I’m in my late 40s and I just got a bachelor’s degree. I just started a masters program. It’s never too late.
no, but at 23 you’d wish you started at 22
as the saying goes the best time to start was when you were 6 the second best time is now
Underrated comment…
Don’t ever, and I mean ever, let anyone tell you that you’re too old to try something new. If anyone ever does, know, deep in your heart, that person is insecure and afraid of being their authentic self. Go forth, try new things, learn new knowledge, find out you don’t like things, sometimes get frustrated, and discover the things that make life worth living for you. You will be so much happier if you set aside what anyone else will think of you and focus on “This interests me”
I don’t understand why you would think 22 is too old? Am I missing something?
Think OP just needs some perspective and probably got it.
If it’s something you’re passionate about, you’re never too old.
Where are you from? This is a strange sentiment from my perspective. I didn’t even know what I wanted to do when I was 22. But I had the privilege of growing up in a country that doesn’t burden youth with high interest university debt. I appreciate that in some countries you need to get a job as soon as you finish studying to pay loans etc. To answer your question specifically, no, 22 is not too old to start studying computer science.
I’m from Israel.
Where does the pressure to choose a career so early come from?
Societal pressure to “settle down” as young as possible. Due to the economy of course that has become a very unrealistic expectation.
Dude, most people in Israel start a degree around 22-24 in Israel. You’re not the only one who served 3 years in the military. Starting a degree earlier is almost exclusively for privileged people. If you can get accepted to a uni at 22, that’s actually really early - you’d be the youngest post-army person in class.
If you didn’t serve in the military, at least you’re not behind in academic terms.
edit: this isn’t even taking into account the perspective of age. The time you’ll have between finishing the degree and just being 40 is A LOT longer than it seems at 22. I’m 29, you have soooooooo much time. And on a second age perspective, even at 40 it’s not a bad idea because you can just do whatever you want.
TL;DR just go for it
That’s tough, I’m sorry you have to deal with that. I didn’t know what I wanted to do at 22. I’m grateful I spent time to work out what I was passionate about. I started working in tech when I was about nearly 30. My career has been fulfilling because it’s something I enjoy and I’m passionate about. Good luck mate
How did you get started with your career change? Earn a degree or some certs maybe?
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Absolutely not.
In 4 years, you will be 26. That will happen regardless of your decision. But you can choose now whether you will be a 26-year-old with a CompSci degree, or a 26-year-old without one.
(It’s also pretty common in IT to see people go back to formal education to update their skills)
22? Old?
Bahahaha. I’m still learning complex stuff and I’m double that.
In a word, no. In a longer word, noooooo.
You made me spitu beer out in a dark room. Thanks for making my world happier and wettier.
Yo man this isn’t enders game
Logan’s run
Hmm… You got me curious, context?
Enders game is a book/movie about a future human civilitation that is under attack of an alien species. To ensure survival they train children as strategists because they take more risk and use unconventional tactics. They are basically saying “nobody requires you to be young here”.
The thing with computer science is that it’s always changing, so everyone has to keep learning it regardless of age or prior experience, or they’ll risk getting left behind.
I’m doing just fine on Java 5 thank you very much.
Not even remotely.
That’s how old I was when I started pursuing it seriously instead of just dabbling. Two decades and change later and it’s still a choice I don’t regret.
The basics are fairly straightforward and the field is wide, deep, and mutable enough that everyone’s always picking up new things anyway. The only thing that’ll make you different from your peers is the ratio of how many birthdays you’ve celebrated v. how much direct experience you have. Thankfully that metric is spread out far enough amongst CS folks that it’s only useful as a point of conversational amusement and has no bearing on one’s ability to do the actual work.
The answer to is X years too old to start Y activity is almost always no.
There are some notable exceptions though. Like “Is 37 too old to start dating teenagers?”
Yup, that’ why I added ‘almost’.
I started doing digital design and animation at 29. Made a career out of it. I think you are safe.
