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I took a job as software engineer at a SF-based startup right out of highschool. 2 years in, I make some serious money and now that my "gap years" are over it's

I took a job as software engineer at a SF-based startup right out of highschool. 2 years in, I make some serious money and now that my "gap years" are over it's been interesting to look at what would happen if I continued working instead of returning to school. I have decided to return to school for the following reasons: * School will be more "fun" in a lot of ways than work. * I will meet many more people of the same age and interests at university than I would meet / have met in the "real world". * As much as work experience is looked for on a résumé, a diploma from a legitimate institution looks better and will help me find work. It's a tough decision – thinking about $60k/year tuition is like staring up at a figurative Mount Everest of impending debt.

ArkyBeagle 12y ago
Many credit hours can be gained at a community college at lower cost, then transferred. The "brand" of your degree will be with the final institution. You have to be very careful about credit hours transferring. This is probably not without risk but saving up to two years' debt @ $60k per year is pretty good motivation.
alistairSH 12y ago
So don't go to a school that charges $60k/year? It never ceases to amaze me that people think they need to attend expensive private schools, when there are plenty of top-notch publicly funded schools available.
- hga 12y ago
  Problem is, most of those are no longer "cheap"/inexpensive, and to get the lower rates you're limited to ones in your state. Just looking at the not so top notch University of Missouri in my home state, it'll cost a resident around $20K/year plus transportation expenses, around $35K for a non-resident, and in general STEM majors cost more due to laboratory fees. Also note that public schools make no guarantee that there will be space available in required classes for you to finish in 4 years, and often have quotas for majors, e.g. per https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7795041 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7795041 the University of Washington has 80 CS slots per year, with over 1,500 applicants and a 3.9 GPA required to even be considered. While I'm not saying they're necessarily worth it, private schools with rare exceptions guarantee you'll be able to finish in 4 years in the major of your choice.
  - mercer 12y ago
    Would going to a European university be an option? The experience of being in another culture itself could be immensely valuable.
malvosenior 12y ago
I had the same issue with "fun" and people my age. I moved to a more easy going city and got involved with a non-tech scene, but kept my lucrative biz/tech side going. You're incorrect about the legitimate institution looking better than experience though. No one cares what school you went to, it's all about what you've delivered in the industry. I've never seen anyone hired or promoted based on their schooling.

ArkyBeagle 12y ago

Many credit hours can be gained at a community college at lower cost, then transferred. The "brand" of your degree will be with the final institution. You have to be very careful about credit hours transferring. This is probably not without risk but saving up to two years' debt @ $60k per year is pretty good motivation.

alistairSH 12y ago

So don't go to a school that charges $60k/year? It never ceases to amaze me that people think they need to attend expensive private schools, when there are plenty of top-notch publicly funded schools available.

hga 12y ago
Problem is, most of those are no longer "cheap"/inexpensive, and to get the lower rates you're limited to ones in your state. Just looking at the not so top notch University of Missouri in my home state, it'll cost a resident around $20K/year plus transportation expenses, around $35K for a non-resident, and in general STEM majors cost more due to laboratory fees. Also note that public schools make no guarantee that there will be space available in required classes for you to finish in 4 years, and often have quotas for majors, e.g. per https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7795041 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7795041 the University of Washington has 80 CS slots per year, with over 1,500 applicants and a 3.9 GPA required to even be considered. While I'm not saying they're necessarily worth it, private schools with rare exceptions guarantee you'll be able to finish in 4 years in the major of your choice.
- mercer 12y ago
  Would going to a European university be an option? The experience of being in another culture itself could be immensely valuable.

malvosenior 12y ago

I had the same issue with "fun" and people my age. I moved to a more easy going city and got involved with a non-tech scene, but kept my lucrative biz/tech side going. You're incorrect about the legitimate institution looking better than experience though. No one cares what school you went to, it's all about what you've delivered in the industry. I've never seen anyone hired or promoted based on their schooling.