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Comment by naner | Hacker News Reader

Harvard has a merit-based remote Master's program for Software Engineering[1] if you're interested in continuing education.

A strong professional network will help overcome most deficiencies. Companies are concerned with reputability and a school name or a degree are just a part of that. In that same vein, there are other areas of your professional reputation you can bolster as well.

1: http://blog.markwshead.com/911/harvard-online-masters-degree...

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I just read the linked post and it seems like an interesting program. I couldn't help but notice though where he said it's an MA rather than an MS. Does anyone know how well regarded the program is? In other words, if a potential employer saw a Harvard Extension School ALM in IT master of arts degree on a resume instead of a master of science in CS from the Harvard engineering school (or anything else comparable), how well would it hold up?

Harvard only gives out B.A. degrees (more precisely, A.B. -- Artium Baccalaureatus spelled in Latin) in the sciences. I would assume the same for their masters program, but it is effectively equivalent to an MS.

Wow $20,000 is a lot of money. I really feel sorry for those i the states, when you consider I could enter a residence masters program in Sweden for nothing (coming from the EU) you really wonder where the cost of education comes from.

You know it's not really free, right? You and everyone you know will be paying taxes to pay for that "free" education for the rest of your careers.

Not saying it's a bad deal, but it's not free.

It is also not really free to you directly; there is an opportunity cost to being in a full-time graduate program vs. remaining in your job, advancing in your career, or starting a company.

It still might be the right choice for financial and non-financial reasons, but school isn't free even if you don't have to pay for it.

Eh! It's not that bad. My MS cost about the same, but the only thing I had to pay was about a total of $300 in parking fees. In the US most large employers worth working for will reimburse you for tuition & books etc. 100% as long as you maintain a satisfactory GPA.

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