Also did OMSCS. Highly recommend it. The problem with self-learning is that sometimes you convince yourself that you understand something when you really don't.
Only when you get smacked by an exam or an assignment you realize that you've been fooling yourself.
The ML and Systems track is pretty hardcore. If you survive those you have pretty good foundational knowledge.
Fair warning though - the program is not a joke. Georgia Tech always leans towards application. You will spend a lot of time writing code and tinkering, but it's worth it if you want to learn a ton.
One reservation I have when I read about these MS programs is that they often sound like they will be heavy on group work. I see where that is valuable to prepare people just starting off in their career, but as someone who has been doing "group work" for the past 10 years irl, I'm not really interested in the mock UN version of having a day job.
Have your classes been built around group projects, or can you go it alone if you're doing it for kicks? I'd love to spend some time studying CS and end up with something to show for it, but I'm not interested in group-work-as-workplace-prep.
The only time I did group work was for the Deep Learning class (2-4 people) and my group members were excellent. Other than that one, no group work for me.
The key is to pick classes that are hard, and form groups early. People that reach out earlier usually have their shit together.
Current OMSCS student here (4 classes down, 6 to go). I'll second this comment, so far I've been impressed with the program. It's definitely rigorous, but I've already learned a lot.
Only when you get smacked by an exam or an assignment you realize that you've been fooling yourself.
The ML and Systems track is pretty hardcore. If you survive those you have pretty good foundational knowledge.
Fair warning though - the program is not a joke. Georgia Tech always leans towards application. You will spend a lot of time writing code and tinkering, but it's worth it if you want to learn a ton.