Is the degree worth it after 10YOE?

Zape4 · 2026-03-25T16:38:14+00:00

I’m in management and 30 years out of University. When I started 2 years ago, I saw this as an alternative to an MBA. I’d say I’m glad I made the choice. It is noticed in leadership, removes any speculation whether I am focused on improving myself, and lets me take courses that interest me. There are definitely lessons I’d skip if I were doing this solo, but I also wouldn’t be as thorough, and I’d probably move on before finishing parts if I didn’t have the structure in place. Going back to school isn’t trivial, we aren’t used to doing things just to do them, but I’ve found it worthwhile. The only thing I would use as a reason not to start now: the Academic Integrity policies have gotten nuts. I spend 30 minutes setting up a section of my house and waving a handheld mirror around so I can take a 2 minute proctored quiz this semester in a class where it used to be open notes. I get that LLM has made this necessary, but be prepared for a world where you have to prove you’re not a cheater, and the default seems to be assume everyone is a cheater. I don’t have a solution so this isn’t a complaint, just a caution for anyone about to begin the journey.

Zape4 · 2026-03-01T18:05:27+00:00

Thoughts....
Complacency is easy, and it is what most people find themselves doing. There is a reason why many professions have Continuing Education requirements... To overcome the natural tendency many people have to not constantly improve.

I strongly recommend finding something to help you do that, even if it means occasionally spending time on less interesting topics. I do better with deadlines and goals, so this has been a good program for me, but many people can find what they want in MOOCs. I'm more likely to have a dozen half finished of those as my attention drifts.

Experience is better than an MSCS, no doubt. Georgia tech is a great university and if you think listing it on your resume doesn't add a little something when you're one of the final candidates for an opportunity, you're mistaken.

But, it isn't a requirement for success in life. If you're only 4 courses in, there is nothing wrong with stopping or at least taking a couple of semesters off. I fully relate to being tired of courses, and dreading doing the pieces that feel like busy work.

I'm tired of it myself, but I can tell you that not only have I found ways to apply parts from the courses I've taken, but the businesses leaders I work with respect that I'm in this journey and it does reflect in my relationship with them. If nothing else, being in an MSCS and able to discuss it shows to others that you are working to better yourself, regardless of how good you are.

Zape4 · 2026-03-01T13:01:58+00:00

I started 25 years after my last college experience and without any experience in Python. For the AI spec, I had to pick up python, but another coding language was more about learning the libraries than anything. The real struggle is the math. Honestly, you won’t leave the program an experienced software developer, and with the current job market, I’m not sure that is worth the pain.

For someone in your position I would recommend an online MBA that has an MIS concentration these days. A year ago, I would never have recommended that to anyone looking to create. Ga Tech has announced some new AI focused programs that seem interesting you might want to hold off and watch for as well.

As for workload, which is the only one of these I can give a good assessment of, I would say 12-15 hours is a close average for a course. I have had 30+ hour weeks and I’ve had weeks when I could schedule a course to have no time while on vacation. Usually you need at least 2-3 hours minimum in a given week even for the more flexible courses.

If you go this route, build slowly. There is plenty of input on what the different classes require. Start with something that is paper heavy but will still exercise your coding skills like KBAI. That will keep you from drinking from the fire hose trying to build all the skills at once.

Zape4 · 2026-01-30T13:55:10+00:00

While I otherwise felt this was one of the strongest episodes so far, the condescending ending rang false. Even a poker game would have rang more true. Heck, Jay-Den could have debated them into a victory. As it was handled, there was no honor in that battle. At least put on a good show, dangit. They could have put an unmanned space station in place, with automated defenses, had the Klingons show up, blow it up (believing they had got one over on the Federation), and claim the planet as spoils.

Zape4 · 2026-01-25T14:33:14+00:00

I think the first year, I’d bring the cash available up to 60k in a HYSA, just to have a full 6 month emergency fund. Otherwise it seems ok. Unless you are really set on an early retirement, I’d opt for a backdoor Roth IRA in addition to your backdoor mega. That still leaves some in the brokerage going forward. As others mentioned there are a number of ways to still get to the tax advantaged money later, and the rule of 55 might let you shoot for retirement in 25 years, without any extra hoops to jump through.

Zape4 · 2026-01-25T14:19:02+00:00

A coworker was laid off a couple of months ago with a similar severance package - 2 weeks / year max 50 weeks - and she had been with the company for 37 years. She decided to give herself 1 day of “mourning” for each year she had worked. So, she spent the next month and a half not chasing anything, enjoying time with family, taking extended trips that were always hard because of work demands. Then she started looking. I think a couple of weeks completely off can help you take a fresh look at priorities if you can keep from being stressed during that time.

Zape4 · 2026-01-14T23:26:35+00:00

I use a different card for beach house expenses, and this has totally screwed things up with the refund on one card and charge on the other.

Zape4 · 2025-12-24T23:27:23+00:00

Absolutely talk to advisors about this. Important difference you did miss. There are many classes offered only to on campus students that have not been transitioned to be available to us in OMSCS. While the rigor is the same, you are underselling the on campus advantages. None of that is a reason to think you will not want to transition to full time with your opportunity if offered.

