Ask HN: go for master's or certificate in CS?

Hiya Hacker News. So I have a bachelor's in English, but I graduated with a 2.91 GPA. I contacted the university I'd like to go to (which would allow me to live with my parents rent free for the program), but they said a certificate program (about 30 credit hours worth of schooling) would be a better way to get into a master's program if I wanted to go that way after the CS certificate.

So I'm curious, should I try applying to a few other schools to see if I can get in with a strong enough application packet to make up for a low GPA, or should I go for the certificate program because English is just so much of a different course than CS?

Another note, i don't like student loans, and only have ~$900 in loans now. I'd have to take out loans to do all of the schooling from henceforth. Worth the debt?

Thanks for any advice, you wonderful hackers!