I’d go with Cambridge for the experience alone. Letting this AI stuff shake out some more is also a bonus. Amazon could leave you laid off in 6 months. Once you get the masters, you have that for life, and a lot more options.
There will be corporations waiting to employ people the rest of your life. Going back to school later if you change your mind is a lot harder once you’ve started to build a life. Solidify that foundation now while it’s easy and you’re still in school mode.
al_borland
Do NOT work for Amazon!
If you had a different offer, I'd say consider it, but Amazon is VERY likely to leave you high and dry within 12 months. Never ever trust that company unless you are completely willing and able to land on your feet when they unceremoniously kick you to the curb tomorrow for no good reason other than some manager needed a scapegoat to make his numbers look good.
Do yourself a favor, stay out of the current mess of a market, stay away from Amazon, and take some extra time to learn more and become more employable.
Also, never trust Reddit. It's like 50% bots and trolls and 50% idiots who have no idea what they're talking about whatsoever but like to make themselves feel like they're smart by saying whatever dumb unfounded idea comes to their head. It's just as bad or worse than Twitter. Would you take advice from random people on Twitter?
xingped
Cambridge. Train the human, not the machine.
Amazon will still be there, if that’s what you decide for your soul afterward. If you made the cut now, you’ll make the cut again in future.
The world is so much bigger than commerce. Even if you choose to work the world of commerce, you’ll have a richer experience of it, and bring more subtle value to your professional career, entering into it with eyes that can see other hues in the outside world.
Plus relationships with a cohort of smart thoughtful humans who are engaging with the world from other perspectives, as you all go into the decades ahead.
alwa
My general advice to students is to avoid big companies as your first job. You will be a tiny cog in a huge machinery and will drown in cooperate politics you don't yet understand.
If I was in your position I would try to combine masters with working at a startup or a small company.
throwa356262
I'd chose Cambridge every time. But that's because I think I'd enjoy the time on the campus much more than in the corporate hell of Amazon. YMMV.
_ink_
If the CS master is free(!), then go for it.
If you have to pay -lets say- 30.000 bucks, rethink.
The additional time of being student will open you newer doors, than if you are already working - assumption: IF the CS master is free, otherwise it may not pay off
Being a student is a huge privilege in most countries accordings to different costs/fees/taxes - so I recommend everyone to keep this status, as long AS IT IS FREE and legally possible.
KellyCriterion
Like all engineering answers: It depends
If you want money, status symbols and no life = Amazon. Oh, you might gain some experience that is near useless in a non-FAANG org.
If you value life, freedom, keeping your mind active, living up to your full potential then Cambridge.
In my experience, the hedonic treadmill is the biggest trap. But I only arrived at that conclusion after running furiously for decades and having little to show for it, well except for a burnt out husk.
GianFabien
Reddit is full of desperate crabs pulling you down into the bucket. Go to Cambridge, that's literally a once in a lifetime opportunity.
astro-lizard
I work at an AWS consulting firm and have worked with several employees in the AWS product and professional services team. Overall the general culture I've seen is for employees to get ahead by throwing others under the bus. I know I'm generalizing to all of AWS, but the work culture isn't the best in my opinion to be absorbed in.
throwaway_aws_2
Cambridge- for a few reasons: (A) Amazon would likely offer you another position if you still wanted to work there. (B) It’ll probably never be easier for you to go to, and do well, in school than at your current age / position. (C) You’ll meet a wide variety of people that’ll broaden your horizons.
comments (10)
There will be corporations waiting to employ people the rest of your life. Going back to school later if you change your mind is a lot harder once you’ve started to build a life. Solidify that foundation now while it’s easy and you’re still in school mode.
al_borland
If you had a different offer, I'd say consider it, but Amazon is VERY likely to leave you high and dry within 12 months. Never ever trust that company unless you are completely willing and able to land on your feet when they unceremoniously kick you to the curb tomorrow for no good reason other than some manager needed a scapegoat to make his numbers look good.
Do yourself a favor, stay out of the current mess of a market, stay away from Amazon, and take some extra time to learn more and become more employable.
Also, never trust Reddit. It's like 50% bots and trolls and 50% idiots who have no idea what they're talking about whatsoever but like to make themselves feel like they're smart by saying whatever dumb unfounded idea comes to their head. It's just as bad or worse than Twitter. Would you take advice from random people on Twitter?
xingped
Amazon will still be there, if that’s what you decide for your soul afterward. If you made the cut now, you’ll make the cut again in future.
The world is so much bigger than commerce. Even if you choose to work the world of commerce, you’ll have a richer experience of it, and bring more subtle value to your professional career, entering into it with eyes that can see other hues in the outside world.
Plus relationships with a cohort of smart thoughtful humans who are engaging with the world from other perspectives, as you all go into the decades ahead.
alwa
If I was in your position I would try to combine masters with working at a startup or a small company.
throwa356262
_ink_
If you have to pay -lets say- 30.000 bucks, rethink.
The additional time of being student will open you newer doors, than if you are already working - assumption: IF the CS master is free, otherwise it may not pay off
Being a student is a huge privilege in most countries accordings to different costs/fees/taxes - so I recommend everyone to keep this status, as long AS IT IS FREE and legally possible.
KellyCriterion
If you want money, status symbols and no life = Amazon. Oh, you might gain some experience that is near useless in a non-FAANG org.
If you value life, freedom, keeping your mind active, living up to your full potential then Cambridge.
In my experience, the hedonic treadmill is the biggest trap. But I only arrived at that conclusion after running furiously for decades and having little to show for it, well except for a burnt out husk.
GianFabien
astro-lizard
throwaway_aws_2
colejhudson