4 ms·

Ask HN: Should I Go Back to College?

I've been thinking about going back to college but I'm unsure if it's a good decision or not. I've talked to many friends and family and they also seem split on it. I'm 32 years old and currently working as a senior fullstack developer. I have an associates degree in science but I never pursued a computer science degree, I'm self taught and started with a junior developer position and now around 8 years later, I'm here with a senior developer position. In the past I thought about it but I always felt good about where I stood with my career. I've not something I necessarily love, but I think I'm decent at it and it's a good living. Lately however, after layoffs, the bad job market, and the uncertainty with AI, I've felt more anxious about my future and I've really been putting serious thought into going back to college. I would like to get my electrical engineering degree and focus on power systems. However, I worry about whether it is worth the money when I could spend the money on a house or other expenses. I know I won't be making more money but I like the idea of the type of work and the employability of it. I'm not married but I am in a serious relationship and we would like to have kids in the next two to three years. I know it would be hard now to go back to school with that plan in mind but it would be even harder after that so I feel like this is a decision I need to make now, one way or the other, and stick with it. Any advice or stories of personal experience with this is greatly appreciated.

cloudedcordial 2y ago
> focus on power systems Picking what you'll do specifically without starting the degree does not sit well with me. I am in CS and not in EE, but believe a degree gives you a breath understanding of the subject to let you choose wiser. In my days, lots of students started CS because they would "like to put up websites" or "work for this specific employers in town". Those goals were determined based on what they could see around them at the time. Then the field shifted (like AI coming) and the company's trajectory shifted. They were disappointed on either the school didn't teach them skills specific to the job or didn't graduate before the downturn. The specific type of job or the field could also be saturated with folks with years of experience on their job: Entry-level positions could be hard to come by.
- purple-leafy 2y ago
  I got into EE because I wanted to build a mech suit and powered prostheses. Now I make web apps. But a funny turn of events means that I myself need 2 hip prosthetics, so I will become a mecha/cyborg myself anyway
fdlaks 2y ago
It seems like I took the inverse path that you did, I went to school for EE and then transitioned into doing fullstack engineering. I don't want to discourage you from learning more about EE because it is fascinating and rewarding, but here are some things to consider before you sign yourself up for a degree: - Like others have said, EE is a very difficult degree to pursue. Studying power systems will probably save you from having to study too much of the really complicated theory, but there are still some strange abstract concepts you will have to have a good understanding of in order to know whats going on, and A LOT of complex math that goes with these concepts. Make sure you know what you are signing up for and if you like to study these types of things before fully committing. - EE jobs are probably marginally safer than software related jobs from being consumed by AI, but making this switch will not guarantee job security. When / if the day comes that AI takes 90% of developer jobs, so too will it take a massive percentage of jobs that EE's have traditionally done. Power systems design is already one of those fields that is largely done via computers. Being the person at a power plant that helps debug when things go wrong isn't going go be replaced anytime soon, but you can say the same thing about software related jobs as well (maybe AI does a lot of the groundwork in the future, so there will be less need for swaths of people to work on software but there will always be need for a human in the loop until we get to a super intelligent AI which is unlikely in our lifetimes) - Part of the reason I left EE to pursue more traditional software was because of how slow it moves and how much investment upfront you need to do really anything. It's also more difficult to get a job as a EE in general compared to software because of fewer opportunities in general and also companies not