CMU degree vs. 200k ?
- Thread starter Zsaleem
- Start date
Do you know why do you need the degree, what are you going to do with the knowledge acquired there?. If you know quite precisely what you will be able to do with it, then go for it.
If you're just doing it just because it gives you more reputation or supposed connections, I say keep working your ass off and keep making money.
If you're just doing it just because it gives you more reputation or supposed connections, I say keep working your ass off and keep making money.
Keep making money and go to college for fun later, when you are 21-22. You will be that cool relaxed self-made guy who is older then the rest of the freshmen, close to professors, tells tales from experience and goes to bars. You'll be having a networking vacation and doing three chicks at the same time, three chicks at the same time.
Again, not a cpa but do your own research before talking to professionals as well. Read this:Publication 970 (2011), Tax Benefits for Education
Even got a nice little flow chart for you visual learners:www.irs.gov/publications/p970/25221v05.html
Look I see what your posting, but coming from a real world angle here - good luck finding a CPA that wants to back you going to school as a work related expense. I tried this with a couple and it's a giant red flag. There is already a hefty sized education credit just for being a student.
It was a few years ago and I finished my degree on my own dime anyway but based on that wording, I see why I was advised against it. Seems like a guaranteed audit.
Guess I'm lucky then. Used tuition payments as business expenses all throughout college with no audit. Just point the IRS to this thread and I'm sure they'd instantly agree that no gay webmaster needs a college degree to succeed.
CLKeenan, I don't get you exactly, maybe because system works differently here.
Are you advising me to talk to CPA to show my education as business expenditure to get relieved from taxes ? In India I pay zero taxes, right, zero. Only have to pay my accounts-guy 300$/year and then I don't have to pay a single penny.
Are you advising me to talk to CPA to show my education as business expenditure to get relieved from taxes ? In India I pay zero taxes, right, zero. Only have to pay my accounts-guy 300$/year and then I don't have to pay a single penny.
Ah. Forgot that you're not a us citizen. Guessing it works differently in India. That knowledge was for general consumption as well
Just my opinion, BUT...
For the most part, I think that there are a couple of different kinds of programmers; the self taught and the institution taught. The people who are self taught are in general more motivated to learn new things, but the people who have a formal background are more used to working on shit they don't want to do and have a much more solid foundation in programming concepts which can be really nice.
Personally I am,for the most part, self taught and a hobbyist (I never went to any of my technical classes, just showed up for the exams and passed them). The type of people I met at college ruined any concept I ever entertained of computers being a cool or fun hobby, but that's another story entirely.
Being in a position to have a lot of input on hiring of developers at my current job, we've been through a few and my sense is that I would much rather hire a programmer with a formal background than someone who is just self taught. I'm generalizing a lot, so if you feel like arguing about this save it - I'm already ceding that you (you in a broad sense, not you as in (
) ) have a very valid point whatever it is. Unless you're some expert level senior developer who has been doing this for 15+ years professionally, I'd probably rather have the kid with a diploma and a couple of years of working experience.Or maybe the good ones don't want a job making the kind of stuff you want
Nah we interviewed 30-40 dif coders and they all sucked.
Zsaleem,
Here is the thought process of an 'older' guy: There is a LOT of value that is not actually documented that you can gain by attending CMU.
You being from India will come to the United States meeting some of the best and brightest minds in the world. More importantly you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the American culture which is quite different from anywhere else. I came over from Germany and even though things are pretty similar, there are some huge very 'under the radar' differences. Things like NFL football, Rose Bowl, Sweet 16, World Series, Fonzie, Macy's Parade, Thanksgiving and Super Bowl parties will actually mean something to you. It's one thing to 'read' about it - it's a whole other thing 'experiencing' it.
You will gain life experiences coming to a new country, meeting new people but more importantly you will still have structure and a safety net build in. People in college from Professors, Counselors and fellow students will support you in your endeavor of learning something new. It will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a STRUCTURED environment. This can NOT be underestimated in my mind.
Going to CMU will be a huge academical but also emotional challenge. As some others have said you will study with some amazing people and work with great professors. Some of these will become life long FRIENDS and some good acquaintances that you can network with for the rest of your life. People that you meet 10 years from now that went to CMU before or after you, will automatically feel a bond that can not be described because you went to the same school.
There is a friend of mine here that recently graduated from one of the better colleges in the U.S. and I'm constantly blown away by the people he meets and gets to know simply because they went to the same college. Having never gotten the 'formal' education myself I'm hugely conscious of that. There is something to be said to NOT being the lone wolf ALL the time.
If in one or two years you decide you don't really 'need' the degree, more power to you. At that time however you will be familiar with your surroundings, created these friendships and have a good understanding on how things are run around here. In the next couple of years you will grow physically, emotionally and will start to change into the person and more importantly the 'MAN' you WANT to be. What better environment to be in then with some of the best in the world?
Your internet business can be run from your college dorm room and it can keep making you money. If need to be, hire some of your fellow students to work FOR YOU while you are busy soaking up knowledge. You might get incredible ideas and build a synergy by working with them that you would not be able to achieve on your own.
Now, if you had said that you wanted to come over to get a liberal arts degree, MBA or some such, I would have said don't waste your time or money.
With this though... since you HAVE the money and do not need to take out loans, you have everything to gain and not much to loose.
Here is the thought process of an 'older' guy: There is a LOT of value that is not actually documented that you can gain by attending CMU.
You being from India will come to the United States meeting some of the best and brightest minds in the world. More importantly you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the American culture which is quite different from anywhere else. I came over from Germany and even though things are pretty similar, there are some huge very 'under the radar' differences. Things like NFL football, Rose Bowl, Sweet 16, World Series, Fonzie, Macy's Parade, Thanksgiving and Super Bowl parties will actually mean something to you. It's one thing to 'read' about it - it's a whole other thing 'experiencing' it.
You will gain life experiences coming to a new country, meeting new people but more importantly you will still have structure and a safety net build in. People in college from Professors, Counselors and fellow students will support you in your endeavor of learning something new. It will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a STRUCTURED environment. This can NOT be underestimated in my mind.
Going to CMU will be a huge academical but also emotional challenge. As some others have said you will study with some amazing people and work with great professors. Some of these will become life long FRIENDS and some good acquaintances that you can network with for the rest of your life. People that you meet 10 years from now that went to CMU before or after you, will automatically feel a bond that can not be described because you went to the same school.
There is a friend of mine here that recently graduated from one of the better colleges in the U.S. and I'm constantly blown away by the people he meets and gets to know simply because they went to the same college. Having never gotten the 'formal' education myself I'm hugely conscious of that. There is something to be said to NOT being the lone wolf ALL the time.
If in one or two years you decide you don't really 'need' the degree, more power to you. At that time however you will be familiar with your surroundings, created these friendships and have a good understanding on how things are run around here. In the next couple of years you will grow physically, emotionally and will start to change into the person and more importantly the 'MAN' you WANT to be. What better environment to be in then with some of the best in the world?
Your internet business can be run from your college dorm room and it can keep making you money. If need to be, hire some of your fellow students to work FOR YOU while you are busy soaking up knowledge. You might get incredible ideas and build a synergy by working with them that you would not be able to achieve on your own.
Now, if you had said that you wanted to come over to get a liberal arts degree, MBA or some such, I would have said don't waste your time or money.
With this though... since you HAVE the money and do not need to take out loans, you have everything to gain and not much to loose.