DD is beginning her junior year in the Fall. She is ahead in credits (28), and has discovered that she can submatriculate into the MS in CS and complete it with only one additional semester after her 4 years. Is that worthwhile? Her BS is also in Comp Sci with a math minor (finished)and probably a stat minor (1/2 done).
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
If it’s only one extra semester, I would do it.
Agreed, that’s great value for just one semester of additional work. While it is possible to succeed in the tech industry without any degree at all, degrees do help. And now that the BS in CSci has become quite commonplace, the MS is increasingly valuable. Her starting salary may not be very much higher than what she would get with the BS - the industry is still fundamentally meritocratic, and on-the-job experience matters - but over time it should pay significant dividends for her.
The stats minor is a smart move, too. Analytics is a major trend in new job creation right now.
I’d do it. I have been job searching entry-level computer science jobs for the passed few months (up until this month where I accepted an offer). I saw job postings that were worded “EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: masters degree in computer science or bachelors of computer science with two years of work experience.” Most computer science job postings that I saw that mentioned a masters degree essentially viewed it as the equivalent of two years of work experience. I also saw job postings saying that they were looking for masters degree + 4 years of work experience or bachelors degree + 6 years of work experience etc (just to let you know I saw this pattern for more experienced candidates too).
A master’s degree seems to be viewed like having an extra year or two of experience in the job market. If it can be done in one extra semester that is not unreasonably expensive, that can be a good option.
I think some government jobs pay extra for a Master’s degree. As for the private sector, it depends on how much the extra semester’s worth of courses helps her at job interviews and programming tests.
But beware that hiring opportunities for mid-year graduates may not be the same as hiring opportunities for year-end graduates in the sectors of her interest. Both supply and demand are diminished, and the net effect could be either way.
“Depends on how much the extra semester’s worth of courses helps her at job interviews and programming tests.”
She has been doing well on technical interviews, so I don’t think it will have an impact. I just think she will learn more information and get additional practice. The Masters is 10 classes, and she thinks she can fold all but 2 into her BS. She also thinks she could finish the MS concurrently, if she didn’t finish the STAT minor.
Thanks to everyone for the input. It sounds like it is worth it, for one semester. It does not seem like there is much downside risk really.