wanting to hire new people to make mistakes at their company before they figure out what they are doing and move on to not make mistakes at other companies. It's also an order of magnitude more difficult to debug problems you encounter working on hardware or power systems. A large part of learning how to be a good EE is understanding how to use all of the very expensive equipment in the lab to gain any kind of understanding as to what is happening with your project. Overall I would recommend taking some classes about power systems and see if you like it or not before committing. I honestly wouldn't worry about the AI super intelligence taking your job anytime soon, if anything software fields might start to get more interesting because we won't have to slog through writing so much boilerplate before getting to the interesting areas where people are actually needed to think critically about.
kingkongjaffa 2y ago
> I would like to get my electrical engineering degree and focus on power systems Do you really like this and want to work in it / have friends or family you could ask about this career? Because if not FYI, it's likely LESS salary than your software engineering job, plus less likely remote work is feasible if that's important to you.
- hncollege1234 2y ago
  I have an uncle that works as one and he's introduced me to friends that also do. From what they've said I do think I would be interested in it. I understand it's less salary and there's less chance of remote work but I'm just thinking about long term job prospects. I'm also okay with sticking with software engineering, but I worry about not having a job and also not having a degree. But I figure if I'm getting a degree, it might as well be in a field I'm interested.
purple-leafy 2y ago
Do you really enjoy Electrical Engineering? I’m saying this because it’s right up there as one of the most challenging degrees anyone can do. It’s harder than Computer Science, but related. Not to put you off, anyone can do it, but you have to commit pretty seriously. Also, what is the local job market like for Electrical Engineers? Start there first. Look for opportunities locally, in your country, or wherever you want to end up. I transitioned from EE career into Computer Science. One thing I found really challenging with EE is the slow feedback loop during practice/study/tinkering. In contrast Comp Sci has a really fast feedback loop so you can learn at a rapid rate. In an EE degree you learn a really broad range of topics, and the mathematics is relatively advanced, and relatively advanced physics too. These concepts are really great to learn, and will help you grow intellectually- but they are pretty abstract. But can be a rewarding career, one of my best friends still works as an EE and he loves it, finds it really rewarding. I’ve been thinking of going back to EE long term (firmware so half programming half EE)
- hncollege1234 2y ago
  It's hard to know but from talking to family and friends that are in the field, I think I would. I would like to feel more challenged in my career but I worry that it's a "grass is greener on the other side" situation as well. As far as the job market goes, I don't really have roots where I am so I would be open to moving for an opportunity, for EE or my software. Interesting to hear about the slow feedback loop. I guess that's something I take for granted with development so I'm not sure how that owuld affect me. Do you ever worry about the future of your career in comp sci? It's gotta be nice to at least have EE as a backup.
  - purple-leafy 2y ago
    Just FYI I just thought as well, if you did do an EE degree and wanted to get straight into Power Systems, you would be starting out right at the bottom of the rung in an EE job when you graduate - something to consider. It’s not a horizontal shift if you’re going into Power Systems, you will be staying almost a brand new career from scratch. Just food for thought, but you actually have a lot of options so don’t let that put you off! If you instead tried to get into embedded programming (C, C++) your programming knowledge can help, but you’d still need to know circuits and electronics etc. But that’s probably your best move if you are deadset on EE. You can maybe even get in without a full degree (maybe). I have ~4YOE in Software. I’m not worried at all about my future career, because even though I don’t have a CS degree, I study and program almost every day. AI doesn’t worry me (I use LLMs every day, I think they are overhyped imo). I know a lot of people do worry though. My job is frontend, I’m Intermediate/Senior doing typical frontend, but I’ve been diving deep into C programming for graphics programming (and eventually electronics) in my spare time and pick up free courses all the time to not just be a “web developer”. Also EE I had 1 ~EE job when I graduated and it was harder than the current stuff I do. TBH I don’t see EE as a fallback option because I’m so out of practice I’ve forgotten a lot of my studies :0 Can you tell me what your main worry is? If it’s AI, that’s great news - I’d love to help you think more about it so you don’t worry :) if it’s that you don’t have a degree, can discuss that too :)
