Is pursuing a CS degree still worth it in 2026? Does anyone else feel more trapped than inspired by university?
Hello dear redditors! Lately I’ve been questioning whether pursuing a CS degree is truly worth it for me at this point of time.
Because I absolutely am not liking it, the university, the environment, tbf I'm not getting along with it. I genuinely enjoy learning, creating, building ideas, and exploring things on my own terms. But the more I continue this degree, the more disconnected I feel from who i genuinely am and what i want to become.
A few reasons i feel that way;
-The curriculum feels heavily outdated compared to the tools, technologies, and skills currently being used in the industry.
-Most of my energy goes into surviving assessments, exams, deadlines, and academic pressure rather than actually learning practical skills.
-and because of that pressure, I barely get time to focus on things I truly want to explore, whether that’s learning modern skills, experimenting with ideas, or trying small business ventures of my own.
-The job market already feels extremely uncertain, especially in Bangladesh. A degree no longer guarantees stability the way it once did.
-With AI advancing this fast, I honestly wonder what the future of entry-level jobs will even look like in the next 5–10 years.
So recently I’ve been asking myself wether Would it be wiser to continue forcing myself through a path that drains me mentally, or take a break and try building something on my own while I still have the time, support, and flexibility to experiment? (I'm 23 btw)
My father somewhat supports the idea of exploring alternatives, while my mother strongly suggests I should finish the degree first.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞. 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 (𝐎𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟) 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝟗–𝟓 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
Currently I'm living a pretty simple lifestyle. I don’t chase extravagance. I care more about peace of mind, meaningful work, and having ownership over my time and life, which matters more than anything to me.
At the same time, I also understand that dropping out or taking a break comes with risks such as Career uncertainty, Social pressure, Possibility of regret later etc.
So I’m genuinely trying to think realistically and long-term here not emotionally.
For those who’ve been through similar thoughts, Would you prioritize finishing the degree first for security, or take the risk early and try building something independently while young?
So I’d really like to hear from people who have
-Taken unconventional paths,
-Dropped out or taken academic breaks
-Pursued business/self-employment instead of corporate careers
-Or even completed their degree despite feeling disconnected from it
Looking back now, what decision are you grateful you made and why?
Thanks for your time and attention!