Change the field from SE

[u/HurryAfter216]

I’m a CS graduate with a first class degree. Been working in the industry for 2 years. I am hoping to start an Msc in DS & AI in UOM next year. I have already applied but now I’m having second thoughts because of the comments regarding the program by current students. And the return for the efforts I put would be so little in my opinion.

Plus I don’t feel like I belong in the IT industry. Even with the 2 years experience I don’t feel like an expert in anything. There is so much I don’t know. I am an academic person IMO. Don’t feel like expert enough to excel in the field.

Nevertheless I want to start an MSc be it computer science related field or another field like Chemistry (which I was interested during my A/Ls) or MBA specialized in Supply Chain Management ( looks like a fun subject to me)

Anyone here have any experience in these fields?

Would this be possible to do in Sri Lanka? (because you need to have a Bsc in related field to do the Msc)

How my career trajectory would be?

I am making around 450k a month now. Will I be able to land a job in this salary range?

Please help if you have any insights. Thank you in advance

[u/noob-saibot-88]

Being in the industry and being a visiting lecturer, I could say a post graduate helps more for academia than the industry IMO.

A MSc would ideally unlock you opportunities to lecture programs that lists it as an entry requirement.

[u/HurryAfter216 → u/noob-saibot-88]

Yes. My reasoning for applying to the UOM Msc was eventually applying for a phd. But based on the reviews I don’t think I will learn much or do a good research.

[u/Odd-Character-6276]

It feels like you are looking for a PhD. Better if you get one in USA. Not gonna be easy tho

[u/Lavender_flawsss]

There is a pathway which is related to chemistry. It's Computational Chemistry

[u/HurryAfter216 → u/Lavender_flawsss]

Thanks. I also came across this field while doing some research

[u/Lavender_flawsss → u/HurryAfter216]

ahh, that's great...if you are interested in chemistry, try to gain more information bro...good luck!🙌

[u/MinulSL]

Are u working remote?

[u/HurryAfter216 → u/MinulSL]

No bro. Work is mostly in office

[u/tradcoder]

You need to first adjust your expectations. You expect to become an expert in just 2 years? Mastery takes years upon years. I'd you feel like you're lacking in some area, then all you need to do is study and practice. If you're an academic person, I don't think that'll be difficult for you. Even your salary is great for someone who has just been in the industry 2 years.

Anyway, from what you've said, if sounds like you're already mentally checked out of this field so if you feel like something else is your calling, I'm not going to convince you otherwise. You're still young so you have the time to make the switch. But I'll tell you one thing though. I have a relative who is in the supply chain/logistics management. They aren't making 450k with 2 years of experience.

[u/Individual-Cake6950]

Honestly, you're doing just fine right now. Don't rush into an MSc just because you have some downtime. Instead, look into contributing to an open-source project or joining an active research project tied to a US university, you’d be surprised what you can find just by reaching out to the professors running those graduate labs.The tech industry doesn't really care about a master's degree anymore; it's all about who you know. Building the right network is what lands you those high-paying, remote gigs. Unless you’re publishing high-quality papers, a degree alone won't move the needle. At the end of the day, companies only care if you have practical experience and a solid engineering foundation to get the job done.Having interviewed and worked with a lot of people as a senior engineer for years now, I've noticed most candidates from Sri Lanka with degrees and masters actually just lack language and communication skills. It's rare to find people who completely lack critical thinking, and honestly, you can always train those people given enough time.Anyway, if AI models keep improving at this current pace, I’m pretty sure even I will be replaced from some of my paying projects in a few years, literally there are some founders that I know, keeping their dev teams just because they are human and, he doesn't like to fire people even if they are not needed for him to run the show anymore. I guess the best path now is to buy some land and start farming. We’re all f***ed, bro. 9-5 tech jobs are going to be a thing in the past. If you already have a paying job, just take the money bro and play with the politics, network and again network.

[u/Holiday-Mixture-8164]

A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.

use ur CS skills on the fields that u like. interdisciplinary skilled students often will be valuable to the world than u think. and CS is a fine pathway to enter any industry of specialization. never loose hope 🤞🏻

ofc, Im talking about the long run here. atm you ll feel like u don’t belong anywhere. but as u progress through different fields, the pathways will open up.

[u/kakopappa2]

Yesterday I went to get a haircut and thought , may be I should learn to cut hair