Ask HN: Was your masters/grad program worth it? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Was your masters/grad program worth it?

1 pointno-dr-onboard2 comments

Currently a senior appsec engineer (5 years in the field) looking at starting a Masters in Software Engineering at a Arizona State University. Not super excited to go back to school but everyone in my department has both more experience and a grad degree. I’m truly wondering if the program is worth it in terms of proficiency or if the content is just too academic to be practical. Not interested in cybersecurity degrees as the scope is too broad. Not interested in certifications as I have the OSCE3 already and that seems enough.

HN, was your grad program worth it? Did it lead to you producing novel/original work in your field? Who are these degrees for?

Since nobody else has responded, I’ll give you my opinion.

I am a lifelong learner. I love to read, especially nonfiction. I have two masters degrees: one in engineering (MS) and one in teaching (MA). The engineering program was chosen for the same reasons you are contemplating right now. The teaching degree was a mid-life decision that was done for more altruistic reasons.

I enjoyed (and suffered) through both programs, and they both changed the way I see things, improved the way I think, and helped me to learn new ways of solving problems and conveying my thoughts and ideas.

I learned that advanced education and college degrees are not really about your resume and they won’t guarantee you more money. I believe they are a life experience for you to enjoy and to benefit from intellectually. That experience may translate into better performance at work, or in improving your confidence and maturity, and that in turn may result in new opportunities in your career.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Thanks for your response. I found it to be actually incredibly insightful and meaningful.

Improving the way I think with the side effect of making me better at my job sounds sufficient for me to take the dive. Worst case scenario I do a couple semesters and finish it in another time of my life.

Again, thank you.

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