I am 53 and earning my BS in IT. I climbed up the IT ranks via a combination of experience and industry certifications. I finally reached the point were HR said that I had to have a degree before I could receive any further promotions.
So I am currently doing a full time plus job and attending college full time. I am only able to do this because I can use my extensive experience in the classroom. For example, I already have received one of the highest certifications in networking so the college network course was a no-brainer. In fact, once the instructor found out my certification, he asked me to explain many of the more complex details.
That, along with the fact that I am in a STEM major, is likely to distort my perception of college. However, looking at the other programs out there, it does seem that there has been a drop in the level of rigor required to pass any of the “studies” programs. I did my AA in General Studies to get that portion of the degree out of the way quickly. Graduated with a 4.0 and it was fairly easy. Not at all difficult like I was expecting.
Now that I am coming to the end of my program, I am thinking that maybe a Masters might not be as difficult as I was making it out to be.
A Masters is everything you just learned all over again faster.
and a research paper.
I finally reached the point were HR said that I had to have a degree before I could receive any further promotions.
My wife has worked in IT for 20+ years with a similar back ground. She got the same message from HR: you need a 4 year degree for promotion. At 60 she decided she did not need the trouble and observed someone promoted over her with a degree in: Physical Education! This saying we have met the enemy and they are us is appropriate.
YES! It is individual drive and determination that makes one a success in these matters. I admire your tenacity and willingness to get the job done. Kudos X E128.
Good for you. All of my degrees are non-traditional to some extent. The hardest was the law degree received at 65. Much good luck with your program and look hard for the master’s that would do you most good or be the most fun, perhaps both. My master’s was in computer systems management, kind of a soft-compsci/mba hybrid.