#MSdegree #CareerGrowth #HigherEducation #DataScience #MachineLearning #CareerDecisions
π Is an MS worth it? π
Are you at a crossroads in your career, wondering whether pursuing a Master’s degree is truly worth it? π€ The opportunity to further your education can be both exciting and daunting, especially when considering the impact it may have on your future prospects. If you’re unsure about making the leap, you’re not alone. Many individuals grapple with the decision of whether investing in higher education will truly pay off in the long run.
Benefits of Pursuing an MS:
β¨ Increased Career Opportunities: A Master’s degree can open doors to new career opportunities that may not have been accessible with just a Bachelor’s degree. Employers often value advanced degrees when hiring for specialized roles in fields such as data science and machine learning.
β¨ Enhanced Skills and Knowledge: Pursuing an MS can deepen your expertise in a specific area of study, equipping you with advanced skills and knowledge that can set you apart in the job market.
β¨ Higher Earning Potential: In many cases, holding a Master’s degree can lead to higher salaries and greater earning potential over the course of your career. Employers may be more willing to offer competitive compensation packages to candidates with advanced degrees.
Real-Life Experiences:
π”After completing my Master’s degree in data science, I noticed a significant increase in the number of interview invitations I received. Employers were impressed by my advanced skills and knowledge, leading to more career opportunities.” – Sarah, Data Scientist
π”Having a Master’s degree in machine learning not only helped me excel in my day-to-day job but also positioned me for promotions and salary advancements. The investment in higher education was definitely worth it for my career.” – John, AI Engineer
In conclusion, while pursuing an MS requires time, effort, and financial investment, the potential benefits can be well worth it in the long run. If you have a passion for data science or machine learning and aspire to advance your career in these fields, obtaining a Master’s degree could be a game-changer. Ultimately, the decision to pursue higher education should align with your career goals and aspirations. So, is an MS worth it? The answer may lie in the opportunities it could unlock for you. π
Remember, the path to success is paved with continuous learning and growth. #DreamBig #CareerGoals #EducationIsKey
>did it land you more interviews?
Yes, but the caveat was that my Masters was from a top ranked institution. I think the school weight was what really mattered. A master’s from a lower reputation school is largely a time and money sink.
>Did it help in your day to day job?
For me yes, but I work in a company large enough to have fairly specialized teams and was able to work with a recruiter to find a team largely aligned with my Master’s thesis. For the majority of candidates, I would say no unless they are dedicated MLEs
Disclaimer: Not a MS holder, these are just my $0.02
Worth it if:
* Youβre okay staying with the same company for up to a year after earning your MS. Most that offer tuition assistance have a caveat: Pay them back if you leave within a year of graduating. -> Opportunity Cost is in the form of the missed earnings potential from jumping ship
* Youβre okay with the time commitment classes demand of you.
* Arenβt already in a career track that is/leads to DS/ML.
* Just want to learn more.
You might get more DS/ML interviews, but most require 3-5 YOE with a MS, 1-3 YOE with a Ph.D, or some other significant related experience with/out advanced degrees.
So you might not grab that much more traction unless youβre actively looking to do lateral moves within your current company to teams that are more DS/ML centered. You can still be whatever it is you are now (swe?), but make sure you get in a team/projects that can get your hands dirty with DS/ML. At this point, youβd likely find success by virtue of experience, but if youβd already have started the MS, might as well finish it.
Iβm planning on earning a MS CS with a grad cert of Data Science. Iβm coming in as a SWE, but Iβll be looking to slowly transition into Data Engineering/Big Data to get my hands dirty to have experience by the time I earn the MS.
It was worth it for me to steal jobs from Americans
Do something for the future that is really hard, like machine learing. Anything less is not worth anything.
In my case, my employer paid like 90% of the cost. And it wasnβt βworthβ it.
Which means it hasnβt changed a single thing for me.
Ms For ML this question keeps getting asked a lot
Free shit is always awesome btw
I have an MS and apart from it being from a far better school than my undergrad, it wasn’t helpful per se. However, I wouldn’t pass up a free MS degree in ML. It will open doors to ML jobs which actually require at least an MS by and large.
