Is Georgia Tech OMSCS a good fit for someone wanting to be an independent developer?

Invoicing & Payments for Service Professionals
1

I’m seeking insights from those who may have faced similar challenges.

With nearly ten years of experience in non-technical jobs, I recently created an AI meme generator alongside some tech co-founders, making approximately $5000 a month. This venture has sparked my interest in transitioning into app development as a true profession.

However, I’m struggling with the basics of coding. While I can comfortably follow online tutorials and replicate code snippets, I often find myself lost when trying to create projects independently. Despite trying various online courses and leveraging AI assistance, my progress feels sluggish. I grasp concepts when explained, but applying them in practice remains difficult.

I am contemplating the Georgia Tech online master’s program for several reasons:

  • A structured program could help me grasp the fundamentals effectively.
  • Having a master’s degree from Georgia Tech would enhance my credentials.
  • I’d benefit from real-time feedback from instructors rather than just watching lectures.

Does this seem like a sensible choice for someone in my situation? I would love to hear from individuals who chose this path for less conventional reasons.

2

Making five grand monthly already means you get it.

3

Skip the master’s. You’re already pulling $5k monthly from something you built - that’s worth more than any degree. The issue isn’t credentials or needing classroom structure. You just need more reps building stuff from the ground up. Start small, scale up. Take that monthly cash and pump it into targeted courses or mentorship. Clients don’t care about your diploma - they care if you can deliver.

4

I made the same mistake - went back to school for business after starting my company. Wasted two years on theory while my business stagnated.

But you’ve got something I didn’t: steady income and tech-savvy partners. Leverage that. Get your co-founders to walk you through code while you’re actually working on your project.

That gap you mentioned - tutorials make sense but original projects don’t - totally normal. Same thing happened when I was learning accounting. Could follow examples fine, but my own books were a disaster.

What worked? Doing my actual business accounting monthly. Same messy problems over and over until it finally clicked.

Take some of that revenue and hire a mentor for a few hours weekly. Way cheaper than school and you’ll get feedback on real work, not pointless homework.

5

A master’s takes years and costs too much. You’re already making money from what you built, which shows you can figure stuff out.

Skip school. Pick a small project and build it from scratch. No tutorials or copying code. If you get stuck, look up exactly what you need.

Do this a few times and everything will click. It’s way faster than sitting through lectures about theory you’ll probably never use.

6

Skip the master’s. You’re already earning. Just focus on projects and get real hands-on experience instead.

7

That tutorial trap is brutal. I went through the same thing when I started freelancing.

Here’s what broke me out:

  • Pick one feature from your meme generator
  • Rebuild it completely without looking at the original code
  • Document every problem you hit and how you solved it

The Georgia Tech program won’t fix this. You need to get comfortable being lost and confused while building. That’s the job.

Your co-founders are right there making money with you. Ask them to do code reviews on small projects you build. Way more valuable than professor feedback.

That $5k monthly gives you freedom most people don’t have. Use it to fail fast on little projects instead of spending years in classrooms.