What's the best option: quit full time job to focus on getting CS degree or continue with both?

[masterori]

I'm still in school and was offered a full time IT job awhile ago. I took it because I thought it'd help pay for school and that I could balance both a full time job and classes. I was wrong, it's really hard taking classes with a full time job. I'm only able to take 1-2 classes each quarter.

So since I've saved up enough to pay for school, what's the best option to take? I was thinking of quitting and start doing internships again. Would companies still consider me for software engineer internships if I've already held a full time IT position?

Or should I just keep my job and slowly inch my way to graduation? If I do quit, then I could finish by May 2017. If I don't, then maybe Dec 2017 or later. But by then, I wouldn't have any relevant experience in software development....

 

[Kewlx25]

Don't forget about student loans and grants. As long as you're good enough in CS to make a living, low interest government loans are an investment. Just be careful, they'll give you all the rope you want to hang yourself with if you don't spend your education money wisely.

 

[Ralston18]

Do not quit. May 2017 to Dec 2017 is only 7 months.

Perhaps your employer will provide some assistance: just ask.

Working your way through college is a plus sign in the eyes of many potential employers. Internships are valid in many ways but can be viewed as just some "filler" opportunity.

Once you have your degee your employer may or may not recognize the value you bring to the company. If not, then you can start looking elsewhere with both experience and a degree under your belt.

Yes it is hard and may continue to be so until you graduate. Best to do it all now as time will just make things harder.

 

[masterori]

Do not quit. May 2017 to Dec 2017 is only 7 months.

Perhaps your employer will provide some assistance: just ask.

Working your way through college is a plus sign in the eyes of many potential employers. Internships are valid in many ways but can be viewed as just some "filler" opportunity.

Once you have your degee your employer may or may not recognize the value you bring to the company. If not, then you can start looking elsewhere with both experience and a degree under your belt.

Yes it is hard and may continue to be so until you graduate. Best to do it all now as time will just make things harder.

But the experience I have would be IT experience, not software experience. Which is why I want to consider getting an internship instead.
The Dec 2017 is a maybe but most probably be after that.

 

[Ralston18]

As hard as it may be, and is, I would still suggest staying with the full-time job. Even if you go beyond Dec 2017 with your classes.

Jobs are hard to come by and although internships are valuable you may end up with some "make work" or "less than meaningful" tasks. Which can be okay if the academics are really tough.

Obviously I do not know the full circumstances regarding, you, the jobs, etc.. So in that case go with what you deem best as long as your decision is carefully considered and you understand the various risks and trade-offs.

And consider reading "CyberSecurity Leadership" by Dr. Mansur Hasib. IT is going beyond the "nuts and bolts" of it all. Book is very applicable and easy to read in its short chapters format covering many IT world topics. Or find some of his presentations online.

Difficult to see ahead in time and things always change. But it is better to have a plan and a path than none at all. Make the best decision for you, have a fallback option, and hope for the best.

 

[Autumn2607]

Maybe i am conservative, but i would chose to focus on school.