Finish second BS degree or just let it go?

[FlyJ]

In 2015, I started working through a Computer Science degree with vague ideas of branching off to something software/tech related in my current industry or finding a software engineering/dev job, which is something I've thought about for years, and wish I'd jumped on long ago. At this point, I think it might be better to just stay the course in my current career savings/earnings wise, and I'm terrified of ageism in software jobs. I can always scratch the programming itch on the side. What's kind of unfortunate about the degree is that it's taken me away from learning the things I want to learn and, instead, had me jumping around to different topics and technologies for the past three years. I probably could have monetized something in web or mobile by now if I'd just focused on self-study. Still, the idea of the CS degree and "belonging" to this group always appealed to me. I also really value education and partly considered this pursuit a 'hobby'.

With four classes remaining, ~$19k spent and ~$8k more to go, I'm wallowing. I used some loans to pay for this, so have about $8k in loans. The rest (and remaining classes) are out of pocket, but I'm now very hesitant to let that money go. The quality of the classes is low and, with limited time, I want to focus on practical things like making an app, not algorithms or stupid group work. One hears a lot about the value of a CS degree but, in my present job, it doesn't have any utility and I'm probably not going to change jobs. Is it worth it to spend the remaining $8k and associated massive amount of personal time? Is the $19k just a sunk cost or should I go for the credential? Money aside, I've spent so much of my life on this for the past few years, just letting it go is also tough to handle.

[jinga nation]

What's your first degree in? What industry are you in presently?

$8k is not much to take in loans to complete 4 classes, assuming you can pay it back in a short timespan.

CS is still in demand, a lot of companies will not let you progress from programmer into technical management without a degree from an accredited university. It doesn't matter how many certifications you've got. Will you existing employer pay you to complete? There are plenty of places where age doesn't matter, a degree with experience is a very powerful combination. You're looking in the wrong places probably.

Maybe your present job doesn't care. Look at the opportunities and doors it opens. Many companies will just reject you without the degree even if you're technically good. You've spent so much time on this, don't give up, the finish line is so close. Quit and you'll end up regretting it for a long time, it will eat you from the inside.

Do you live in the US? Citizen? Security Clearance? You will never be out of a job as a contractor, always getting offers, getting paid training. That degree will go a long way.

[FlyJ]

What's your first degree in? What industry are you in presently?

$8k is not much to take in loans to complete 4 classes, assuming you can pay it back in a short timespan.

CS is still in demand, a lot of companies will not let you progress from programmer into technical management without a degree from an accredited university. It doesn't matter how many certifications you've got. Will you existing employer pay you to complete? There are plenty of places where age doesn't matter, a degree with experience is a very powerful combination. You're looking in the wrong places probably.

Maybe your present job doesn't care. Look at the opportunities and doors it opens. Many companies will just reject you without the degree even if you're technically good. You've spent so much time on this, don't give up, the finish line is so close. Quit and you'll end up regretting it for a long time, it will eat you from the inside.

Do you live in the US? Citizen? Security Clearance? You will never be out of a job as a contractor, always getting offers, getting paid training. That degree will go a long way.

Actually, I'm an airline pilot, so this degree has no bearing on my current career prospects at all. I'm a commoditized, skilled laborer. Only if I decide to make a change would the degree have value, and that's something I'm still undecided on. I've identified a couple of companies where the career capital I've built up in various aviation roles would have value in software/technology jobs positions. To go that route, finishing the degree as quickly as possible would be helpful as they all require the CS degree. If I wanted to do something on the side, though, the degree is just an expense that gets in the way of, say, becoming a proficient mobile developer. In regard to the loans: What I meant is that I have $8k in loans already. The remaining four classes would be out-of-pocket and do some damage to my somewhat meager savings but, yes, you're correct that it's an amount I could make up relatively quickly with some short-term lifestyle changes.

Yep, in the US, no security clearance but there are many contractor jobs out there that would allow me to get one. Unfortunately for pilots that means living on a military base in the middle east in four to six month rotations. My first degree is in an aviation science degree (useless) and actually also German (double useless), which means this is a third BS degree. No employer assistance offered.

[inline five]

I would finish it. You never know where you will end up with it. Personally. Not a lot of aviation specific knowledge on the programming side. Might be a niche market.

Who do you work for? I'm at AA just coming up on four years.

[FlyJ]

I would finish it. You never know where you will end up with it. Personally.

Who do you work for? I'm at AA just coming up on four years. AWAC previously.

Yeah, many working years left, and it definitely has the potential to help.

A little over four years at Mesa. Had a Delta interview but unfortunately not hired. Part of my career anxiety probably stems from the fear of never getting a mainline job. If it doesn't happen, I don't want to be totally locked in to flying.

[inline five]

I would finish it. You never know where you will end up with it. Personally.

Who do you work for? I'm at AA just coming up on four years.

Yeah, many working years left, and it definitely has the potential to help.

A little over four years at Mesa. Had a Delta interview but unfortunately not hired. Part of my career anxiety probably stems from the fear of never getting a mainline job. If it doesn't happen, I don't want to be totally locked in to flying.

Even Spirit would be a step up, their pay will come up shortly. Sorry to hear about Delta. JetBlue called me too; nice company with diverse domiciles. Pay is decent. SWA is hiring a ton of RJ guys.

If you've only been at Mesa four years you are still young. There is plenty of time.  In reality this hiring wave should continue now for 10 years hopefully. Even with bad economic conditions. There are just so many retirements.

