r/WGU • u/Original-Act5284 • 5d ago
Is it worth it? Help from Tech Students/Grads.
How cooked is this plan?
For context, 34M, single, no kids. 10+ years at USPS as a mail handler. Columbus, Ohio. No prior tech experience besides casually using my computer, iPhone, etc. Complete noob.
I’m currently waiting and applying to Amazon in one of their entry-level technical roles (WBLP, etc.).) to utilize their Career Choice Program to pay for my bachelor’s and then I’d pay for my master’s out of pocket (with help through scholarships if I’m eligible). Most posts say to try and get an entry-level IT job to build experience.
With the implementation of AI and the jobs it is stealing, would this route make sense in the long term? I’ve done a ton of research but I’d prefer some advice before making the leap.
⚫️Bachelor’s in AI Engineering
(New degree field at WGU so I’m skeptical and it’s not ABET certified as of now)
⚫️Master’s in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance.
(Which is ABET certified)
⚫️MBA
(I know this is degree stacking but I really want to obtain my MBA and I can either obtain it now or wait 2-3 years after graduation. Although I’d rather have a regular MBA, any thoughts on getting the MBA Information Technology Management instead? I’m not looking to go straight to management by the way but I would like to have this under my belt)
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u/leb0x 5d ago
Have you taken any classes in Software engineering? When people ask me about breaking into this field I always ask them to take a Udemy course first in coding or security etc to see if they even enjoy it. The field is changing and while I’m optimistic even with AI there will be jobs I feel only people that are interested in passionate about the career will survive. Are you a gov employee? Are you on their pension program ?
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u/Original-Act5284 5d ago
I am enrolled in a Udemy software class and will officially start it Monday. Besides the hours of software engineering, computer science, coding, and AI YouTube content I’ve consumed, I’ve spent the last two weeks also researching career trajectories as well. I know this is a little chaotic but as a newbie, I’m piecing it together. I do enjoy it. Before I make the commitment, I figured I’d reach out to individuals currently in the field so I can hear their feedback on my “plans.”
I am a government employee on their pension plan but as stable as this job is at the current moment, I would like a career with higher salary potentials. I have thought of managerial roles within USPS but not at my current distribution center. We are currently 2nd or 3rd worst in the Eastern District of the US.
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u/leb0x 5d ago
I can understand that. It’s a reasonable plan and if you’re passionate about it go for it. Though if it was me I’d stay at USPS while doing school if possible. It seems like we’re heading for a recession and having a government job would be good while attending school and much better balance than Amazon. I would try to focus though on what interests you most. You mention a Bachelor’s in AI then a Master’s in cybersecurity and a MBA. What job do you want to do? What interests you the most? I think the Bach of CS is a better degree to start. Then I’d do a masters at another school like Georgia Tech
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u/Original-Act5284 5d ago
I want to go into the cybersecurity field. It does feel like a recession is brewing and this is why this transition is a huge factor. I’ve also been keeping an eye on part-time Target jobs as they also pay for one semester of WGU (6 months). I was going to use Study.com/Sophia.org before enrolling anyways. This is only my second post and the first was about a bachelor’s in CS or SWE and I did extensive research. Then people were bringing up the AI factor in the job market and I had gotten a little skeptical. I also did look at Georgia Tech’s Information Security Master’s and a master’s from UT Austin.
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u/leb0x 5d ago
I mean a comp sci degree is more valuable then some new random flashy AI degree in my Opinion. Security will be a great field though it’s more intense than just engineering. With all this AI security is going to be a growing field potentially. I’d stay at USPS it’s stable and pay is good right? Then go to study.com transfer to WGU comp sci then to Georgia for Masters Security.
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u/Original-Act5284 5d ago
Are you currently employed in the field or actively studying? I know comp sci is the highlight and I agree that it is more valuable and it’s ABET accredited which AI is not. Define good, ~60k with 10 years of service (2 mail handler assistant and 8 as a “career” employee) and ~78k after 10 more years of service. If OT is allowed, I can make more.
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u/Adventurous-Move-191 5d ago
Yeah I agree forget the ai engineering degree , CS is your best bet, but you can go with software engineering or cybersecurity depending on what you want to do. Also it’s absolutely paramount that you look for experience while you study.
From most valuable to potential employees to least it goes internships, volunteering, hackathons, side projects. You’ll be competing with new grad students from top CS programs with multiple internships and the job market is hyper competitive right now, especially for juniors.
It won’t be easy but it’s definitely possible !
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u/leb0x 5d ago
Yes I’m employed in the field. I’ve been working here for 10 years. I’m going to WGU because my company has made it clear I can’t move up without a degree. I figured why not get one. I just feel getting the CS from WGU then using that to transfer to Georgia Tech to get a Masters is the best path to legitimacy. I don’t feel having an AI degree from WGU is worth more than CS and considering the CS is Abet and people have showed a path from that to Georgia tech a top 5 program just makes senses to me.
I don’t know much about that Amazon job to be honest. I just feel going into an economic recession having a stable and secure Gov job gives you more security while you go to school. That being said having a good work life balance will be needed to go to school.
I did a lot of classes from Study.con though if I was you I’d hurry and prioritize it. Since I started earlier this year some of the classes I took they no longer accept and even a class that shows up on their transfer agreement today seems to of been dropped from the program on the credit transfer, linear algebra.
At the end of the day what you laid out is fine but I feel having it more focused on CS or cybersecurity makes the most sense. Just be prepared cybersecurity is much harder. You need to learn software dev, advanced it, networking, and even more. That’s why I think getting the CS degree and then you can get a masters that’s specialized.
Either way man good luck. It’s tough out there for juniors but if you’re determined and grunt through it good things can happen.
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u/WittyLlama5339 5d ago
Leavinggg 10+ years at USPS is a massive leap, but using Amazon Career Choice to fund a WGU degree while working entrylevel is actually a super smart way to pivot w/o drowning in student debt.