goethes_kind 2y ago
No, you will ruin your life.
- hncollege1234 2y ago
  Can you elaborate why? Is it being set back by 60k+?
magic_man 2y ago
EE is much harder than CS as a degree. Also there is less jobs and pay sucks. You will see a lot of EEs doing software jobs.
- hncollege1234 2y ago
  Do you think that a CS degree is still worth it?
confidantlake 2y ago
No
- hncollege1234 2y ago
  Can you elaborate why you think this?
a_tartaruga 2y ago
Have you thought about taking one class a semester for the next year without quitting your job? How important is this really to you? Have you been channeling your interest into building things for fun? Are you tearing through The Art of Electronics? Love of knowledge is a strong motivator but you might be able to satisfy it with a less disruptive change to your life.
- hncollege1234 2y ago
  I could do that and ease into it instead of just starting full time. I enjoy the subjects and hobby projects but the employability is more important to me. I could go back and get a CS degree and but it feels like if I'm going to spend four years on something, it might as well be something I'm really interested in.
mixmastamyk 2y ago
Yes, CS but don’t spend too much money. Sure you can get a job without one. But try to get a coveted job at SpaceX or Netflix (just examples) and your resume will be thrown out in the first cut. In a downturn like now, you won’t even get to the phone screen stage for jobs without an ally inside.
- hncollege1234 2y ago
  How much money do you think it's worth for a CS degree?
  - mixmastamyk 2y ago
    Probably several tens of thousands of dollars. However you can spend a lot more or less (gatech?). Ya better shop around, as the Miracles said.
landosaari 2y ago
For a sense of the workload, here is an open source curriculum [0] [0] https://github.com/Artoriuz/OSEE https://github.com/Artoriuz/OSEE
- hncollege1234 2y ago
  This is great, thank you!
AnimalMuppet 2y ago
Would you keep working while you go to college? If so, and you're in a serious relationship, think about the impacts on the relationship from spending all your spare time and energy on school. Is it worth losing the relationship over? Because it may be that stark a choice. Take a look at Western Governors University. They are fully online, and their courses are "if you pass the test, you pass the class" - you don't have to attend any particular set of lectures or be on any particular schedule.
- hncollege1234 2y ago
  Yeah I would have to keep working to afford the set back. I know it would take up probably the remaining spare time and energy I have and my partner says they would fully support me but I understand it's hard to know what it would actually be like without being in the situation.
sircastor 2y ago
I went back to school at 37, got my degree Software Engineering at 40, having previously got my associates degree. I was working full-time while I did it, and we had our first child while I was doing it (oof, that was rough). I enjoy hobby electronics in my spare time. I was well into my career before I got my bachelor's and I can't say if I would've been filtered out of my current job without it. I feel fairly confident that if I'd gotten past screening otherwise, I'd still have gotten the job. I'm really glad that I went back to school. Much like planting trees, the best time to go back to school is 10 years ago, second best time is now. That said, I was able to pay for my schooling out of pocket and as I said I was already working (and making decent money) A last random anecdote: A friend of mine got his EE, and then pursued and became a patent lawyer. I once asked him why (because patent law seemed boring to me, and we both loved electronics) and he told me that he realized he didn't want to spend his career designing and maintaining a print server product. You don't often get to pick what you work on. Anyway, good luck.

