yet the reason I am here on this forum is because I feel I should finish the degree I'd started fifteen years ago, but I also feel torn because I already have a foundation of experience in my career. I don't think I would get a Masters. I don't think the degree would make a strong difference in my career (unless it were MIT maybe? for the networking and prestige). It would address this sinking feeling of "I don't have a degree."


Has anyone else had such deliberation? I do recognize that only I can make this choice for myself.

[rachel83az]

I think it can be worth it for a number of reasons. The first of which, you've already mentioned: that nagging feeling of never having finished a degree. If you're not spending a fortune on a degree, the sense of accomplishment can be totally worth it. Secondly, you're a software developer right now; this is good. Congratulations on your accomplishments so far! But what if something unfortunate happens and you have to change careers for some reason? For instance, once you get "too old" for the local market or you can no longer deal with the stress of deadlines. Having a degree of some kind will open more doors these days than not having a degree.

Also, the inexpensive Georgia Tech Masters in Computer Science isn't quite MIT, but it's pretty prestigious all the same.

[LevelUP]

A business degree may make sense if you ever go into management.

TESU has a BSBA with a CIS concentration.  Then you can also get your Associates in Computer Science for free.

[ss20ts]

I think it can be worth it for a number of reasons. The first of which, you've already mentioned: that nagging feeling of never having finished a degree. If you're not spending a fortune on a degree, the sense of accomplishment can be totally worth it. Secondly, you're a software developer right now; this is good. Congratulations on your accomplishments so far! But what if something unfortunate happens and you have to change careers for some reason? For instance, once you get "too old" for the local market or you can no longer deal with the stress of deadlines. Having a degree of some kind will open more doors these days than not having a degree.

Not only the possibility of needing a career change, but what happens if you're laid off or your company shuts down? So many CS/IT jobs require a bachelor's degree. Many companies won't even consider someone without the piece of paper. I've seen this happen to my husband and several of his CS/IT co-workers and friends over the years. One woman was offered a managerial position - a job she had been doing for over 1o years - but once she got to the HR part they refused to hire her because she didn't have a bachelor's degree. The offer was withdrawn even though those who interviewed and hired her knew she didn't have a bachelor's degree. Corporate policy wouldn't make an exception. My husband has tried to move into other positions in his company and they won't even let him apply without a bachelor's degree. He was worked for a company they bought and today they wouldn't hire him......he's been there for 9 years and been promoted twice. Makes absolutely no sense but this is reality for some idiotic reason.

[rachel83az]

If you don't want to invest in a Bachelor's degree right now, I would suggest taking what credits you have, adding whatever's necessary from Sophia, and getting the FREE Pierpont degree with an Area of Emphasis in Information Technology: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Pierpont_C%26TC

[bjcheung77]

A business degree may make sense if you ever go into management.

TESU has a BSBA with a CIS concentration.  Then you can also get your Associates in Computer Science for free.

@mahaganapati, if you're in another country other than the US, then I would suggest this route. You get the Associates and Bachelors degrees, plus with your experience, it'll be a pretty complete resume or CV, you'll be prepared for any Business or IT related positions...

If you don't want to invest in a Bachelor's degree right now, I would suggest taking what credits you have, adding whatever's necessary from Sophia, and getting the FREE Pierpont degree with an Area of Emphasis in Information Technology: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Pierpont_C%26TC

@mahaganapati, If you're in the US, this is the option I would recommend. You get an almost FREE Associates degree with an emphasis in Business or IT. Then you can ladder that to an UMPI AALS (in a different concentration than the BOG AAS), plus a BAS with another concentration to your liking, such as MIS).

[davewill]

I did this very thing. I had been a SW engineer with almost 30 years experience when I ran into a situation where an offer was rescinded because I didn't have a degree. Sure, I could have simply moved on without one and I would undoubtedly have been just fine, but I instead got my BSCS, and now I've had two more jobs at companies who would have been most unlikely to have hired a non-degreed engineer.

It was a proud accomplishment, even though I thought beforehand that it wouldn't be that big a deal.

[Flelm]

I would suggest a degree if it's cost-effective. Unfortunately, no matter how much experience you have, you will be automatically filtered out of at least some HR systems without a degree. When I was job searching 2 years ago, by far the most common thing I heard and had to explain away was my lack of a degree. I'm sure I missed opportunities due to its lack.

[LevelUP]

I use to think you could get through life without a degree.  And it's true, you can.

But without a degree, you are going through life walking uphill versus downhill.

[mahaganapati]

I did this very thing. I had been a SW engineer with almost 30 years experience when I ran into a situation where an offer was rescinded because I didn't have a degree. Sure, I could have simply moved on without one and I would undoubtedly have been just fine, but I instead got my BSCS, and now I've had two more jobs at companies who would have been most unlikely to have hired a non-degreed engineer.

It was a proud accomplishment, even though I thought beforehand that it wouldn't be that big a deal.

I appreciate hearing that bit of data, davewill! Hearing it from someone in the same field is very helpful. What school did you end up choosing?

And thank you to everyone else who has shared perspectives!

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I did this very thing. I had been a SW engineer with almost 30 years experience when I ran into a situation where an offer was rescinded because I didn't have a degree. Sure, I could have simply moved on without one and I would undoubtedly have been just fine, but I instead got my BSCS, and now I've had two more jobs at companies who would have been most unlikely to have hired a non-degreed engineer.

It was a proud accomplishment, even though I thought beforehand that it wouldn't be that big a deal.

I appreciate hearing that bit of data, davewill! Hearing it from someone in the same field is very helpful. What school did you end up choosing?

And thank you to everyone else who has shared perspectives!

Ah, I see it now in your signature. (I thought it wasn't TESU since you wrote BSCS)

By the way, did you end up doing the GA Tech OMCS?