Back to school for a second degree or continue on career path?

elliotforgames wrote: ↑I am turning 28 and may have the option to work as a junior underwriter making 40-45k a year. I already have a BA, but have only worked in customer service and sales. I have read good things about insurance underwriting, such as the potential to make more as a senior, but I am not sure if the industry is strong in the long-run.

The option I have been mulling over is Computer Science as a second degree or diploma. I am interested in becoming a software engineer as well. It'll take about 2 years, but there is also a lot more jobs available compared to insurance. I also feel that software engineering is a skill set that will be very valuable to have in the future.

Am I overrating CompSci and underrating the insurance business? I don't want to regret it when I turn 35 and realize I am in a deadend job.

My goal is to have career stability and to have good work-life balance. I do want to have the option of starting my own business one day.

Advice appreciated.

Michaelp1990 wrote: ↑Comp sci degrees are 4 years. A programming diploma is 2 years. I would stick with your current job as you probably wont be making more than 40-45k with a programming diploma anyway and a degree would take too long to complete.

mathiewannabe wrote: ↑if op already has undergraduate with some overlapping courses, it'll take 2 years to complete as second undergraduate.

Crichtonfan wrote: ↑If you actually prefer coding in your spare time to other pursuits or just love to program, it won't hurt to try to break into the field. I would try to get in a decent compsci program such as u of t's coop (or Waterloo, but that could be harder to get in, may be someone can chime in), run side projects while in school and network.

boyohboy wrote: ↑UofT downtown doesn't have "coop" program for CS, so to speak. You just apply for PEY during 2nd/3rd year summer. It's completely optional and has no bearing on your CS degree requirement. Of course, if you want a good (or at least better) start for your CS career, it's a must-do.

For someone who already have a degree (or over 25?), you'd be applying as mature student which is usually pretty easy to get in even for UofT downtown. Not sure about Waterloo, but it's usually the case for most university's ArtSci undergrad. I was considering something similar and applied to York. I got the acceptance letter within the same week.... didn't even know Canada Post is so quick lol. (... and no I didn't go to York...)

Michaelp1990 wrote: ↑Comp sci degrees are 4 years. A programming diploma is 2 years. I would stick with your current job as you probably wont be making more than 40-45k with a programming diploma anyway and a degree would take too long to complete.

elliotforgames wrote: ↑I do already have a BA and since I am situated in Vancouver, UBC offers a 2 year degree but admission is 2016. SFU also has a second degree which is closer to 2.5 years. I'll be 31 before I start a career as a software engineer.

Is it true you only make 40-45k with a diploma? My friend who worked in CS for 5 years with degree was making 40k, but I thought it was an anomaly. I thought you would be in the 60k range?

How much would an entry level software engineer be making on average?

elliotforgames wrote: ↑I do already have a BA and since I am situated in Vancouver, UBC offers a 2 year degree but admission is 2016. SFU also has a second degree which is closer to 2.5 years. I'll be 31 before I start a career as a software engineer.

Is it true you only make 40-45k with a diploma? My friend who worked in CS for 5 years with degree was making 40k, but I thought it was an anomaly. I thought you would be in the 60k range?

How much would an entry level software engineer be making on average?

elliotforgames wrote: ↑I am turning 28 and may have the option to work as a junior underwriter making 40-45k a year. I already have a BA, but have only worked in customer service and sales. I have read good things about insurance underwriting, such as the potential to make more as a senior, but I am not sure if the industry is strong in the long-run.

The option I have been mulling over is Computer Science as a second degree or diploma. I am interested in becoming a software engineer as well. It'll take about 2 years, but there is also a lot more jobs available compared to insurance. I also feel that software engineering is a skill set that will be very valuable to have in the future.

Am I overrating CompSci and underrating the insurance business? I don't want to regret it when I turn 35 and realize I am in a deadend job.

My goal is to have career stability and to have good work-life balance. I do want to have the option of starting my own business one day.

Advice appreciated.

daivey wrote: ↑dont waste your time in school anymore.

and if you want to go into software design/engineering, you should already be a pro programmer on your own without school.

99% of the professional software coding peoples are self taught. school doesn't teach you that.. might help you refine it but definitely wont teach it to you.

TheComebackKid wrote: ↑Weird because 99% of the professional programmers I work with learnt to code by going to school and getting a degree in comp sci or comp eng.
Also you will have a hard time getting a programming job by telling companies that you were self-taught.

daivey wrote: ↑dont waste your time in school anymore.

and if you want to go into software design/engineering, you should already be a pro programmer on your own without school.

99% of the professional software coding peoples are self taught. school doesn't teach you that.. might help you refine it but definitely wont teach it to you.

FriesandSteak wrote: ↑Stay as a under-writer. My ex moved to Calgary from Ontario to become an underwriter and he's now making 70K + over there vs, 50K from Ontario. He's a single male, and I think 70K is enough if you want to just live life alone.