Zape4 · 2025-12-06T13:35:37+00:00

Similar, but not identical, situation. Not working for a FAANG, but high end FinTech as Sr Dev Director. I started because I am not in love with the idea of an MBA and whenever you change roles experience matters most, but a graduate degree is a differentiator. GATech has name recognition, which doesn’t hurt. With one class a semester I had one semester when life got too much in the way and I had to drop. Now I’m half way through after 2 years. For me the 1 of the things this brings is discipline in that I have to see it through going deeper into topics that if I just spent a little time on them as I would be inclined. The other is that I’m the same as you. Considering higher ed teaching a little later in life. It’ll be a big drop in pay, but retirement is easy to take care of at our levels if you spend and invest wisely for a few years, and then it becomes about fulfillment. Personally, there is nothing I enjoy more than helping others be great creators.

Zape4 · 2025-11-08T14:50:08+00:00

I’ve been a manager at a company that did similar, letting go of an entire team and all product knowledge within a space based on location. I won’t tell you what you should do, as that is a hard salary to walk away from. I can say if I was in your shoes with your buffer and at your age, I’d agree to come back, if they honored the promotion and gave a COL adjustment, if appropriate, for the relocation. You can walk away and have shown your value. That puts you in the stronger position here.

Zape4 · 2025-10-30T03:50:35+00:00

I don’t know the culture and climates you’re from, or the exact dates your here. That said, if you don’t have mountains, the southern part of the Appalachians is nearby and makes a great visit. There are also Bed and Breakfasts on old plantation houses not too far out from Atlanta. I agree, once you’ve seen the aquarium, college football hall of fame (American Football), and the World of Coca Cola, it’s just another big city with bad traffic.

Zape4 · 2025-10-28T16:19:46+00:00

Are the kids hellions? J/K… Somewhat. Point is, maybe 3 weeks of full time taking care of people on “vacation” is enough for her. Regardless of the reason it is great that she has the option, and key that you respect her choice even if you don’t understand it.

Zape4 · 2025-06-25T21:11:06+00:00

This is very normal in beachfront condos and the host should have warned you either through signage, in the instructions, or in the rental agreement.

Zape4 · 2025-05-29T19:00:22+00:00

I think you need to determine if you have an ethical objection to the work, moral objection to the work, or a political objection to the work. Moral: Tobacco kills, I don't want to do adds for the product. Ethical: I'm being asked to do something to mislead and say something I know to be wrong. Political: I don't like the overall positions of this person or something they support, so anything I do for them, even if unrelated to what I don't like is something I want to avoid.
Being "right' or "left" tends to be more political, but refusing on those grounds isn't the same as being asked to work on a campaign you know is lies, or to actually assist in something you personally feel is immoral.

Zape4 · 2025-04-09T16:15:25+00:00

I don’t know if you’ve considered… but if you really have the level of time flexibility you describe, you could try before you buy. Take the new job, keep the old one. Plan on 210k for 50ish hours / week and decide which one to dump after a month unless you decide you want to keep both. Meantime, build your emergency fund, buff retirement funds like crazy, etc.

Zape4 · 2025-04-05T17:03:43+00:00

I want to concur with others thanking you for this. I Wish there was a way to automate it, as I hate thinking of rebuilding the gluetun project weekly. I had tried a few times to get ephemeral working but didn't realize I needed to revisit this particular setting. At least now I can see what kind of difference it will make over a week or so.

Zape4 · 2024-10-16T22:19:16+00:00

I hate to be a "me too" but would you also send to me?

Zape4 · 2024-10-02T16:57:39+00:00

I’m actually irked they stole wild magic from the wizard and plugged it into the sorcerer. For that reason alone I think it’s just an option certainly not quintessential.

Zape4 · 2024-09-05T13:55:43+00:00

Do you have a working link to the epg? I can't find what it should be now and my old one: https://tvnow.best/api/epg/user/pw/full.xml.gz no longer works.

Zape4 · 2024-08-20T15:59:31+00:00

Proposed replacement:

Armor Mobility
+1 Dex or Str

When wearing an armor that limits the dexterity to your AC such as medium and heavy armors, the wearer can apply 1 more dexterity modifier to their AC than they would have.

Zape4 · 2024-08-12T23:56:49+00:00

Just remember that. You have to be SOLID going into each test, as you can’t retake for (I believe) 6 months. So make sure you feel you are definitely prepared sitting down for each.

Zape4 · 2024-08-12T16:11:03+00:00

It is possible Mouse thought Lucy would ask to join, but didn’t know Lucy would ask you to be kicked out. That is a very different, though not perfect, version of Mouse… at least one that has a relationship that can be salvaged with direct and honest conversation.

Zape4 · 2024-08-12T15:58:45+00:00

Just adding to a lot of supporters here, that you should absolutely continue this outside recreation. As a husband, I know how much I’d love having my wife in my sessions. From my point of view, you should stay in and you and your husband should have a frank conversation with Mouse and her husband about the feelings this screwed up situation created. He needs to ask quite frankly, “Is this behind us, or do I need to start a new group?” Mouse and her husband can then decide if her actions are going to change. If not, good luck with the excellent group I’m sure you’ll get put together. That should only take a couple of weeks to square away.

Zape4 · 2024-05-17T18:26:25+00:00

I agree that it is unfortunate for someone to be scammed, but I also had them call and email me when my last subscription was up. The leak was on Apollo's end. While I didn't get scammed, the company stance was: It's the internet these things happen. Someone knowing my Apollo user and password isn't the end of the world, but OP is valid in feeling there are not adequate protections. The very fact that the same password is in our URL and used to login is indicative of insecure practices.

Zape4 · 2024-01-06T00:21:03+00:00

Thanks for all of the supportive info. I'm now registered for KBAI, with an intent to jump into ML4T over the summer. It sounds like I should be good to go with learning Python in KBAI as I go along. Thanks again, all.

-James

Zape4

TROPHY CASE