[sf-perl] McS worth it?

[David Scott]

Daniel,

I've got more degrees (4) than anyone I know.  It is true that too many 
is a Bad Thing on the job market.  But degrees can be a Good Thing if:

- you can afford the time to get one and
- you are really interested in what you are doing.

There is NOTHING WORSE than getting a degree because you think that it 
will improve your job prospects.  You are much better off just reading 
and coding on your own.  If you hate your job, quit.  Do a few 
contracts.  Work on some open source projects.  Get out and meet 
people.  Be yourself and follow your interests and instincts.  You'll 
learn much, much more and be far better off in the long run.

And you might want to find out a little more about the coolness that is 
Javascript.

d

Daniel Lo wrote:
> Hello Jennifer,
>
> My goals?  Hard to say, the top goal right now is finding the right "woman"
> before I'm over the hill, kids and the rest of that.
>
> However, in terms of the McS?  I want to get experience working on the really
> big stuff.  The next Internet stuff, grid computing, parallel programming, cloud
> programming (mileage may vary on defining that...), and writing better code.  I
> did some volunteer programming for the KindaPerl6 project and the complexity of
> the project made me realize that the mundane stuff I do at work, just isn't
> going to make me a "great" programmer.  Database, Web, Ajax, Javascript (the
> horror), Perl, Php, etc...  I might learn better ways to program, but I am not
> learning the new stuff.
>
> My situation is that 8 hours a day, I'm "managing" stuff, fixing bugs, moving
> stuff in and out of the database.  I'm doing more of the same.  I need to get
> out there and learn and have fun.  If a McS helps my bottom line salary, then
> cool. (On the converse side, I've heard of programmers NOT being hired because
> they were considered over qualified.)
>
> I do not have the time to peruse a MSCS, however a McS can be perused in my
> spare time though an on-line course.  I think such a course may be fun, but
> also, (respectful of Moyer's opinion) a lot can be learned from just sitting
> down, picking up a book and reading it!
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
> Daniel Lo
>
>
> Monday, July 21, 2008, 7:38:01 PM, you wrote:
>
>   
>> Hey Daniel,
>>     
>
>   
>> What are you trying to achieve?  You don't really say and depending on 
>> your goals, your mileage will vary with regards to education.
>>     
>
>   
>> Jennifer
>>     
>
>
>   
>> On Mon, 21 Jul 2008, Daniel Lo wrote:
>>     
>
>   
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I am considering getting my McS (Masters of Computer Science) and I have 2 questions.
>>>
>>> For a bit of background,
>>>
>>> A MSCS Masters of Science in Computer Science is a research degree. You must do
>>> a thesis (or a project?).
>>>
>>> A McS A Masters in Computer Science is a degree that you get just by completing
>>> course work.  No exam, no thesis.
>>>
>>> So, I am considering working on getting a McS, because there is no way I can
>>> complete a MSCS and work.  Therefore,
>>>
>>> 1. Does getting a McS help your career and fun?
>>>
>>> 2. Can you learn 85-95% from a book instead of going to a class (online or
>>> other)?  For my B.S. many of the teachers relied heavenly on the books.
>>>
>>>
>>> TIA,
>>>
>>>
>>> -daniel
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> SanFrancisco-pm mailing list
>>> SanFrancisco-pm at pm.org
>>> http://mail.pm.org/mailman/listinfo/sanfrancisco-pm
>>>
>>>       
>> _______________________________________________
>> SanFrancisco-pm mailing list
>> SanFrancisco-pm at pm.org
>> http://mail.pm.org/mailman/listinfo/sanfrancisco-pm
>>     
>
>
>
>