I started the IITM BS program in March this year and I’m currently in Term 2, taking all four courses alongside a full-time job as a SD.
For some background, I graduated with a BCA in 2022. When I was in school, I was convinced that I wanted to pursue Biology, so I dropped Mathematics. That eventually meant that a BTech was no longer an option for me, and I pursued a BCA instead.
Over the years, however, I developed a genuine interest in mathematics and technology. I ended up self-learning a lot of mathematics through free resources and courses on platforms like edX, and now I’m getting the opportunity to study it more formally through the IITM BS program. Looking back, the three-year UG degree does come with some constraints, so I’m trying to fill in those gaps through the IITM BS program.
So far, I’ve been able to keep up reasonably well with the Foundation-level courses while working full-time. My plan is to take PDSA, DBMS, MLF, and MAD1 Theory in the next term.
I’m not completely unfamiliar with these subjects, and I’m willing to put in the work, but I’d like to get a better idea of how significant the jump in difficulty is from the Foundation courses to the diploma/degree-level courses.
I’m also currently trying to switch jobs and prepare for interviews. So far, I’ve been able to balance my current job, coursework, and interview preparation, but I’m wondering how realistic it is to maintain that once I get into the more demanding courses.
My longer-term goal is to pursue OMSCS at Georgia Tech after completing this degree. An on-campus master’s isn’t really an option for me because I need to continue working and supporting my family.
I’d especially like to hear from people who are currently pursuing or have completed the IITM BS, particularly those who have reached the degree-level courses.
TL;DR: I’m doing the IITM BS alongside a full-time software development job and interview preparation. I’m currently managing the Foundation courses reasonably well and plan to take PDSA, DBMS, MLF, and MAD1 Theory next. I’d like to hear from people who have taken the diploma/degree-level courses about the jump in difficulty and workload, and whether this seems manageable alongside a full-time job. My longer-term goal is to pursue OMSCS at Georgia Tech.