cloudedcordial 2y ago

> focus on power systems Picking what you'll do specifically without starting the degree does not sit well with me. I am in CS and not in EE, but believe a degree gives you a breath understanding of the subject to let you choose wiser. In my days, lots of students started CS because they would "like to put up websites" or "work for this specific employers in town". Those goals were determined based on what they could see around them at the time. Then the field shifted (like AI coming) and the company's trajectory shifted. They were disappointed on either the school didn't teach them skills specific to the job or didn't graduate before the downturn. The specific type of job or the field could also be saturated with folks with years of experience on their job: Entry-level positions could be hard to come by.

purple-leafy 2y ago
I got into EE because I wanted to build a mech suit and powered prostheses. Now I make web apps. But a funny turn of events means that I myself need 2 hip prosthetics, so I will become a mecha/cyborg myself anyway

fdlaks 2y ago

It seems like I took the inverse path that you did, I went to school for EE and then transitioned into doing fullstack engineering. I don't want to discourage you from learning more about EE because it is fascinating and rewarding, but here are some things to consider before you sign yourself up for a degree: - Like others have said, EE is a very difficult degree to pursue. Studying power systems will probably save you from having to study too much of the really complicated theory, but there are still some strange abstract concepts you will have to have a good understanding of in order to know whats going on, and A LOT of complex math that goes with these concepts. Make sure you know what you are signing up for and if you like to study these types of things before fully committing. - EE jobs are probably marginally safer than software related jobs from being consumed by AI, but making this switch will not guarantee job security. When / if the day comes that AI takes 90% of developer jobs, so too will it take a massive percentage of jobs that EE's have traditionally done. Power systems design is already one of those fields that is largely done via computers. Being the person at a power plant that helps debug when things go wrong isn't going go be replaced anytime soon, but you can say the same thing about software related jobs as well (maybe AI does a lot of the groundwork in the future, so there will be less need for swaths of people to work on software but there will always be need for a human in the loop until we get to a super intelligent AI which is unlikely in our lifetimes) - Part of the reason I left EE to pursue more traditional software was because of how slow it moves and how much investment upfront you need to do really anything. It's also more difficult to get a job as a EE in general compared to software because of fewer opportunities in general and also companies not wanting to hire new people to make mistakes at their company before they figure out what they are doing and move on to not make mistakes at other companies. It's also an order of magnitude more difficult to debug problems you encounter working on hardware or power systems. A large part of learning how to be a good EE is understanding how to use all of the very expensive equipment in the lab to gain any kind of understanding as to what is happening with your project. Overall I would recommend taking some classes about power systems and see if you like it or not before committing. I honestly wouldn't worry about the AI super intelligence taking your job anytime soon, if anything software fields might start to get more interesting because we won't have to slog through writing so much boilerplate before getting to the interesting areas where people are actually needed to think critically about.

kingkongjaffa 2y ago

> I would like to get my electrical engineering degree and focus on power systems Do you really like this and want to work in it / have friends or family you could ask about this career? Because if not FYI, it's likely LESS salary than your software engineering job, plus less likely remote work is feasible if that's important to you.

hncollege1234 2y ago
I have an uncle that works as one and he's introduced me to friends that also do. From what they've said I do think I would be interested in it. I understand it's less salary and there's less chance of remote work but I'm just thinking about long term job prospects. I'm also okay with sticking with software engineering, but I worry about not having a job and also not having a degree. But I figure if I'm getting a degree, it might as well be in a field I'm interested.

purple-leafy 2y ago

Do you really enjoy Electrical Engineering? I’m saying this because it’s right up there as one of the most challenging degrees anyone can do. It’s harder than Computer Science, but related. Not to put you off, anyone can do it, but you have to commit pretty seriously. Also, what is the local job market like for Electrical Engineers? Start there first. Look for opportunities locally, in your country, or wherever you want to end up. I transitioned from EE career into Computer Science. One thing I found really challenging with EE is the slow feedback loop during practice/study/tinkering. In contrast Comp Sci has a really fast feedback loop so you can learn at a rapid rate. In an EE degree you learn a really broad range of topics, and the mathematics is relatively advanced, and relatively advanced physics too. These concepts are really great to learn, and will help you grow intellectually- but they are pretty abstract. But can be a rewarding career, one of my best friends still works as an EE and he loves it, finds it really rewarding. I’ve been thinking of going back to EE long term (firmware so half programming half EE)

hncollege1234 2y ago
It's hard to know but from talking to family and friends that are in the field, I think I would. I would like to feel more challenged in my career but I worry that it's a "grass is greener on the other side" situation as well. As far as the job market goes, I don't really have roots where I am so I would be open to moving for an opportunity, for EE or my software. Interesting to hear about the slow feedback loop. I guess that's something I take for granted with development so I'm not sure how that owuld affect me. Do you ever worry about the future of your career in comp sci? It's gotta be nice to at least have EE as a backup.
- purple-leafy 2y ago
  Just FYI I just thought as well, if you did do an EE degree and wanted to get straight into Power Systems, you would be starting out right at the bottom of the rung in an EE job when you graduate - something to consider. It’s not a horizontal shift if you’re going into Power Systems, you will be staying almost a brand new career from scratch. Just food for thought, but you actually have a lot of options so don’t let that put you off! If you instead tried to get into embedded programming (C, C++) your programming knowledge can help, but you’d still need to know circuits and electronics etc. But that’s probably your best move if you are deadset on EE. You can maybe even get in without a full degree (maybe). I have ~4YOE in Software. I’m not worried at all about my future career, because even though I don’t have a CS degree, I study and program almost every day. AI doesn’t worry me (I use LLMs every day, I think they are overhyped imo). I know a lot of people do worry though. My job is frontend, I’m Intermediate/Senior doing typical frontend, but I’ve been diving deep into C programming for graphics programming (and eventually electronics) in my spare time and pick up free courses all the time to not just be a “web developer”. Also EE I had 1 ~EE job when I graduated and it was harder than the current stuff I do. TBH I don’t see EE as a fallback option because I’m so out of practice I’ve forgotten a lot of my studies :0 Can you tell me what your main worry is? If it’s AI, that’s great news - I’d love to help you think more about it so you don’t worry :) if it’s that you don’t have a degree, can discuss that too :)

