I have the degree and think this whole thing is a bit silly. I work at Google as a senior SWE, and have been focused on machine learning for the last 10 years. The degree taught me a few interesting things that I would have picked up on my own, and way more uninteresting things that I don’t need for my job. Despite the degree, getting a new job at a high level requires leetcode, which is similar in principle-- a toll booth that most people can pass if they pay the fee (studying).
Many things make this problematic, including basic respect for time, but especially equity. We get a largely homogenous neurotype and background because only a narrow slice of people have the ability and will to meet these requirements, and they are only very loosely correlated to job performance.
It’s a positive too though-- without these entry requirements, companies could not justify high salaries. I say this knowing it is to my detriment-- we do not need this.
I have the degree and think this whole thing is a bit silly. I work at Google as a senior SWE, and have been focused on machine learning for the last 10 years. The degree taught me a few interesting things that I would have picked up on my own, and way more uninteresting things that I don’t need for my job. Despite the degree, getting a new job at a high level requires leetcode, which is similar in principle-- a toll booth that most people can pass if they pay the fee (studying).
Many things make this problematic, including basic respect for time, but especially equity. We get a largely homogenous neurotype and background because only a narrow slice of people have the ability and will to meet these requirements, and they are only very loosely correlated to job performance.
It’s a positive too though-- without these entry requirements, companies could not justify high salaries. I say this knowing it is to my detriment-- we do not need this.