1 answer
1
Asked 713 views

Is my degree really worth it?

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I immediately got a high paying job, burned out, threw myself at my sport to cool off, got seriously injured with a concussion, and lost my job. I wasn't getting hits when I was looking for jobs after healing, so I went back to school. I'm getting a Master of Science in Computer Science again from Georgia Tech. Will I be a more attractive job candidate with a new degree in hand?

spring25
Answer This

+25 Karma if successful
From: You
To: Friend
Subject: Career question for you
1

1 answer

1
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Arnold’s Answer

Hi Kathryn!

First — props for your resilience. Coming back from burnout and injury to pursue a master’s is no small thing.

That said, a degree alone won’t make you stand out — what you’ve done with your time matters more. Employers look for curiosity, problem-solving, and evidence of growth. So ask yourself:
• Have you built any personal projects or contributed to open source?
• Joined hackathons, pitch comps, or tech meetups?
• Learned from your last burnout? What’s different in how you work now?

Use this time in your MS not just to get a degree, but to explore, build, reflect — and tell a compelling story of your journey. That’s what would contribute to make you a truly attractive candidate.
1