In a post-COVID dystopia or utopia depending on which half of the cup of water you’re looking at, the relevance of an online medium through which a degree can be administered, completed and conferred cannot possibly be overstated. A once-in-a-century pandemic aside, there is a multitude of other reasons for which one could contemplate enrolling in an online program. Namely, being a working professional with limited time, being a parent with children to juggle or simply not having access to a world-class university at your doorstep. Any combination of the aforementioned grounds, can render an online degree as an enticing option or even as a sole resort.
Introduction
My story began in early 2018. Having delved into the fourth year of a post-graduation career, I realized that the next logical step would be acquiring a masters degree. Given the competitive industry that I work in (research & development) and the ever changing landscape of the job market, I knew I had to sustain more brain damage to remain relevant. While my bachelors had been in mechanical engineering, my work as a Development Engineer at the time solicited that I develop data mining and data visualization software. As a result, I had acquired a wealth of exposure and affinity towards objected-oriented programming, data structures and algorithms. This coupled with the realization that data science was going to be as ubiquitous and impactful as the internet itself, convinced me to pursue it without hesitation.
Having a full-time job and not having access to a university offering a masters in data science in my vicinity, I was directed to scout the internet for online programs. While I had reservations at first regarding online degrees, mainly due to the negative conations and stigma associated with them, I promptly realized that such impulses were ill-founded and that there is in fact a quickly growing community of successful professionals who have completed their degrees online with tangibly positive results. Mind you, not all online programs are accredited or even legitimate, therefore due diligence is strongly advised.
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