[cdrxndr]

Hey bruv, another fellow alum from the engineering school.

I agree with your sentiment regarding the value of connections, and that's where the premium cost of on-campus MS programs comes in. But there is a clear value to getting a degree with a reputation and accreditation versus learning the same material independently.

Additionally, defending a thesis to a random professor thousands of miles away isn't far off from my real-world work environment. Worked for IBM and literally never met my manager during my tenure. Currently work at a firm with colleagues predominantly across the world and have to manage direct reports, solve problems, and build rapport all the same. Getting things done despite being remote is the direction.