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Is it impossible to go back to school for computer science?
- Thread starter Ghost31
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A little bit. I'm so worried whatever online school I pick will be a scam or something though like some ITT tech or univ Phoenix type crap. Some of them like oregon''s CS program require a Bach just to get into the damn program. And is an online degree as respected and valuable as a regular one?
Navigating all this is confusing
Navigating all this is confusing
You could try some MOOC's (think massively online, just with education not games) and see if you can fit these into the daily routine before trying a more expensive credit granting option leading to degree. Most offer free or very reasonably price "verified" options that give a different more "professional" proof of completion. Free you can say you did the class and hopefully you learned from it.
I mix and match, some free ones more to clear out the cobwebs in my head. Paid ones I do to keep up CPE (continuing professional education) most times for an IT cert I have that needs them to not have to retest every 3 years. Test was "fun" enough the first time I took it lol.
With Coursera.org and edx.org I have done a few. Have wide ranges of topics to look over.
I mix and match, some free ones more to clear out the cobwebs in my head. Paid ones I do to keep up CPE (continuing professional education) most times for an IT cert I have that needs them to not have to retest every 3 years. Test was "fun" enough the first time I took it lol.
With Coursera.org and edx.org I have done a few. Have wide ranges of topics to look over.
Are you trying to get into software development? Have you ever done any? Have any expertise with anything in the tech sector, engineering, math (i.e., is this a 180º from your current occupation)?
No expertise in anything yet. Currently I work as a CNA and am looking for a career change and I enjoy programming a lot. I play with Python all the time and would like to keep learning more and turn it into something I can get paid doing. As I see from job postings and such, a Bach in comp sci is pretty much required for everything these days but I'm having a hard time figuring out how I'll be able to get one. I have to work to support my daughter at the same time
OK, yeah, you've got some solid tech/IT background, and sounds like you're a "serious hobbiest" with coding. I think there's probably quite a few opportunities that don't require a formal degree, but you'd have to be pretty thoroughly self-taught to pursue those, and it's hard to get that kind of deep experience without really immersing yourself into it - which is kind of tricky with a family/kids/work ... one reason I quit on a recent startup, just didn't want to bail on life for several months, plus I'm a little old for that kind of thing (again)
DT: What's your line of work? If you don't mind me asking. Do you have a CS degree?
I don't know what I can really do when part of my life is filled up with other things like my current job and having a kid to take care of. Someone suggested trying to get a CS degree online but I don't know how legit that sounds
I don't know what I can really do when part of my life is filled up with other things like my current job and having a kid to take care of. Someone suggested trying to get a CS degree online but I don't know how legit that sounds
Phoenix has a great reputation, and their degrees are accepted everywhere as they are an accredited university.
Maybe you should go ahead and take a single course and see how it works for you. When I went back for my masters, I was teaching full time and had a family. I started with one class.
But if you keep coming up with excuses, you'll never do it.
Maybe you should go ahead and take a single course and see how it works for you. When I went back for my masters, I was teaching full time and had a family. I started with one class.
But if you keep coming up with excuses, you'll never do it.
I'm looking right now. Not sure what I think. The fact that they compare themselves to university of Phoenix like its a legit school worries me
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Wait Phoenix? Like university of Phoenix? Are you joking?
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Phoenix University. Online. Great programs. They have the same accreditation as any other university.
I found a lot of crap and scam schools upon doing a Google search. Care to link? Wonder if they distinguish the degree as being any different than an in person degree
I work with several people who got their doctorates from Phoenix, as well as a few people who got their masters. As I said, they hold the same accreditation as a school where you get "an in person degree."
http://www.phoenix.edu/
I'm a developer/architect/writer, in the industry for 25+ years, 3rd company (plus a couple of startups), working out of my home office.
You may not get any 'credit' for them, but MOOCs would be a decent way to take some coursework in relevant areas. Don't underestimate the value of having someone curate and present a subject that you'd like to learn a lot more about.
That's really impressive. As someone just starting out, how do I get to be where you are? What can I do?
Look, do a training in project management, it will work for every area of your life. Be the boss, not the employee. Learn how to handle a project, then learn management, then learn marketing. You can get those trainings and THEN you will know where to target your coding.
I manage people who are doing coding, video editors, graphic designers, investors, clients, social media. All of them are good when they do their work in the right direction: profits. My job is to create the project, telling them what to do, do quality control and delivery. Trust me, every single person is literally useless without my direction.
Every employee has no clue what to do with their life if I do not explain them. At Apple, when they have an idea, lets say the Apple Watch, the first person they talk to are the project managers, they know how to make everything happen, cost and time. And is not a hard thing to do. It will give more sense to your projects.
I second ProjectManager101's advice.
Most IT departments don't have very many programmers, if any. Businesses buy off-the-shelf solutions, software-as-a-service, you name it, if there's a way to outsource it or cheapsource it, they'll do it.
Project management is the skill set they can't outsource.
Most IT departments don't have very many programmers, if any. Businesses buy off-the-shelf solutions, software-as-a-service, you name it, if there's a way to outsource it or cheapsource it, they'll do it.
Project management is the skill set they can't outsource.
University of Phoenix, like the online for-profit school?
How about this: Would Carnegie Mellon or Stanford consider a University of Phoenix computer science major for a masters/PHD program?
It's a rhetorical question.
Build something that works that you can showcase and apply for a starting programming job. Once you have a few years in apply to a masters program.
Every single personal is literally useless without direction...that's some workplace.
Well, I found this article online.
Pentagon puts for-profit University of Phoenix on probation
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/pentagon-puts-profit-university-phoenix-probation/
Here's another article
University of Phoenix Accreditation Hits Snag As Panel Recommends Probation
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/25/university-of-phoenix-accreditation_n_2762168.html
In addition, I did about two ladies that applied for news jobs for the hospital in Texas that they work at and this hospital will not accept their degrees from University of Phoenix. It just depends on the company if they will accept a degree from U Of Phoenix.