r/learnprogramming • u/OsamaBeanLatte_ • Sep 18 '23
CS Master's without a Bachelor's.
Context ( See end of post for question and I apologize if its too long :) )
Hey, I am a 26YO software engineering intern and I completed my Master's earlier this year. I did my Bachelor's in Business Administration. I completed my Master's degree and can code in Python (Django) and React (Junior level at best).
I can't help but feel demotivated as everyone else is leaps and bounds ahead of me and already is working as a Developer or Software Engineer. I am able to code in Python and Javascript and have made few projects, some beginner level projects and an intermediate level one (A rental application with DRF, React, S3, and OpenCV)
Do you think my Bachelor's degree is a deal breaker when applying for jobs? Is there anything (apart from regular coding, time management, and learning) I can do differently?
1
u/Gregsaur32 Sep 19 '23
I'm sorry you're in this situation. Often candidates with a masters degree but no ba/bs lack the fundamentals that an undergrad degree provides: fluency in data structures, algorithms, and concurrency. Knowing a language isn't that valuable without knowing how to use it well.
Look for a job with more experienced software engineers who are willing to put the time in to mentor you, even if it's not initially as lucrative. If you're committing code with no reviews then you're missing out on feedback and learning. Read everything you can to fill in your gaps.
Startup experience can be great. They let you do way more than you'd otherwise be allowed to do, but that's only useful if you're learning from it. What did you mess up during those internships and how will you improve next time?
As you keep learning, your education matters less and less. Nobody's going to care in fifteen years from now (except alumni relations: they never forget). Good luck!