When Matthew Daiter, a native of New Jersey, signed up for the University of Colorado Boulder’s online MS in Electrical Engineering program, he carried nearly ten years of practical experience. No undergraduate qualification. No standard academic journey. Merely a “unique educational route,” an optimistic mindset, and a career dedicated to pushing and dismantling barriers in hardware startups.
Currently residing in Hong Kong, Matt’s narrative is far from typical—but it is certainly an inspiring tale.
Bypassing College, Entering the Job Market
“I didn’t attend college for my undergraduate studies,” Matt shares. “I began working promptly after high school.” This decision sparked a whirlwind four-year adventure: launching two startups, gaining extensive hands-on experience, and seemingly lacking a pressing need for a return to formal education. Then, when he attempted to transition back to an undergraduate program for a semester in his early twenties, he quickly recognized it wasn’t the right match.
“Most undergraduate programs are inflexible, structured four-year commitments,” he clarifies. “I wanted to explore—was there a route that acknowledged my previous experience, with the opportunity to return to school without repeating content or wasting time?”
Introducing: CU Boulder’s Performance-Based Admissions
Matt discovered his solution in Boulder’s online MSEE, which features performance-based admissions (PBA)—a framework allowing students to demonstrate their preparedness through initial coursework, rather than previous academic records.
“It’s beneficial to have a program that enables you to validate your abilities for admission,” he states. “The flexibility offered by Boulder—allowing you to progress based on your performance or merits—was incredibly helpful.”
For someone like Matt, who was already engaged in consulting, contracting, and creating actual products, the conventional barriers of academia were illogical. He sought a system crafted for doers.
Why Bother with School Again?
“You can self-educate to a certain extent,” Matt reflects. “However, I began encountering limitations. I wanted to delve deeper into product development and tangible product creation—and I was reaching a ceiling in what I could achieve on my own.”
Despite speaking at conferences and advising startups, the absence of an official degree hindered his progress, particularly on an international scale. “Visa issues. Not being regarded seriously by authorities. If you hold only a high school diploma, they expect you to deliver at a certain (lower) standard.”
Obtaining his master’s was about securing credibility, broadening his opportunities, and finally engaging in topics he had long sought to study, such as microelectronics, signal systems, and power systems—he semi-jokingly remarks, “the capability to plug in any device without blowing a fuse.”
The Reality of Online Education
Matt is candid about his experience: Boulder’s online curriculum may not suit everyone.
“This isn’t meant for all,” he asserts. “If you want to learn to swim, you have two options: locate a pool, enroll in online courses, and teach yourself. Or, you can pay to attend a pool where an instructor assists you. Both methods are valid—but they cater to different personality types.” For Matt, Boulder’s online learning environment resembled the former, requiring him to cultivate sincere interest and an independent drive.
As a member of the inaugural cohort for this program, he reminisces about challenging moments—final exams filled with incorrect responses, the solitude of never meeting classmates in person, and the sporadic “Reddit-plus” confusion of discussion platforms and Slack interactions. Nonetheless, the reward was worth the effort: complete flexibility.
“With Boulder, if you want to accelerate your progress, you can. Reaching the end of these course markers felt nearly like a game.”
He completed the degree from October 2019 to December 2020, and he takes pride in his final choice to re-enter academia. “I wasn’t particularly good at taking breaks to enrich myself, and school provided a perfect cover for this. Even while not working, I still felt like I was advancing.”
Guidance for Aspiring Learners: Begin Now
Matt’s primary piece of advice? Don’t delay for the ideal moment.
“Just begin,” he advises. “It’s much more challenging to let it sit and wait for the perfect time to engage. I recollect feeling that way for two years before ultimately returning.”
“Optionality” became a trap for him: “Keeping options open can hinder other opportunities later on. Just make a decision and determine if you truly want to pursue this.”
Redefining the Concept of Education
Now, holding a legitimate master’s degree and backed by years of startup experience, Matt continues to engage in contract and advisory roles for startups worldwide—and is considering his next step.
“I was overly concerned about how to redefine education and its intended meaning,” he explains. “But the key is to jump in and start swimming.”
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