3 ms·

Anecdote time: My friend is currently doing a Computer Science MS at a university that I'm sure most people on HN have heard of. She got accepted with an unrel

by xor1 9y ago

Anecdote time: My friend is currently doing a Computer Science MS at a university that I'm sure most people on HN have heard of. She got accepted with an unrelated undergrad degree (though still STEM) and two Intro to Programming community college courses she took after graduating (which she cheated her way through by paying her roommate at the time to do all of her homework). She hits me up for help with her homework/projects all the time. I'll help her a bit and then tell her how to look up everything else she needs to know on her own, but she always ends up falling back on another friend, who just completes the assignments for her. Homework + group projects count enough where she can bomb her tests and still pass. She's about a year into programming coursework now, and still struggles with just about anything outside of for loops and print statements. She is extremely good at math, though, (tbh she's just really smart overall), so those courses and the theory itself aren't giving her any trouble. I initially told her that spending 3 years getting the MS would be a waste of time for her, and she'd be better off learning on her own or maybe even doing a bootcamp, but now I realize that she doesn't actually care about becoming proficient or even competent when it comes to software development. She's going to get her MS, and someone will undoubtedly hire her based on a CS MS that she obtained through cheating, and a resume that goes past embellishment and has outright lies. At worst she ends up at a defense contractor that bills $200/hr (and pays her 1/3 of that) for her to just sit around and read Reddit on her phone all day. I really feel like a huge sucker sometimes for always having been completely honest, both in terms of school and work. I've never cheated and I've never lied or exaggerated about anything related to work, in regards to both job applications and employment. When I think about it, it's cost me a lot.

stale2002 9y ago
Well, it depends. People like this are why companies ask programming questions that are slightly harder than fizzbuzz. You might be able to get a middling, junior dev position, using her method, but good luck doing anything else with your life. I certainly slacked off a bunch during school, as I only minored in CS. I was able to get a job, but I've had to work really hard after that to improve my skills, and go beyond the junior dev role (along with having to job hop a bit more than I am comfortable with). And I also don't have any specialized knowledge, so I don't feel like I can do anything more than web dev. The thing is, there is much more to a career in tech, than just being a mid level engineer. And it is difficult to go beyond that unless you can really bring useful skills and value to the table.
skookumchuck 9y ago
> it's cost me a lot I've had jobs where I had to sit around and pretend to be busy. They're awful. I much, much prefer to have challenging work to do. > My friend I don't care to have friends like that. Cheaters will eventually try to scam their friends, too. Besides, cheaters are boring losers.
- sevagh 9y ago
  >I've had jobs where I had to sit around and pretend to be busy. They're awful. I much, much prefer to have challenging work to do. Agreed with this. I haven't been more miserable in my career than when I was just moldering in a corporate body shop.

by xor1 9y ago

stale2002 9y ago

Well, it depends. People like this are why companies ask programming questions that are slightly harder than fizzbuzz. You might be able to get a middling, junior dev position, using her method, but good luck doing anything else with your life. I certainly slacked off a bunch during school, as I only minored in CS. I was able to get a job, but I've had to work really hard after that to improve my skills, and go beyond the junior dev role (along with having to job hop a bit more than I am comfortable with). And I also don't have any specialized knowledge, so I don't feel like I can do anything more than web dev. The thing is, there is much more to a career in tech, than just being a mid level engineer. And it is difficult to go beyond that unless you can really bring useful skills and value to the table.

skookumchuck 9y ago

> it's cost me a lot I've had jobs where I had to sit around and pretend to be busy. They're awful. I much, much prefer to have challenging work to do. > My friend I don't care to have friends like that. Cheaters will eventually try to scam their friends, too. Besides, cheaters are boring losers.

sevagh 9y ago
>I've had jobs where I had to sit around and pretend to be busy. They're awful. I much, much prefer to have challenging work to do. Agreed with this. I haven't been more miserable in my career than when I was just moldering in a corporate body shop.