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I am tired of being poor, career is a dead end, I got no good school/company names on my resume, and am stuck in a "poor experience - poor job" circle of life. So I think I should probably pursue a CS degree from a reputed school to keep moving. But I am unable to gather the courage. Getting into a good school is hard, school itself is challenging, and I will have to incur debt. This means seeing my bank balance go back to three-digits, selling my car, moving cities, and delaying all other life plans. (I am emotionally connected to my money because I have really struggled hard and lowered my living quality to save $40k in several years). I am also scared of the possibility where I am struggling to find a job after school. Was anyone in a similar situation? How did you make the plunge?
No pain no gain. No risk no reward. Jesus if you’re young enough get your shit together and start kicking ass.
Sorry you’re having a tough time. I’ve seen friends in similar challenges. I’ll put something else on the table: there’s a lot more out there than just being a tech worker for a giant tech company. Several friends have moved to different fields and are having a much better time doing more meaningful and impactful work that matters more and with better job security. That’s also an option.
Can confirm. I left tech and its paycheck to work at a non profit. I can make the economics work and I'm working on something in super interested in. My advice to you: find your interests and passions. Start writing about them (even if you don't publish/post it) but this will help you develop more concrete thoughts on the subject. Look for attainable jobs in industries related to your interests, and evaluate whether you working in those roles can be economically viable for you. Even if they're only entry level/junior roles, you're making a career switch so you wouldn't be at that level forever. Lastly - try a bunch of things. Identify what kind of work you like doing (writing? Group work? Outdoors? In an office?). Try interviewing for one of those entry level jobs and see how you do. Look at better paying roles in the industry they you're interested in and start mapping out a path to it. Happy to chat more about this
I literally gave up all of my comforts to go to school and finish my CS degree. I was homeless, sleeping in my car, bathing at local gym for 2 semesters straight. Finally was able to find a hole in the wall studio that I could afford and I stayed there for the remainder of my college. Eating Cup-O-Noodles everyday. I graduated. It’s only a memory now. Go hard for what you want. If you want it, do whatever tf it takes. If you don’t want it that bad, then do something else. What I will say is if I had to make the choice over again, I’d do it again without thinking.
Very inspiring story 👏👍
TC / YOE OR GTFO
For CS, school reputation is unimportant.
You can’t say that .. Most wont get a call .. I did double masters one from Northeastern and one from SUNY .. I when I was graduating I didn’t get a call..
I went to a school worse than suny. Hardly any companies visited the campus (probably a few local ones) and no good company would pick up my resume. Most friends took up a $60k job and some couldn't find a job until 4 months after graduation. I have been burnt by this once, I don't want to fall twice.
It sounds like you’re pretty miserable, I was too at one point. I hated my job and wasn’t qualified for anything. I did go back to school and got a CS degree because computers were always my passion hobby so I decided to make a career out of it. Yes it was hard and I was also working full time. So it is doable, if you really want it. You have to get over the fear and just do it. I didn’t go to some fancy school, went to a community college then transferred to a state university which in the long run saved me tens of thousands of dollars. Getting a job out of school will be a challenge but if you’re smart and you do some summer internships you’ll be hirable right out of school. School of course if the long route, and had I known of bootcamps at the time I decided to make the switch I may have considered it. It all depends on how much time commitment you really want and whether the college degree is important to you. I went from making no more than $45k a year to now making nearly $300k a year (after 7 yoe). Yes I was barely making ends meet while in school since I had to demote myself and take a $10k cut meaning I was only making $35k while in school but the reward is there waiting.
Great story 🙏👍
Just share my story so you know it is possible: - 2013 - moved to the US, limited English. - 2013-2017 - attended community college while doing random gigs (it helpdesk, waiter, uber driver) + some loans due to HCOL. -20k (stupid spending) - 2017 - 2019 - transfered and finished my CS degree. -45k (student loans + stopped working). Failed my CS classes twice. Did not give up tho - 2019 - Feb2020 - internship + full time job. +30k now (paid off all my CC + most of student loans + a 6-month emergency fund). My TC now is $190k. Never imagine I could make this much. Moral of the sotry: you can get it, but with lots of sacrafies + stress.
Similar but even worst than that for me .. So if I were to go back change my decision.. I don’t think I would pick doing master .. For me return of interest is almost non existent.. too much pain and effort
I know a few people who did bootcamps and have been doing well. A few of them also guarantee a internship with a company. You could research that You could also start at community college and then figure out if that’s what you want. The school honestly doesn’t matter.
You have to make certain call if you are unhappy with the way things are. Been through that - worked at Indian IT consultancy for few months, got admit in good school, took loan against parental home as collateral, got full assistantship from 2nd semester, broke leg before start of 3rd semester, US family created big drama and relations broke for good, 3 surgeries in 3 months and no one bothered to check on me, lost assistantship and bedridden for 1 semester, again got GRA in next semester, ultimately got job and then paid off all debt. Was I scared initially- bloody yes. Do I regret my decision -Big NO, I am proud electrical engineer unlike my friends who are stuck in IT consultancy and regret it deeply.
Bootcamp instead. anyone can be a frontend dev these days apparently
What if Front-end UI is not his/her interest? It would say try both and decide. So formal education definitely helps here.
Not a good blanket solution if you actually plan on being a dev. Most bootcampers struggle to find a job months after graduating unless it's a top tier bootcamp with many connections (internships and many companies coming to demo day). If you go this route, do extreme vetting. Placement rate numbers are usually fluffed because they count those who end up as teaching assistants as a placement.