Logging in as a throwaway. The program only costs $5k but it was one of the most expensive things I've done in my life.
Got a job at Google directly because of this program (a few classes like CCA helped a lot with interviews). I'm aware of at least a couple dozen of us from OMS here.
The program cost me dearly. It cost me my relationship with the SO and it cost me my health (staying up late nights, lots of coffee).
* $5k cheap, it's nothing, the real way you pay for it is via your time.
* The teachers like the flexibility as much as we do. Many are top notch. I took two classes from professors that work at Google (Dr. Starner and Dr. Essa), one at Netflix (Dr. Lebanon), and a few others have their own startups.
* One of the classes was taught by Sebastian Thrun, with a TA at Google, but I think that's changed now.
* The lectures are good, but you have infinite ability to subsidize them with Udacity, Coursera etc.
* You learn squat by watching videos. The true learning happens at 2am when you are trying to implement something, and end up tinkering, debugging, etc. That's when things click.
* The hidden gem is Piazza and some of the amazing classmates that help you out. Lots of classmates that work in industry and can explain things a lot better. I.e: Actual data scientists and CTOs of Data Science companies taking the data science class. They were amazing and I owe my degree to them in part.
* Working full time and taking classes is not easy. Consider quitting and doing it peacefully.
* From within Google, I've heard from people that did the Stanford SCPD (I'm considering it) and also OMSCS. Lots of people that say the SCPD program wasn't worth the time and effort. No one yet that's said the same about the GT program.
I've heard from people that have done the program in-person, and they say the online lectures and materials are significantly better.
As a Yellow Jacket myself I am somewhat amused that they managed to translate the stress and fatigue of the Georgia Tech experience into the online course. In a perverse way I think that means the program is as valuable as it purports to be.
For context, drownproofing was a course once upon a time at Georgia Tech which is now more famously taught in the Navy SEALS. It teaches you not so much how to swim but how to bob just below the surface without drowning or expending too much energy. The "final exam" was having your ankles and wrists bound and being dropped in the pool.
The health issues are a serious problem. I ended up in the hospital with stress induced gastritis one semester. I was lucky I dropped the course, for a W, before the deadline.
This program is no joke, especially if you don't avoid certain courses. If I had one piece of advice for anyone in the program, you should trust the crowd source student reviews of the courses.
Can you elaborate a bit on what was said for the SCPD program "not being worth the time and effort"?
(Googler here) I took ~4 classes, and they all seemed to be of high quality (applied for the full MSCS, but didn't get in, unfortunately). What are some of the opinions you've heard here?
(Googler also). I've taken 4 classes and it was very worth it, and that generally seems to be the sentiment on a per-class basis.
I believe the typical complaint is about the additional classes required to just round out the degree that are not as useful to one's chosen sub-field in CS. Can't give you my personal opinion because I'm not there yet.
I'm curious, do you know why you weren't admitted? I've gotten the impression that GT was wanting to make the course relatively available to the public. Is it still selective?
I think he might just mean "the ability to work with other students in a specific place" rather than the app itself. I agree, Piazza is kinda. . .over-engineered.
> Working full time and taking classes is not easy. Consider quitting and doing it peacefully.
Nope, it's definitely not easy. I take two classes full terms, one in the summers while working a full-time day job. I easily spend 20-30 hrs/week on coursework + readings + lectures during full terms, only ~10 hrs/week during the summers. Anything more than that would definitely require a rethink and time off. But it is entirely doable if giving up two years' pay isn't an option.
while the degree has led to you getting a job at Google, you're saying it's a throwaway because it costed you your mental health/relationship? not trying to question your assessment- just wondering whether or not you think you could have gotten a job at Google otherwise and that's why the program was a throwaway?
Fair question. Throwaway because I don't want my personal comment history to be tagged as "the opinion of a Google Engineer". It's a card that I don't like to pull out in discussions, but it's relevant here.
Also the personal stuff to some extent. Point is, I gained a lot from the program, but it hurt me in other ways and money is the least of these worries.
A "throwaway" account means that he/she created a temporary hacker news username for this one-time post for anonymity. "Throwaway" does not refer to the degree or program.
Very informative and thank you for commenting your experience.
Can you say which classes you took and/or your favorites or the ones you thought you got the most out of? Any you wish you had taken instead or the classes you did not enjoy or get much out of?
I've only heard of this program, but have not researched any details.
You must complete the degree in 6 years. You'll have to take at least 10 courses to get the required units. If you take one course at a time and take summers off ~ 5 years. You can also skip a semester if necessary.
Very true of my on-campus degree from Gatech as well. There wasn't any flexibility in spreading out courses due to my visa status. Tech tends to expect grads to leave in 1.5 years, which is slightly tighter.
> "It cost me my relationship with the SO and it cost me my health (staying up late nights, lots of coffee)."
Could've been true for me as well. Tech was also the first time my SO and I were long-distance, so that was an added challenge. I also put on 20 pounds the first year due to late nights and large pizzas. When I came to my senses, there were amazing options available in the fitness center.
> " The hidden gem is Piazza ..."
Opinions varied among my peers but I loved Piazza (the idea) too. Only one of my courses (advanced OS, Kishore) actually used it extensively, sadly.
Apart from the campus culture, etc, one thing I would miss in the OMSCS is talking to professors after class. A couple of the professors spent almost an hour after class answering questions in the hallway (in addition to scheduled office hours). I wonder if that experience can be replicated.
Got a job at Google directly because of this program (a few classes like CCA helped a lot with interviews). I'm aware of at least a couple dozen of us from OMS here.
The program cost me dearly. It cost me my relationship with the SO and it cost me my health (staying up late nights, lots of coffee).
* $5k cheap, it's nothing, the real way you pay for it is via your time.
* The teachers like the flexibility as much as we do. Many are top notch. I took two classes from professors that work at Google (Dr. Starner and Dr. Essa), one at Netflix (Dr. Lebanon), and a few others have their own startups.
* One of the classes was taught by Sebastian Thrun, with a TA at Google, but I think that's changed now.
* The lectures are good, but you have infinite ability to subsidize them with Udacity, Coursera etc.
* You learn squat by watching videos. The true learning happens at 2am when you are trying to implement something, and end up tinkering, debugging, etc. That's when things click.
* The hidden gem is Piazza and some of the amazing classmates that help you out. Lots of classmates that work in industry and can explain things a lot better. I.e: Actual data scientists and CTOs of Data Science companies taking the data science class. They were amazing and I owe my degree to them in part.
* Working full time and taking classes is not easy. Consider quitting and doing it peacefully.
* From within Google, I've heard from people that did the Stanford SCPD (I'm considering it) and also OMSCS. Lots of people that say the SCPD program wasn't worth the time and effort. No one yet that's said the same about the GT program.
I've heard from people that have done the program in-person, and they say the online lectures and materials are significantly better.