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Comment by BlackjackCF | Hacker News Reader

I work full time as a systems engineer and have been a software engineer professionally for the last 3 years. I have a Bachelor's but it's not in anything remotely related to CS. Is it possible to be working full time and doing the OMSCS and succeed?

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I'm half way through OMSCS while working a full time software job with an hour commute and a family with kids. It is doable but difficult. Large portions of my weekends are spent on homework and assignments. I find I spend about 20 hours a week on school. I haven't had to miss soccer matches or piano recitals but I've frequently skipped mowing the lawn or working out to finish assignments.

Yes but it's a significant commitment. I work full time and take one course a semester. It's definitely doable but occasionally very stressful.

Yes, it is doable. I worked full time, and managed to take two classes my first semester, and a couple of other semesters I took one class and TAed another. Plan on having it take up all of our evenings and weekends. It won't always, but often will. For a couple of classes I even had to take some vacation days to finish up a project.

So it's totally okay to just maybe take 1 class a semester?

Yes, but it all depends on your ability and capability to strain yourself beyond normal, just for the short duration compare to the benefits in the long run.

Hopefully, because I'm in a similar situation and starting the program in a week!

Good luck. I'm planning on enrolling and working full time once my kids a little bit older.

Good luck.. I start my first class next week as well

Get on the omscs-study slack. It's really helpful (and fun). Good luck!

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