A strategy for mastering a profession, a second higher education or an independent study?

Question

IT education

I have my first higher education - classical technical education (MGTU named after Bauman (not IU)), 2.5 years as completed.
There is an interest and desire to develop in the field of programming, especially data analysis attracts (rather within the framework of scientific tasks such as analysis in biology and medicine).
As such, there are no programming skills yet (with the exception of a small base given in the first year), I recently work in IT, but not as a programmer.
Now I am considering 2 options:
1. HSE Master's degree. Pros: a full 2 ​​years of study, a systematic approach, an environment of like-minded people. Cons: 2 years of study practically exclude the possibility of a full-time job, and this is a blow to the financial situation and the loss of practical experience.
2. Self-study. Pros: I can quickly take care of something and try to find a job. Cons: I might miss something important. There are no hard deadlines - motivation is lost, most importantly, there is no confidence that by studying on my own I will be competitive with a graduate of the same HSE.
Advise which way to go, please, I will also be glad if you share your experience.

Answer 1

1. Do whatever you want.
2. If it is difficult to make a choice, then read about multi-criteria selection methods with different criteria weights and, possibly, based on fuzzy sets or a probabilistic approach. They are just for such cases invented.
3. Let's look at your options: a)+3-2=1 b)+2-3=-1. The answer is obvious: the first option.
4. Recursively ask yourself five times: "Why do I need this?" This will clear things up.
5. "Analysis in Biology and Medicine" != "Higher School of Economics"
6. It is much better to study on your own if you are not a man or live in Russia (CIS, Asia).
7. Competitiveness depends little on the degree of higher education. It depends on your skills and ability to tolerate low pay.
8. Science != career, although many "scientists" are engaged in the development of budgets

Answer 2

Learn for yourself. Learn faster, there will be no "water" which is in the university. There is already some kind of practice of real work ...
Look towards online courses / training if you yourself do not know how to study

Answer 3

Find a job on the topic you want to master. To do this, honestly admit at the interview that you don’t know a damn thing and are ready to consider the proposed payment options. In a year or two of work, master (if you are lucky and have someone to learn from) a level that you will never be given in any university.

Answer 4

Don't waste your time on the second tower.
Unless this is fundamentally required by the personnel department of your organization.
For example, you can't work as a doctor with a journalist's tower.