3 ms·

Is Pursuing a Masters Degree in BIS or MIS Worth It?

7 points by kg10 15y ago

Question: Is pursuing a Masters Degree in BIS (Business and Information Systems) and/or MIS worth the time and money if the end goal is to be better prepared to be CTO of a tech startup?

aherlambang 15y ago
Everything depends on what you want to do and what your previous experience/education are. I am currently pursuing a MS in MIS and have a BS in CS, I do feel like it is a good combination. I have a good exposure of what Business Intelligence are, learned machine learning, project management. Is it worth the money? It depends again on what you want to do in the future. If you want to climb up a company ladder, then maybe it will be worthed. It might even be more worthed to join into a Entrepreneur program rather than MIS if you want to be more involved in a startup
- kg10 15y ago
  I currently have a BSIT with a concentration in Web Applications (SQL, PHP, etc) and minored in Management. I am already involved with a startup and I'm narrowing down my choices on whether or not to go back to school and learn.
  - aherlambang 15y ago
    May I know why you want to go back to school? Are you planning to create your own startup in the future or work at a startup? Or work at big companies?
    - kg10 15y ago
      There's a few reasons really so to be brief - I want to go back so I have less time thinking about my current career (50-60+ hours a week - no ownership), and more time thinking about a startup I am directly involved in while gaining hands-on experience towards an MSMIS or MSBIS. Basically, I want all my cards dealt to a startup rather than half of them since the other half is dealt to my current career. You may ask why I can't just jump straight into the startup and the answer to that is, because I'm repaying loans (private/federal) and paying bills. However, if I go back to school, I can defer the loans and gain financial aid which can be used towards other home expenses like rent, etc. I hope this explains it a bit better..
      - JoachimSchipper 15y ago
        That sounds like you're digging yourself deeply into debt, especially if the startup fails (as most do). You know more about your situation than I do, but tread carefully.
        kg10 15y ago
        you're right about the debt. that's definitely a big factor which is why I've been contemplating on whether or not to take this route and why I asked about it here.. I will, thanks.
18pfsmt 15y ago
Getting some more color from your responses, I would have to say it is not worth it unless you intend to climb a corporate ladder. Otherwise, I think it would be more practical to learn this stuff from a person already experienced while on the job at an early stage startup and/ or established company (both would be preferable). After all, these types degrees will not help you build a successful startup directly, but they will directly aid in your resume and allow you to be a more desirable employee (which it sounds you are trying to get away from).
- kg10 15y ago
  appreciate the feedback. you've made a few key points that i overlooked - thanks. as for being desirable, i'm trying to get away from that employer because though i work 50-60 hour work weeks, i have little to no growth because the job entails a number of tasks that insult my intelligence. (mind you I've been working for this employer since inception, 3 years ago)

7 points by kg10 15y ago

Question: Is pursuing a Masters Degree in BIS (Business and Information Systems) and/or MIS worth the time and money if the end goal is to be better prepared to be CTO of a tech startup?

aherlambang 15y ago

Everything depends on what you want to do and what your previous experience/education are. I am currently pursuing a MS in MIS and have a BS in CS, I do feel like it is a good combination. I have a good exposure of what Business Intelligence are, learned machine learning, project management. Is it worth the money? It depends again on what you want to do in the future. If you want to climb up a company ladder, then maybe it will be worthed. It might even be more worthed to join into a Entrepreneur program rather than MIS if you want to be more involved in a startup

kg10 15y ago
I currently have a BSIT with a concentration in Web Applications (SQL, PHP, etc) and minored in Management. I am already involved with a startup and I'm narrowing down my choices on whether or not to go back to school and learn.
- aherlambang 15y ago
  May I know why you want to go back to school? Are you planning to create your own startup in the future or work at a startup? Or work at big companies?
  - kg10 15y ago
    There's a few reasons really so to be brief - I want to go back so I have less time thinking about my current career (50-60+ hours a week - no ownership), and more time thinking about a startup I am directly involved in while gaining hands-on experience towards an MSMIS or MSBIS. Basically, I want all my cards dealt to a startup rather than half of them since the other half is dealt to my current career. You may ask why I can't just jump straight into the startup and the answer to that is, because I'm repaying loans (private/federal) and paying bills. However, if I go back to school, I can defer the loans and gain financial aid which can be used towards other home expenses like rent, etc. I hope this explains it a bit better..
    - JoachimSchipper 15y ago
      That sounds like you're digging yourself deeply into debt, especially if the startup fails (as most do). You know more about your situation than I do, but tread carefully.
      - kg10 15y ago
        you're right about the debt. that's definitely a big factor which is why I've been contemplating on whether or not to take this route and why I asked about it here.. I will, thanks.

18pfsmt 15y ago

Getting some more color from your responses, I would have to say it is not worth it unless you intend to climb a corporate ladder. Otherwise, I think it would be more practical to learn this stuff from a person already experienced while on the job at an early stage startup and/ or established company (both would be preferable). After all, these types degrees will not help you build a successful startup directly, but they will directly aid in your resume and allow you to be a more desirable employee (which it sounds you are trying to get away from).

kg10 15y ago
appreciate the feedback. you've made a few key points that i overlooked - thanks. as for being desirable, i'm trying to get away from that employer because though i work 50-60 hour work weeks, i have little to no growth because the job entails a number of tasks that insult my intelligence. (mind you I've been working for this employer since inception, 3 years ago)