Do YOU need a Computer Science Degree? Maybe

Is a computer science or software engineering degree worth it? Or should you just go the self taught route and save your hard earned money?

This is what I hope to answer in this video. I've been a software developer for three years, i've done two degrees and hopefully present a balanced viewpoint on whether or not you should think about doing a computer science degree.

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[MattKander]

Hey team - just rewatched this and noticed that I kept on referring to the hypothetical compsci student as 'he' or 'him. Going to adjust my language going forward to be more inclusive in the future. Hope y'all are doing well.

[ryanharris]

The degree is useful in the sense that it forces you to code regularly even when you aren’t feeling like it

[ReeceGeofroy]

Hey Matt, just found your channel through mine and have to say... this is some awesome content! Keep it up and can't wait to see how your channel grows <3

[ozhoneybadger]

You can follow any open course out there from any university for free.

Perhaps personal projects, experience and certifications will be almost just fine.

If you want to do a degree go for it I did it. But the truth is, I don't see my degree valuable anymore. I did software engineering and got the highest grade. My experience matters and what I can do now. Not what I did then. Theres people with far more skill and experience than I have because of my job gaps due to health. I also put my hands up to say my ambition was low and so not keeping up with tech will hurt you with or without a degree.

I have been out of work for a year due to health and now the virus comes it made it so much slower. Been rejected so far probably more than 30 times even when interviews go well and I demonstrated my technical understanding and coding ability. Course I could do better. But just saying...my degree is not exactly helping is it, I'd say overall, learn and just do.

[fosterrico]

Ok, this is not an attack, but if CS degrees are an infallable indication of better quality of work, why do top companies like google have started dismissing them?

Because it is up to the person who is completing either the college, or the self taught route.

[massimoqualsiasi]

am an ESL-speaker, man, your enunciation is so pure.

[sleepysartorialist]

I should have gone to school for that, but family literally got in my way and now I'm doing it on my own. I have support from multiple community members and my dad's a network engineer so I can pick his brain to a degree and steal his books lol

I just wish my parents had let me get my damn degree when I intended to right out of high school but that's ancient history now. I'm really excited to get fully cracking again now that I have a functional computer. I am looking forward to having stuff I can share in my portfolio once I'm done with my Udemy courses and networking through friends in front end dev. I'm lucky and I realize that. Not everyone has people to help them find work and give them a leg up but it's nice to know that I don't need to go back to school for this since...school in the past has not gone well for me lol

[MattKander]

What do you all think? Self taught or degree?

[christophershanklin]

A degree opens up more doors for you and puts your name out there.You can also get internships(experience)while your in school to build your resume

[DarianSampare]

Unless your tuition is payed for, you’re good at school, and you’re going for the social aspect, there just ain’t any reason for the property motivated person to get a CS degree anymore 🤷🏻‍♂️

[captaindn]

One thing I disliked about UoA’s compsci classes was that there was a culture of cheating, people like to copy and paste other people’s solution or straight up ask for solutions from the tutors. Hope it’s better now

[Ninan_]

Hi Matt, I imagine myself working in tech in the future and am planning on doing a degree in computer science in Australia starting next year. My current worry is that I don’t really have a plan after the degree so I would love a video on the possible pathways after a computer science degree. Stuff including app development, web development, machine learning/AI, cyber security, data science. And do you know anyone that went to uni in QLD or NSW?

[douglashill]

Hey man, absolutely loving these recent vids. As a 2nd year CS student I'll be going into a year of industry experience next year (commonplace here in Scotland, not sure about anywhere else), and I'll need to go through an interview process. I was wondering if you could share your experiences going through interviews with different companies, what they were like, what they asked, what they expected of you etc. Cheers!

[BastianInukChristensen]

biggest perk of university is learning to consume API's

[Roasty]

So if I wanted a job in Game Programming, would it be recommended to get a BD in CS or No?

[moshelevinson]

what during covid-19 where is no networking

[hamish]

Hey are you going to open up your patreon again anytime soon?

[kungalama]

Hello sir I have a big dilemma whether I should take cs or not as a major plz help me to clarify whether I should take it or not

[fadzilicious]

Hey man, I did an IT diploma at high school and got the highest result possible. I could not go to university for like 3 years because I have a Zimbabwean passport and had to wait till I got a U.K. passport before I can go. I should be able go next September. I can go to most university’s. I am so scared of doing a degree in cs or IT because everywhere I see online that there are so many people able to code that doing cs degrees are useless and I am so scared to commit and then get nowhere? Please tell me what in your opinion I should do? Should I go to university? Should I get a degree apprenticeship? Which degree do I do if I do one? I’m so scared to get it wrong man? I am just focused on making cash? I usually enjoy anything I do because I’m a little off the wall 😂 and I work really hard but I just don’t know what I should do? Thanks man?

[moshelevinson]

what about all the extra crap that have very little to do with programing