Programmer P1 got a BA in English, worked a few years in sales, doing programming as a hobby. P1 then got a tech support job, and got serious about learning programming on the side. P1 landed an entry level web developer job, and gradually worked from that to more and more serious programming, changing companies a few times. At the current time P1 is a senior level programmer/architect after about 15 years in the business.
Programmer P2 got a BSCS, and a job as a programmer for a few years. P2 then went to back to school for that MS in CS, and then got a new job, and then another, and so on. Eventually, P2 is working at the same company as P1, same job title and responsibilities, also after about 15 years in the business.
P1 and P2 are doing the same job at approximately the same level of proficiency, with about the same amount of experience, and similar knowledge and ability. What's the difference?
P2 is 6 years younger and makes $15K more per year.
In my experience, knowledge gives you ability, but diplomas give you marketability. If you know now that programming is what you want to do, having both is better than just one.
For a corporate programmer, whether you go straight to the MS or get some work experience first, doesn't much matter in the long run. If a PhD and research and teaching are your future, don't wait, get degrees ASAP.
Programmer P1 got a BA in English, worked a few years in sales, doing programming as a hobby. P1 then got a tech support job, and got serious about learning programming on the side. P1 landed an entry level web developer job, and gradually worked from that to more and more serious programming, changing companies a few times. At the current time P1 is a senior level programmer/architect after about 15 years in the business.
Programmer P2 got a BSCS, and a job as a programmer for a few years. P2 then went to back to school for that MS in CS, and then got a new job, and then another, and so on. Eventually, P2 is working at the same company as P1, same job title and responsibilities, also after about 15 years in the business.
P1 and P2 are doing the same job at approximately the same level of proficiency, with about the same amount of experience, and similar knowledge and ability. What's the difference?
P2 is 6 years younger and makes $15K more per year.
In my experience, knowledge gives you ability, but diplomas give you marketability. If you know now that programming is what you want to do, having both is better than just one.
For a corporate programmer, whether you go straight to the MS or get some work experience first, doesn't much matter in the long run. If a PhD and research and teaching are your future, don't wait, get degrees ASAP.