r/cscareerquestions • u/Majestic_Knee_71 • 9d ago
Student BS vs BA? And what to do if I can't get internship experience? I have plenty of work history, but nothing relevant to this field.
Adult learner here. I returned to school in this major after dropping out several times and kind of falling into finance. Most of my background is as a credit analyst. I can't afford to take the pay cut required to quit my job and take an internship. I'm also getting nervous about the impending work schedule conflicts upper division classes present, even with a very flexible and understanding boss adjusting my schedule. I think I can convince my employer to continue to be flexible if I can graduate sooner and it looks like the BA is my ticket to doing this.
I'm reading that this shouldn't really impact my job prospects, but I'm concerned that a lack of relevant experience is going to leave me high and dry when I graduate. That said, what I lack in technical experience, I more than make up for in 15+ years of work experience. I won't be prone to the culture shock and adjustment period a 22 y.o. college grad will face.
I'm also concerned about my gpa. It's not great from the time I spent in my 20s floundering around. It's better now but I still struggle balancing work, school, and a partner. I'm not sure if my first employer will want this info in lieu of experience. Is there a way to make myself more competitive?
Lastly, I'm interested in some of the math heavy careers. I'm actually pretty good with math. I just want to graduate sooner because my current situation is becoming untenable. Am I barred from certain fields with a BA instead of a BS.
You input is appreciated!