Company pays for it: worth it IF you can obtain a raise. That is rarely the case.
Work visa requirements: worth it
Requirements for AI/higher education: worth it
Use for switching careers (MBA/PM): worth it
In any other case, where there’s going to be no expected ROI, it’s better to just use the time to self study and improve career performance. Most of the time, CS careers don’t fall into those situations where a master’s degree makes sense. But the situations do exist.
never did a masters but if you do a masters at a good uni its a fantastic way to network.
a lot of the start-ups I’ve worked for, a lot of the founding engineers met whilst doing their master’s degrees. furthermore, a lot of snobby places are quite keen on them, they are pretty good ways of indicating your in the “ingroup” of middle-upper class “intelligentsia” .
You should if your employer pays for it.
Academy learning help your abstract thinking and you get make new friends
An MS in ML might take you a long way. Personally getting mine in EE from a way better school than where I got my CS degree and found it to be worth it so far. Company pays for it too
After 15+ YoE.
> For those of you who have a masters degree, did it land you more interviews?
Yes. BS in CS, then MS in robotics. Wanted to do a different field. Learned a lot about math and physics.
My first job was literally a name drop of my co-advisor professor (aka networking).
After that it was mostly my experience that got me an interview. (resume garners interest)
> Did it help in your day to day job?
Yes robotics + software. All of my jobs have been related to the work I did in MS.
For my software engineering coworkers, some have an MS, the rest have a BS in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering.
> Did it help you get higher salaries?
Unlikely. When I first entered the industry, after a year or two I should have job hopped to raise my salary. My location is silicon valley and it was heating up after the 07-08 crash.
Iβd definitely take it as long as there arenβt too many strings attached. A masters will help a lot long-term.
If you have the time and are built for that kind of load. If you’re early in your career then sure but if you already have 7+ years there’s really not much a MS will do that a 7 year career hasn’t already done.
OMSCS at GaTech is like 10k. I think its worth it if you’re interested in learning even if your employer doesnt pay for it
I got mine for virtually free (zero debt and in comparison to the total cost) because my employer paid for one class a year and I got a merit scholarship that paid all or most of the test. Got a $80,000+ MS for probably $6,000 out of pocket on my part?
The network provided by the school (USC) helped me get a 28% salary jump over two years due to a job I was made hip to by a friend from SC AND massively better TC through benefits and equity.
… ultimately worth it for me. But your mileage may vary.
If you really want to learn the material then it is worth it, if all you want is the certificate then it is not worth it.
No not worth it
For me it was def worth it. But my BS was not in CS. Masters was in CS. So I think that helped get a lot of job interviews. I also feel like I learned of bunch of different stuff in my masters.
If I already had my BS in CS, I don’t think I would get a masters in CS. I would, however, go get a masters in data science on top of a BS in CS. Although tangentially related, you will probably learn a lot more stuff in an MS in DS. Plus DS jobs sometimes need a masters at a minimum.
Not worth it
I graduate with my CSMS next month, and I really canβt overstate how valuable it was for me. Iβm probably an outlier in terms of value, but the research opportunities I had have set me up with a career and job that Iβm thrilled to start, and the classes were just so much more impactful than my undergrad CS coursework. If your company is providing it for free Iβd say go for it and make the most of the opportunity.
Whether or not it’s worth it is entirely dependent on what you want out of your career.
* There are some jobs that require an MS or PhD or some other specialty, so if you want one of those then there you go.
* There are other roles where an MS won’t change your day-to-day job but it might be the deciding factor in who gets hired or laid off or promoted and how much you get paid.
* And there are other jobs where an MS will have no effect whatsoever.
Me, I’m in an industry where MS is the minimum and PhD is preferred and I can definitely see that I, having only an MS, am kinda stuck in the lower class of the company. But I’m fine with that.
There are definitely downsides to consider, however. Working full time while also pursuing a masters part time can be absolutely exhausting and it can take a really long time. My brother is currently finishing year 4 of a 5-year part-time MS. He is absolutely exhausted and considering taking a semester off for mental health. It can be very, very difficult.