goethes_kind 2y ago

No, you will ruin your life.

hncollege1234 2y ago
Can you elaborate why? Is it being set back by 60k+?

magic_man 2y ago

EE is much harder than CS as a degree. Also there is less jobs and pay sucks. You will see a lot of EEs doing software jobs.

hncollege1234 2y ago
Do you think that a CS degree is still worth it?

confidantlake 2y ago

hncollege1234 2y ago
Can you elaborate why you think this?

a_tartaruga 2y ago

Have you thought about taking one class a semester for the next year without quitting your job? How important is this really to you? Have you been channeling your interest into building things for fun? Are you tearing through The Art of Electronics? Love of knowledge is a strong motivator but you might be able to satisfy it with a less disruptive change to your life.

hncollege1234 2y ago
I could do that and ease into it instead of just starting full time. I enjoy the subjects and hobby projects but the employability is more important to me. I could go back and get a CS degree and but it feels like if I'm going to spend four years on something, it might as well be something I'm really interested in.

mixmastamyk 2y ago

Yes, CS but don’t spend too much money. Sure you can get a job without one. But try to get a coveted job at SpaceX or Netflix (just examples) and your resume will be thrown out in the first cut. In a downturn like now, you won’t even get to the phone screen stage for jobs without an ally inside.

hncollege1234 2y ago
How much money do you think it's worth for a CS degree?
- mixmastamyk 2y ago
  Probably several tens of thousands of dollars. However you can spend a lot more or less (gatech?). Ya better shop around, as the Miracles said.

landosaari 2y ago

For a sense of the workload, here is an open source curriculum [0] [0] https://github.com/Artoriuz/OSEE https://github.com/Artoriuz/OSEE

hncollege1234 2y ago
This is great, thank you!

AnimalMuppet 2y ago

Would you keep working while you go to college? If so, and you're in a serious relationship, think about the impacts on the relationship from spending all your spare time and energy on school. Is it worth losing the relationship over? Because it may be that stark a choice. Take a look at Western Governors University. They are fully online, and their courses are "if you pass the test, you pass the class" - you don't have to attend any particular set of lectures or be on any particular schedule.

hncollege1234 2y ago
Yeah I would have to keep working to afford the set back. I know it would take up probably the remaining spare time and energy I have and my partner says they would fully support me but I understand it's hard to know what it would actually be like without being in the situation.

sircastor 2y ago

I went back to school at 37, got my degree Software Engineering at 40, having previously got my associates degree. I was working full-time while I did it, and we had our first child while I was doing it (oof, that was rough). I enjoy hobby electronics in my spare time. I was well into my career before I got my bachelor's and I can't say if I would've been filtered out of my current job without it. I feel fairly confident that if I'd gotten past screening otherwise, I'd still have gotten the job. I'm really glad that I went back to school. Much like planting trees, the best time to go back to school is 10 years ago, second best time is now. That said, I was able to pay for my schooling out of pocket and as I said I was already working (and making decent money) A last random anecdote: A friend of mine got his EE, and then pursued and became a patent lawyer. I once asked him why (because patent law seemed boring to me, and we both loved electronics) and he told me that he realized he didn't want to spend his career designing and maintaining a print server product. You don't often get to pick what you work on. Anyway, good luck.