Would like to personally pursue a BS-Information Technology but should I ?

Chrisbari14

Hello Tech Family,

I'm currently thinking about going back to school to Pursue my BS-Information Technology. Previously I was pursuing my BS in Network Administration but withdrew from WGU because of Life circumstances. Now those circumstances are behind me and I'm ready to go back to school. But my question is would it be feasible to pursue a Bachelor's coming up on 5 years of experience? Or should I just keep gaining years of experience?

NetworkNewb

Why would having experience make getting a BS unfeasible?  Maybe meant reasonable

You should be doing something to increase your knowledge in the area of IT you want to focus on by either getting an advance certification in that area or a Bachelor's degree.    Would be fine and can have a successful career with having either just the certs or degree.  But usually best to get them both to knock off all the checkboxes.   For short term success I'd assume getting an advance certification would yield the best results given that you already have experience.    But for all I know you are a Network Architect with a CCIE already...

tedjames

Having a degree is never a bad thing. It can open doors for you that may not be available to someone without a degree. A few years ago, I thought about pursuing a master's in security but decided that certifications and training are a better fit for me (already have two bachelor's degrees). From what I understand about WGU, you come out with loads of practical experience and certifications. Think about where you want to be, and think about whether a lack of a degree would hold you back. It's certainly a requirement for most, if not all, government jobs.

paul78

The options today to pursue a college degree are much higher than in the past. And the costs are also more manageable. The decision to pursue a degree after being in the work-force are very personal and the reasons are varied. One way to think of it is how you think you will feel about your decision in 20 years.

My own decision to not to complete a college degree is something that crosses my mind regularly (and mostly whenever I read these threads). I won't say that I have regrets but I do sometimes wonder if my own self-esteem would be different. I likely have imposter syndrome because I don't have the degree but at the same time, it makes me the person that will try a little harder than the next person.

The decision ultimately is up to you. The reality is that having a degree is likely to have more upsides than downsides. And getting the degree sooner than later is likely to be simpler before life gets more complicated. 

Good luck with your decision.

X5c0r

It's a hard call to make.  I would complete a degree because either they will still be preferred over the next 15 years or you'll need it for higher up positions.  I have a BS but also got my MS in 2017 to check all possible boxes.  My Masters has already opened 3 major doors in my career and I'll be 30 in October.  You get what you put into it.  Even with degrees you need some certs as well.

Mike R

If you want an easier entry into management I would say a degree. While it's certainly not impossible to get there without one you have to look at it from an HR point of view. If you have 2 equal candidates and one has a degree and the other one doesn't the safe bet is to go with the degree. WGU is a great place (where I am currently enrolled) because it blends core courses required for a degree with certs. For a modest investment I don't see a downside.

MrNetTek

If you have the opportunity to obtain a degree, do it.

-MrNetTek at your service-

Johnhe0414

Investing in yourself is a wise choice. I would never discourage anyone from obtaining a college degree.

Pmorgan2

Fair or not, there could still be opportunities that you miss out on simply because you don't have a degree.  The hard part is that you'll rarely be told that a lack of a degree was the reason.  Some people or companies put a high value on a degree even if you already have experience.

That said, you can get by just fine without a degree.  There's a lot of anecdotes on this forum and in other groups of people doing great without degrees.  Me included.

Jon_Cisco

For the most part life is easier with a degree and they are accepted as lifetime achievements. Go for it.

DFTK13

Definitely pursue the degree, I’m in the same boat as you. I have my associates in network administration and am now pursuing my BS in IT with a focus in mobile and web development. Even though many jobs ask for experience and certs, I feel they look at the degree as the silent foundation, holding up the other stuff. It makes you much more attractive to potential employers and also makes you harder to discard. Effective thinkers are much harder to replace than manual laborers. There was another thread that discussed this very topic in detail, got a little spirited in debate but many agreed that a degree should be on your resume. Given the dynamic and volatile economy and job market, it would bring you much closer to the top of the list when HR/recruiters/employers look at it. So yes, it’s an excellent investment with an excellent ROI. After I finish my BS, I’m going to look to getting my masters in IT management.

bigdogz

@Chrisbari14
Go get the degree. It will do nothing but help you.

You may want to change your major depending on what you want to do or what you like to do in IT. 

Redemption

If you are already working in IT, I would consider gaining Certifications for the technology of choice and joining a company that will help with tuition costs. I seen people with no degree join big companies thanks to their experience and certifications.