Comment by sulikns | Hacker News Reader

Comment by sulikns | Hacker News Reader

I'm 37 and live in one of those lesser-known countries whose diplomas likely don’t hold much weight elsewhere—but that’s not the point. I’ve decided to change my profession. After many trials and errors, I studied Python. I wrote some scripts and bots, but I kept feeling like something was missing—I didn’t really understand programming.

Then I discovered OSSU and, after reviewing their curriculum, I realized just how little I actually knew about computer science. I started over from scratch, even relearning math. Because of the language barrier (yes, I learned English by forcing myself to study in English), my conversational skills are still shaky, and this text was polished with the help of GPT.

I’m not thinking about a job just yet. My current goal is to get a solid academic education, and I believe OSSU is one of the best initiatives ever created—accessible to the entire world. It's not just about being free. Maybe the best universities are in the U.S., but compared to what's available in my country, the OSSU curriculum is several levels higher in both quality and structure.

As for work, I plan to contribute to the open-source world, hoping to make the world a better place, just like the creators of OSSU did. Education should be accessible to everyone—not just a privileged few.

    Maybe the best universities are in the U.S.

For undergraduate I don't think it matters that much as you're far enough removed from the state of the art at that point anyway- you'll probably get about the same level of bachelor-level CS education at any decent university in the developed world as you would in the top US institutions like Stanford and MIT (and most Americans don't go to these elite institutions anyway)?

For graduate/research it's of course a different case altogether, these elite institution seem to mostly be elite in research, not pedagogy. What probably does matter is that the base level of tertiary education is good enough (which seems like it's the case in western Europe, but maybe not in a lot of the developing world).

Honestly, I'm not aiming to participate in cutting-edge research or be involved in elite academic projects. My goal is much simpler — I just want to become a good, competent developer who understands the fundamentals of computer science and writes code thoughtfully. I love computers and problem-solving, and I enjoy building things for the fun of it, not for money or prestige. If I manage to live long enough and find work — that’s more than enough for me. For me, a platform like OSSU (Open Source Society University) is the only truly accessible and supportive environment where I can learn, get help, and grow. I can't afford an expensive formal education, but thanks to the community and open materials, I'm making steady progress. As for the claim that "at the undergraduate level it doesn't really matter" and "you'll likely get about the same education in any decent university as in places like Stanford or MIT" — I have to disagree. In many so-called "decent" universities, the baseline can often mean: • outdated curricula and technologies (e.g., focusing on C without exposure to modern languages and practices), • a purely theoretical approach with little connection to real-world applications, • instructors with little or no industry or research experience, • and unfortunately, sometimes a lack of academic integrity. In such environments, students may graduate with a diploma but without real practical skills or understanding — making their education nominal rather than competitive. That’s why it’s not just about where you study, but what and how you study. If someone is learning CS with curiosity, consistency, and a focus on real-world practice — even without a prestigious degree, they can still go far. I hope to become that kind of developer, even if I'm not from MIT.

Really inspiring thankyou.

Although I've not used it, I've heard good things about Khan Academy... Which is aimed at kids/teenagers but would cover any core principles you might be missing:

https://www.khanacademy.org/computing

Yeah, I studied with Khan Academy too, and my kids are learning with Khan as well. But unfortunately, it doesn't go deep into core principles. There are better resources for Algebra, Geometry and Precalculus, like Professor Leonard, OpenStax, and The College Preparatory School, which is listed in the OSSU prerequisites for Computer Science.

Coursera and Udacity have been around for a long time. Not to mention countless youtube lecture courses on any imaginable subject.

There is same courses on youtube, + books etc. All is free and perfectly organized.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com