I understand some might disagree with this advice, but having done a grad degree 10+ years ago, this is what I would advice my younger self.
Being a frontend/backend dev after coming out of a CS degree in uni is insanely boring, I feel like I'm barely using my brain at this point.
But the opportunity cost is also crazy high in the current job market.
Masters I can see but PhD would really set you back considering time value of money.
personally, I would go do something in crypto, because honestly that's where most of the action is.
polygon, solana networks have low transaction fees. I imagine it will be a race to the bottom on network fees.
Of course, that's not super valuable advice now, sunken costs and all that. But there's nothing more depressing than entering a field with all kinds of hopes and dreams for the future, only to watch them get squashed by FAANG and ultimately realize that computers are a liability, not an opportunity.
What would you tell you younger self to do instead?
If I could do it all again, I'd learn to love the earth and embrace naturalism. I might have a shot to live a truly fulfilling life, free from the neverending purgatory that we call the internet. But I've breached that contract with God, and my penance for such an affront is being stuck with knowledge I desperately want to forget. It really is true what they say, Ignorance Is Bliss.
It is sort of funny that collectively, people whose minds are so good at synthesis and analysis never lifted their heads up to see what we were creating.
Does this count? lol
Apart from the joke, I second @smoldesu 1000%.
- Don't stop going to the gym
But even 10 years ago, I think Apple/Google/Microsoft were pretty safe bets