Ask HN: In my mid 20's and considering graduate school, seeking advice/insight

I'm considering a MS in Computer Science.

I am 26, graduated a few years ago from a good uni in the US with a BS in Economics. I currently work as a Business Analyst in a "traditional" company. I feel like Peter Gibbons in Office Space.

Really though, I am curious if others here, in their mid 20s, decided that what they were doing was not fulfilling and pivoted their career...how they did it, schooling, etc.

I have the math aptitude to go back to school and the course descriptions regarding intelligent systems and robotics really interests me. I'd like to apply myself with technology and be a part of building something.

I'm out in Boulder, CO

Thanks for reading!

Cheers!

1 comment

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babyslothzoo 7y ago ↗

My opinion is that justifying postgrad is hard, unless it's something you have strong passion for that also requires the degree program to achieve (ie; teaching, medicine, law). A few exceptions being if an employer is paying the entire cost, or if it's a top school where the networking value is extremely high.

> I'd like to apply myself with technology and be a part of building something.

Why can't you do that now? Why is grad school a necessary step for this? Can you learn the skills yourself, build something yourself, start a business, or work at a tech startup? What's your goal?

If your goal is to immerse yourself in tech and be a part of building something, what if you spent the equivalent time (18-24 months) in SF/bay area working at tech startups instead of going through a masters program?