Ask HN: I'm 24 y.o want to do an online BSc degree in Math. Does it make sense? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: I'm 24 y.o want to do an online BSc degree in Math. Does it make sense?

2 pointsiillexial8 comments

Hey, HN!

I'm 24 years old now and have been working as a developer for about 5 years. I've never finished my degree, and I always felt that I'm missing something in my career because of that. I've decided to go and get a one from The Open University which contains Math, Stats, Algorithms, and some Data Science modules. I have always been interested in cryptography and NLP, and tried to learn something on my own, but never make it, because of the "hard math". Also, trying to learn math on my own by MOOCS and books also didn't bring any results.

And now I'm wondering, is this commitment really worth it? It will take ~6 years and $25k to complete it. Can I benefit from it in the future, or it would be better to try approach self-study again?

View on HN

Unfortunately, future employers will say "what the hell is The Open University" and will believe that it's some sort of scam or diploma mill.

Are you able to take the credits you have and complete a bachelor's in something like business administration from a local university/community college?

Depends where OP is based. It's very well known in the UK.

I'm from the Eastern Europe, not from the U.S. I can go again to a university in my country and it will be much cheaper. We have this "part-time" study here as well. But I'm concerned about its quality.

Also, I'm going more for knowledge than for a paper. I've never had any troubles with getting a job without a degree, so I don't think I will have any with, even if it's from an unknown institution.

You seem unconcerned with whether or not your credentials will be considered valid by an employer (based on your other comments mentioning something to this effect). If that is the case, why would you spend money on an online university? Online university (from personal experience) takes just as much willpower to stay invested that self-study and MOOCs require. If you can't manage that piece, an online university won't be much help.

If you believe the quality of education to be better, it might be worth considering. However, I'd caution that the only benefit you'd be getting would be access to a professor. At the college level, a well-written textbook is just as valuable as the average professor if you're not using office hours. If your intention is to get help from someone in specific subject areas, I would recommend just hiring a tutor. You'll save a lot of money and can get actual personalized help on whatever specific issues you have.

In terms of opening doors, I doubt it moves the needle that much. At this point in your career, a college degree has almost no value unless it's an upper level one (like a masters or a doctorate). Every person I've talked to has indicated that their undergraduate degree stopped mattering once they entered the workforce and had legitimate work experience. If the Open University is only offering you an undergraduate degree, I can't imagine that would do anything for you even if the employer trusted the school.

I studied mathematics and made my career in IT. I never regretted my choice. Certain skills, such as databases, are better covered in IT degrees. Others, such as the mathematical background for cryptography and AI, are gone into in much more depth in maths degrees.

Others have mentioned it, I echo their thoughts. I did an online MBA and if you have difficulty with MOOCs, it's not going to be easier with an online degree. MOOCs are cheaper, especially if you are not looking for an official qualification, in which case you can simply audit the courses.

You don't say where you are from in Eastern Europe, but mathematics is universal and mathematics has historically been a very strong subject in the east. Banach and Tarski were Polish; Shor was born in Kiev; and many others. So, if online isn't for you, I would not hesitate to study mathematics in your own country. You will find the access to like-minded students valuable and your own online skills will let you research topics that interest you.

Thanks, I'm from Kyiv as well. Not all universities have part-time study programs, and those that do, limit number of students. I just took a look, and the university I would like to attend accepts only 10 students, comparing with 65 to full-time.

A degree can open doors if you want to work abroad. If you already make a good wage then it might not be worth it from a money perspective, but there is still the personal development perspective to consider. Open University is distance education though, why do you think your motivation will be greater here than when you self-studied through MOOCs and math?

>A degree can open doors if you want to work abroad. Relocation is not in my priorities.

I've already worked in the EU as a developer without a degree. Not all countries require it if you have proven experience and a job offer.

> If you already make a good wage then it might not be worth it from a money perspective

I make enough money. It's all about personal development and opening doors to fields I'm interested in.

>why do you think your motivation will be greater here than when you self-studied through MOOCs and math?

I don't think it will be greater, but I won't know before I try.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com