Yep, the alternative being going into industry. As fun as working for a startup was, I could tell there would be plenty of times it would still feel like the grind. Grad school affords me a lot of free time (granted, much of that can probably be attributed to the fact I go to a pretty sub-par school. I chose it for its location, not its academic reputation. 
. It's been a really pleasant couple of years.
I believe that all schools (above some minimum threshold) provide roughly the same education. The curriculum is generally the same, and in my opinion, so is the instruction. Honestly, most of the worst lecturers I've had were usually the most decorated. I think too many people, not meaning you of course, equate intelligence, even notability, with professorial excellence. They eventually come to find they're sadly mistaken. I've found that the major difference lies in the number of 'opportunities' on campus, which admittedly is almost circular logic because good students go to schools that recruit, while recruiters go to the schools that have good students... this is kind of how I think of academic reputation in general. Things like USNews & WorldReport have created simulacra, reputations that exists simply because we believe them to. And I agree, people don't value location enough when making this sort of decision. I've lived my entire life in a mediterranean-subtropical climate, and that's not likely to change
.
Sounds like it might be worthwhile for you. If you feel like you're lacking some fundamental skills that would give your competition an edge, then I'd say it's probably a worthwhile investment.
What is your major anyway?
My major is
Symbolic Systems with a concentration in
Neuroscience. I didn't want to complicate the question, but I'm also pre-medical, and I'm considering a MD/Ph.D in Neuroscience. I can dream about it anyway. That's a separate path from what I asked you though, since I could just learn whatever CS I needed while doing that. The basic theme in all this is that I never really knew what I wanted to do in high school or college, I never had that 'click' that actually goes off in a lot of people, the one that immediately decides their fate.
I originally wanted to do your major, as I think its curricula is the most aesthetically pleasing, in a fucked didactic sense. If educational reform ever becomes a reality, many people think that there will be a far greater emphasis in math and CS, particularly in childhood. Anyway, double majoring in Math/CS is very difficult here, as I'm sure it is every else. One big reason is you can't double-count classes, and there is too much overlap. At least I couldn't take it
. Also, biology is great now. In the last few years it has become highly rigorous/quantitative, which is always a good thing. It's at the point
some mathematician can just go in with rudimentary biological knowledge and still fuck shit up. So basically my interests are broad, which made the specificity and depth of the MS appealing.
It might be worth looking at other schools. It's understandable if you're unwilling to relocate, but most schools I'm familiar with (including some pretty good CS schools) pay tuition in full if you do an assistantship.
That's true, and if money becomes the deciding factor I'll probably consider doing so. However, there's pretty huge (as in almost guaranteed if you don't fuck up) advantage in applying here as a student. It's also simpler -- 3 recommendations and the GRE. I wouldn't mind moonlighting as well, since like you said, your workload isn't actually that large. Trickin' in Oaktown brings in large $ anyway.
Do you work at Google?
Haha, I do not. I meant that searching the interwebs wasn't especially helpful. Somewhat amusing story though: I went to a Google party in SF last year, as my friend from home was interning there during the summer. I was expecting the typical bourgeoisie bullshit, but instead we happened upon the most crunk (no other way to describe it) party I've ever been to here. Bitches stripping, product managers popping AND locking--even the software engineers appeared sociable at times
. It was interesting to say the least. Particularly since someone there might end up interviewing me someday.
From a software engineering perspective, certifications don't do much for you in my experience.
Word.
