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Would a CS Degree Be Good for Someone Over 30?

Posted by Cliff on from the it's-never-too-late dept.

mbuckingham asks: "I'm 39 and have been programming for 20 years. By 'programming', I'm talking about the usual business applications type of stuff. Easy stuff really. I went to college for a while, but never got my degree. It bugs me that I've never completed my degree, but since I've always had decent jobs, it hasn't really mattered too much. I'm really bored with what I do every day, and I'm thinking about going back and getting the degree, because I think it will make it possible to move towards doing some more advanced, system-level type stuff. I know I don't want a MIS degree, because that would be rehashing everything I'm already bored with. Does this make sense? Would a CS degree or a Computer Engineering degree be better?"

1 of 166 comments (clear)

  1. I'm in a similar position to you. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And I went & did my CS degree.

    And it does lead to more interesting job offers.

    The trouble is, moving from doing business logic type boring stuff to interesting CS type stuff is that you have to take a $40k a year paycut. (and that's after you've had no income for the time it takes to complete your degree).

    Its worth thinking about how important money is for you. In the end, I have my CS degree (and I feel good about it, dont mistake me), but am doing the same work mostly.

    But I don't mind doing boring work for 6-9 months a year if I can take another 3 months to travel / do charity work / etc.