A Long Term Review of My Degree After Using It For Two Years

27 September 2026

You know those tech reviews where someone comes back after six months with a phone and tells you what it’s actually like to live with? This is kind of that. I graduated from UC Irvine two years ago, which means I’ve had two years to “use” my degree. Since then, I’ve worked full time, moved to a new city, and travelled a little. Here’s what has held up, what surprised me, and what I wish I’d done differently.

The degree gives you a foundation

UCI gave me a foundation, and I mean that as a compliment. The degree is respected in the workplace. But it doesn’t create an instant “wow” factor, and it won’t do the extra work for you. The caliber of peers at a tech company is incredible. You still have to show what you can do, earn people’s trust, and keep learning. Honestly, that’s not a bad thing. I just think it’s useful to know before you graduate.

The forgotten classes

What surprised me most was how much course material I forgot. If I don’t use a skill regularly, it fades. Two years out, I can barely remember most of my general education classes, much less point to a practical application for each one. I used to think the specific classes I chose would matter a lot more later. In my experience, most of them haven’t.

What stayed with me was how to learn something new, build a habit, approach material I don’t understand, and manage stress when things pile up. I also learned how to propose a project and get other people interested in it. Those skills have followed me into work and life. That may be the most lasting part of my college education, and arguably, the most important pieces.

I wish I had slowed down

I hate to admit it, but I rushed through a lot of my time at UCI. I was trying to complete two majors while working part time. There were family issues going on, and I needed to earn money. At the time, those jobs felt necessary. Looking back, the stress of minimum-wage work took more from me than I realized. I earn significantly more now, and I sometimes wish I could buy that time back.

I know “slow down” isn’t advice everyone can afford to take. I couldn’t always take it myself. But if you have room to do less, or to spend a little more time enjoying where you are, I would take it.

The double major is another decision I see differently now. From a return-on-investment standpoint, it probably wasn’t the smartest choice: I could have graduated two quarters earlier without the second major, and my job is mostly related to my first one. Still, I’m glad I followed an interest while the stakes were relatively low. As you get older and take on more responsibilities, that freedom to explore can feel like a luxury. I can question the payoff and still value the experience.

The people part changes, too

Some of your closest college friends might feel like strangers a few years later. That’s sad, and it was hard for me to accept. People move, routines change, and even good friendships take effort to sustain. Loneliness can be part of life after graduation.

But the connection doesn’t disappear entirely. Every so often, I run into another Anteater in the wild, and there’s an easy point of recognition between us. It’s a small reminder that the place stays with you, even as your life changes.

So, would I recommend UCI after two years of using the degree? Yes, with realistic expectations. It gave me a strong starting point, people and experiences I’m grateful for, and ways of learning that I still rely on. The degree didn’t map out the next steps for me. I’ve had to figure those out as I go. If I could tell my student self one thing, it would be this: build the foundation, but make time to actually live there, too.