A recent submission on Reddit asked if it was better to quit a job to attend a top 20 CS program or to keep the job and commute part-time to a local school that’s ranked 60th or 70th.

First, setting aside all of my misgivings about how poorly the common school rankings fail to measure the suitability of a particular program for anyone, if you’re already employed in the field of IT or in a technology position, it’s my opinion that leaving a paying job that you enjoy to take up an undergraduate or graduate course of study is a mistake, no matter what the school. Your situation might differ, but once you’re in the field, the name on your diploma begins to matter less and less. The common refrain is that your school pedigree is only important in landing that first job. I have to say that my experience mirrors this sentiment.

[Read more →]