Online CS degree? Self taught(no degree)? Need advice

Question

Please only answer after reading full post. All advice welcomed!

Some background about me:

I am 22 yrs old and married with a job in health insurance that I hate and doesn’t pay the bills. I am currently finishing my online associates degree this semester and have fallen in love with software engineering. Have been teaching myself since the beginning of this year and have the basics of CSS & HTML, JS and React. I have since gotten a job as a frontend developer at a tiny 3 person start up and it’s just on a per need basis. I am struggling to choose a path after i finish my AA this semester.

Choices I see:

1. Switch to a school that has an online CS degree; try to get internships during the summer while door dashing and getting projects from my current developer role(could turn into a full time job in the upcoming months).

2. Finish my AA and door dash plus do my current developer role that could turn into a full time but continue applying for full time positions in the mean time.

3. Get an online Digital Media and Design: Front End Development BS degree my current school offers while doing doordash and getting projects from my current developer role that could turn to full time.

LCMaster666 · Accepted Answer

I wouldn't make a choice based on the title BS vs no-BS. I would choose what makes you learn more, if know that for the next 3-4 years on your own you can learn more than a BS can teach you, I would go with that but it depends on your ability to teach your self.

You have to find a way to show future employers your talent because a lot of them could dismiss you for not having a BS degree, so you have to make sure to stand out from the rest of you don't have the "average" education.

A lot of people get great jobs in tech without a BS and a lot don't, it's all on your ability to learn and market yourself

tcw9 · Answer

Since you’re early in your career, I would recommend working toward completing a BS with some CS/Frontend/SE experience implied by the degree. The reason for this is that it will open many doors in the future for you when searching for employment. This is the sole reason. I would say that much of the things that are learned in a BS computer science or development program can certainly be learned asynchronously, and without academic guidance; however, without the BS you now have to work extra hard to prove that you have put in the work, and you have to learn what you need to learn. There’s many more fields than just web development, and i bet you’d be interested in another field if you tried it out. You can complete the BS at any pace you want; halftime if you still need to work. That way you have a degree at the end of X amount years to show for it. I’m sure you’ll be thinking of applying to some companies in the future that may only want to interview candidates with degrees. I know for a fact that, at least for entry level positions, corps prefer candidates with degrees. it’s just how it is. tldr: work toward a BS degree with a web development or ideally CS/SE focus. it will be very beneficial in the long run.

Online CS degree? Self taught(no degree)? Need advice

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