[soccerluvof4]

I agree with go for it and finish it. Hiring cycle is going to be strong for awhile and you should be able to offset any debt you take on in short order if you wish

[GillyMack]

I once got half way through a masters in Comp Sci.  I had a different science B.S. but was working in programming already.  My employer was reimbursing costs and I slogged away one course per semester at night.  Though I enjoyed the actual classes, it was really tough to come home on other nights and do the homework.  So I understand you being tired of it.  Then my life got way more complicated and when that semester was done, I didn't continue. 

Fast forward 10 years or so.  Life was under control and I was working at a different place that would pay tuition.  So I started checking into finishing my masters at a different university.  The university would be glad to take me into their program, but since 7 years had passed, not only would I have to start completely over with coursework, but I would have to retake the GRE.  I got a booklet and saw the questions with scary little triangles and formulas that I hadn't used in years.  In high school, I was a whiz, but it didn't seem like fun at all to have to refresh all that.  So I procrastinated and eventually decided not to bother.

Realistically, I did fine without the masters, but I always regretted not finishing the degree.

So I guess my point is, that if you think that you might want the BS in Comp Sci anytime in the future, go ahead and finish it now.  You're over half done.  If you stop in the middle, after the standard 7 year interval the incomplete work will go poof and all your hard slogging work will be worth nothing.

[FlyJ]

I once got half way through a masters in Comp Sci.  I had a different science B.S. but was working in programming already.  My employer was reimbursing costs and I slogged away one course per semester at night.  Though I enjoyed the actual classes, it was really tough to come home on other nights and do the homework.  So I understand you being tired of it.  Then my life got way more complicated and when that semester was done, I didn't continue. 

Fast forward 10 years or so.  Life was under control and I was working at a different place that would pay tuition.  So I started checking into finishing my masters at a different university.  The university would be glad to take me into their program, but since 7 years had passed, not only would I have to start completely over with coursework, but I would have to retake the GRE.  I got a booklet and saw the questions with scary little triangles and formulas that I hadn't used in years.  In high school, I was a whiz, but it didn't seem like fun at all to have to refresh all that.  So I procrastinated and eventually decided not to bother.

Realistically, I did fine without the masters, but I always regretted not finishing the degree.

So I guess my point is, that if you think that you might want the BS in Comp Sci anytime in the future, go ahead and finish it now.  You're over half done.  If you stop in the middle, after the standard 7 year interval the incomplete work will go poof and all your hard slogging work will be worth nothing.

Thanks. Yeah, I’m sure I’d be glad to have completed it down the road. With limited resources and while working a lot, this program has left me with little time or money. Getting antsy to “just live”, but at this point there’s no rush to finish, so one class at a time over four more classes is probably something I can handle both financially and time-wise.

[EricEng]

CS degree opens tons of doors, even if you decide you don't want to code all day.  That's the route I took, so speaking from experience.  You can branch from a CS degree to most any technical career as long as you are willing to and capable of getting up to speed quick.  The degree is a common prerequisite to get anything beyond basic tech or IT person and will easily double your starting pay compared to those.

I also like how it changes your way of thinking.  You gain an understanding on how many modern systems function on a design scale and can deduce software from hardware problems better.

Side note, bit surprised 4 classes will cost $8k!  That's barely a full semester and runs over half my entire degree cost (state school).

[Miss Piggy]

CS degree opens tons of doors, even if you decide you don't want to code all day.  That's the route I took, so speaking from experience.  You can branch from a CS degree to most any technical career as long as you are willing to and capable of getting up to speed quick.  The degree is a common prerequisite to get anything beyond basic tech or IT person and will easily double your starting pay compared to those.

I also like how it changes your way of thinking.  You gain an understanding on how many modern systems function on a design scale and can deduce software from hardware problems better.

Side note, bit surprised 4 classes will cost $8k!  That's barely a full semester and runs over half my entire degree cost (state school).

The costs you cited surprised me as well. why so high?

[FlyJ]

CS degree opens tons of doors, even if you decide you don't want to code all day.  That's the route I took, so speaking from experience.  You can branch from a CS degree to most any technical career as long as you are willing to and capable of getting up to speed quick.  The degree is a common prerequisite to get anything beyond basic tech or IT person and will easily double your starting pay compared to those.

I also like how it changes your way of thinking.  You gain an understanding on how many modern systems function on a design scale and can deduce software from hardware problems better.

Side note, bit surprised 4 classes will cost $8k!  That's barely a full semester and runs over half my entire degree cost (state school).

The costs you cited surprised me as well. why so high?

Actually about $7,500. It's an online program. My work schedule doesn't allow in-person study, so this was my only option. $470 per credit hour with 16 more credits to go.

[FlyJ]

CS degree opens tons of doors, even if you decide you don't want to code all day.  That's the route I took, so speaking from experience.  You can branch from a CS degree to most any technical career as long as you are willing to and capable of getting up to speed quick.  The degree is a common prerequisite to get anything beyond basic tech or IT person and will easily double your starting pay compared to those.

I also like how it changes your way of thinking.  You gain an understanding on how many modern systems function on a design scale and can deduce software from hardware problems better.

Side note, bit surprised 4 classes will cost $8k!  That's barely a full semester and runs over half my entire degree cost (state school).

Yeah, I've certainly gained a much better understanding of many business practices/processes through this degree. Also now have some insights that might be applied to my current industry that I've considered pursuing. Another problem is just sticking to one path/technology and going for it. I feel pulled in every direction with all the cool stuff out there.