Master's

[cesiumboy]

I'm trying to figure out if I should go for my Master's degree in Computer Science. I don't really want the title, but I do want to take some of the advanced distributed-systems-and-databases classes, and do some research in that field

Comments

[beeblez]

Do the courses start in January or is it like many post-graduate degrees in that it only starts in September? If you have most of a year before that date I highly recommend it. Worst case scenario you can change your mind later if you decide in a different direction to channel your focus and energy outside of work. Life is long and for the living, so plan for what you think is the best way to live now, and if you have to change it later to do whats best then, you can

[cesiumboy]

Well, I missed the deadline for the courses that start in January. The next series starts in March, after spring break.

I'm already doing quite a bit of research for work. In some ways my job is exactly like research, except it involves applying theoretical work to a practical use and seeing what happens. It was interesting, seeing a lot of my nighttime reading show up on MIT's OpenCourseWare site for database & distributed systems classes.

Well, it's not exactly trade-oriented. The price is about 2/3 more than the normal graduate rate, but that's perhaps due to having to pay professors for late nights. There's also no option to pay for it by being a TA, but with my job reimbursing it that's not a huge concern.

I'm wondering whether I should put it off a year or two, not altogether. Chances are I'll have a bit more free time, and other parts of my life (like relationships) will be a little more settled then.

[beeblez]

Well, if you have a job that allows you to enjoy the fun of research and get paid for it then that's worth taking advantage of

[csext]

would your job get upset if you didn't end up finishing the degree, and just took the classes you want to take? that way you can learn the stuff, but not necessarily be in school for the whole time.