Should I get a Masters in Computer Science?

So, just think of your future self (let's say, you when you are around 50 years old) and see in which place you would like to be when it comes to applying for a job at company X:

- applicant A: 20 years of experience. Bachelor and master degree in Computer Science

- applicant B: 23 years of experience. Bachelor in computer science

- applicant C: 26 years of experience. No degree

In the long term, all other things being equal, a degree gives you a boost (because, really, what's the difference of 20 vs 26 years of experience?). I'm not saying this is good or bad, it's just simple maths. Now, sure if you have skills other people don't usually have, sure perhaps you don't need a master degree in Computer Science to be competitive. I'm just exposing the usefulness of a degree for the average Joe.

Now, if you are asking this question I think it's because you are thinking about getting a degree just for the sake of it. If you wanted to do the degree only for the sake of knowledge, I think you wouldn't be asking here on HN :)

Disclaimer: I don't have one

The reason i don't is because i like actual programming way more than the theory behind it. 4 Years of Java, computer history & hard crypto math sound like a pain for me that likely won't improve my main skills more than spending 4 years on those.

Yes, I think you should absolutely get one!

For once, it will always place your resume above the ones without a masters degree. And even if you look at the topics and think you won't like it or need it - you will always learn things that will likely be useful in the future! Be it to just get a different perspective on things or be able to suggest or bounce some ideas.

For me personally, the masters degree was the best thing I could have done. It helped me academically, made me a better programmer and helped several times when applying for jobs!

So yes, I highly recommend it!

I think you need to step back and think about what you hope to achieve by obtaining a master's degree in computer science. There are use cases but there are also many reasons not to get one. What are your reasons

I have one and it hasn't helped anything. At least my company paid for almost all of it. It still feels like a waste of time and money since it hasn't helped me.

Why do you consider to get one? (I have one and enjoyed it, but I doubt it had much impact on getting jobs)

ask yourself, what do you think you would achieve by getting a masters?

yes!