4 ms·

Ask HN: Is an MS in Computer Science Worth Pursuing?

6 points by atsushin 7y ago

sidibe 7y ago
I don't think it's worth it unless you are coming from a different field or looking for a way into the USA. In those cases it's worth it, otherwise you won't learn as much as working or doing PhD.
Throw_Away_5382 7y ago
Depends on your country.
- Throw_Away_5382 7y ago
  Since I have been down-voted: Master degrees are valued differently in different countries. In Germany there would be more cases where they would be helpful than in America.
codingdave 7y ago
Depends on your goals. What do you hope to accomplish?
ThrowawayR2 7y ago
Your question is the equivalent of "Is purchasing a hammer something worth pursuing?" The knowledge conferred by a degree is a tool, nothing more. So, the question is: what do you plan to do with your MS? Do you want to apply to jobs that require specialized CS knowledge? Are you doing it for your own personal satisfaction? Are you hoping that having a MS will make you generally more attractive on the job market? Only you know the answer to that.
- atsushin 7y ago
  I feel like my motivation to go to grad. school is driven by a desire to solidify my CS knowledge as well as a desire to look more competitive given the area that I live in / am most close to (NYC). I'd like to apply for more specialized posititons too.
  - buffaloo 7y ago
    To solidify your knowledge, read. A lot. To look more competitive, do something worthwhile with what you know.
  - adonnjohn 7y ago
    It's probably worth it in your case, but you'll need to be very careful about planning how it directly gives you an increase in return on investment. College is ridiculously expensive in America nowadays, and I would be very hesitant to go back if I wasn't certain it would lead to a drastic increase in income.
  - probinso 7y ago
    Do not pursue a general computer science graduate degree. Be specific, be intentional.
rvz 7y ago
Depends on your specific intention, as in why? Research? - Absolutely, But pick the top universities for your subject matter (Computer Science in this case). There are even some universities that give you the option to skip a Masters and go straight into a PhD depending on your academic achievements. A SWE Job? - Not necessary for some companies, but most usually throw in, or even emphasize the preference for masters grads. If it is a typical software engineering role at a FAANG company, then yes. The competition is too fierce for BSc or nano-degree holders and I wouldn't risk applying without one. As you said 'MS in Computer Science' some people usually take this to enter into the field professionally from a different industry to get up to speed. At this point if I previously did a BSc in the same subject, I would specialize in a masters on where the industry is going, such as security, quantum computing or deep learning.
- avl999 7y ago
  > If it is a typical software engineering role at a FAANG company, then yes. The competition is too fierce for BSc or nano-degree holders and I wouldn't risk applying without one. As someone who worked for one of those companies for 5 years this is completely wrong. Most SDEs there only have a Bachelors degree and as someone who was involved in the hiring process most of their new hires were also those with just a bachelors degree. On all the teams I worked on I only worked with 3-5 people who had a masters that I knew of in my 5 year tenure at that company.
  - rvz 7y ago
    > As someone who worked for one of those companies for 5 years this is completely wrong. Well this is 2019, not 2014. The requirements for any typical software engineering grad to apply straight into a FAANG company is still fierce I'm afraid. A BSc is not good enough to fend off the competition of other BSc holders when the hiring managers at these companies still prefer a masters grad over a BSc if they can. So the competition to apply for FAANG companies for a new grad position in the last 5 years is still very high.
    - azmodeus 7y ago
CyberFonic 7y ago
From a career perspective -- probably not worth the time, effort and cost. For increasing your knowledge -- YES. BTW: When you say "CS" I understand that you are NOT talking about software engineering which is a very different area. Bit like conflating physics and maths with all disciplines of engineering, i.e. civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical.
probinso 7y ago
If your undergrad is in computer science then be very specific and picky about your continued studies. If not then compare the end state job prospects with cheaper educational options. Consider the cost of putting your life on hold for several years

6 points by atsushin 7y ago

I don't think it's worth it unless you are coming from a different field or looking for a way into the USA. In those cases it's worth it, otherwise you won't learn as much as working or doing PhD.

Throw_Away_5382 7y ago

Depends on your country.

Throw_Away_5382 7y ago
Since I have been down-voted: Master degrees are valued differently in different countries. In Germany there would be more cases where they would be helpful than in America.

codingdave 7y ago

Depends on your goals. What do you hope to accomplish?

ThrowawayR2 7y ago

Your question is the equivalent of "Is purchasing a hammer something worth pursuing?" The knowledge conferred by a degree is a tool, nothing more. So, the question is: what do you plan to do with your MS? Do you want to apply to jobs that require specialized CS knowledge? Are you doing it for your own personal satisfaction? Are you hoping that having a MS will make you generally more attractive on the job market? Only you know the answer to that.

atsushin 7y ago
I feel like my motivation to go to grad. school is driven by a desire to solidify my CS knowledge as well as a desire to look more competitive given the area that I live in / am most close to (NYC). I'd like to apply for more specialized posititons too.
- buffaloo 7y ago
  To solidify your knowledge, read. A lot. To look more competitive, do something worthwhile with what you know.
- adonnjohn 7y ago
  It's probably worth it in your case, but you'll need to be very careful about planning how it directly gives you an increase in return on investment. College is ridiculously expensive in America nowadays, and I would be very hesitant to go back if I wasn't certain it would lead to a drastic increase in income.
- probinso 7y ago
  Do not pursue a general computer science graduate degree. Be specific, be intentional.

rvz 7y ago

Depends on your specific intention, as in why? Research? - Absolutely, But pick the top universities for your subject matter (Computer Science in this case). There are even some universities that give you the option to skip a Masters and go straight into a PhD depending on your academic achievements. A SWE Job? - Not necessary for some companies, but most usually throw in, or even emphasize the preference for masters grads. If it is a typical software engineering role at a FAANG company, then yes. The competition is too fierce for BSc or nano-degree holders and I wouldn't risk applying without one. As you said 'MS in Computer Science' some people usually take this to enter into the field professionally from a different industry to get up to speed. At this point if I previously did a BSc in the same subject, I would specialize in a masters on where the industry is going, such as security, quantum computing or deep learning.

avl999 7y ago
> If it is a typical software engineering role at a FAANG company, then yes. The competition is too fierce for BSc or nano-degree holders and I wouldn't risk applying without one. As someone who worked for one of those companies for 5 years this is completely wrong. Most SDEs there only have a Bachelors degree and as someone who was involved in the hiring process most of their new hires were also those with just a bachelors degree. On all the teams I worked on I only worked with 3-5 people who had a masters that I knew of in my 5 year tenure at that company.
- rvz 7y ago
  > As someone who worked for one of those companies for 5 years this is completely wrong. Well this is 2019, not 2014. The requirements for any typical software engineering grad to apply straight into a FAANG company is still fierce I'm afraid. A BSc is not good enough to fend off the competition of other BSc holders when the hiring managers at these companies still prefer a masters grad over a BSc if they can. So the competition to apply for FAANG companies for a new grad position in the last 5 years is still very high.
  - azmodeus 7y ago

CyberFonic 7y ago

From a career perspective -- probably not worth the time, effort and cost. For increasing your knowledge -- YES. BTW: When you say "CS" I understand that you are NOT talking about software engineering which is a very different area. Bit like conflating physics and maths with all disciplines of engineering, i.e. civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical.

probinso 7y ago

If your undergrad is in computer science then be very specific and picky about your continued studies. If not then compare the end state job prospects with cheaper educational options. Consider the cost of putting your life on hold for several years