4 ms·

I disagree with #6. I always felt like getting a degree is such a huge waste of time, but I need to jump through this hoop to get a job for which I didn't requi

by carlmr 9y ago

I disagree with #6. I always felt like getting a degree is such a huge waste of time, but I need to jump through this hoop to get a job for which I didn't require much more knowledge than the programming knowledge I had after high school (self-taught). But then again I went to school in Europe with cheap tuition, so time is the biggest investment here.

fwdpropaganda 9y ago
"I always felt like getting a degree is such a huge waste of time" is a humblebrag. There, I said it.
- hodl 9y ago
  I don't think its a humblebrag. I take it as someone who wants to get on and code but the system requires a hoop to be jumped through.
  - dpark 9y ago
    It really is. It's kind of "I'm so awesome that I learned nothing of value in 4 years at a university". Which is a sad waste of time if true.
    - carlmr 9y ago
      That's not what I said though. I learned many interesting things, but most of them aren't directly of value to work. I don't regret having studied, I saw a lot of cool stuff. But it's a very long time investment which doesn't lead to an equal ROI in terms of work output if you ask me. It leads to a good ROI mostly in terms of employment offers and salaries, because it has signaling value.
      - fwdpropaganda 9y ago
        > I learned many interesting things, but most of them aren't directly of value to work. What did you study, and what do you do for work?
        carlmr 9y ago
        Electrical and computer engineering, and I'm working on embedded systems software in engine control units.
icantdrive55 9y ago
I remember graduating from a four year school, and my girlfriend asked me, "How--do--you feel? Proud?" I looked at her, and said, "It was a waste of time." I said, "Looking back, I there were probably only eight courses that I think will help me?". (I finished because there was a health school I wanted to get into, and didn't want her getting one up on me. Plus--I didn't want to work as hard as my dad did. I remember having to say, "I want to help people when I applied to the professional school. In all honestly science was really easy, and I didn't want to break my back doing an honest job. Yes--I said it, and so many of my peers were frauds. Frauds that used The Placebo effect as their main tool, but were to in denial to admit it.) Back to my college love. She was going to a UC, and was obnoxiously proud of it. She always had to announce what school she was in, but always left out the CC that barely passed her. (At time, where people didn't brag. I'm so out of now, I guess bragging is ok now? Back in the day, it was a no-no.) I said it for two reasons. One--being it was the truth. Two--she was just irritating. For three years, I had to hear about her dream of becoming a Doctor; with her C average, and cheating off me in chemistry. I remember the last day we were together. It was the day she asked me if I was proud. I do remember thinking, I'm so glad I finished before you. A lot of you are thinking, another misogynist? No--I just was with the wrong person. She was stunning, but cold, had the emotional depth of a reptile, and calculating. I turned down so many opportunities while in school because I was with her. Back to school. I really felt it was a waste of time; But I knew the worst day at school was so much better than any day working. That is a truism for myself. If I didn't have a nervous breakdown, I would have stayed in school as long as possible. Every day, you get to look at those beautiful girls, and maybe learn something new? (My breakdown was unrelated to school. Just could stop thinking about that weird pain on my head. I was just sure it must be a brain tumor. And I couldn't quite figure out death, while delaying gratification. A little advice, there's no delay of gratification while in most schools.) If I had a kid, I would tell him to stay in school as long as possible. I would also tell her to network, even if the rich kids make you want to up chuck.
randomdata 9y ago
I find it interesting that you felt that programming had hoops to jump through. It has always seemed like a very accessible career in my experience. I started working as a programmer while I was still in high school and just kept with it. I have yet to meet an employer who has even asked about any particular credentials.
- carlmr 9y ago
  I think this is more my country (Germany) than a thing that's everywhere. I'm working with barely anybody who doesn't have a Master's degree. German employers value credentials a lot.

by carlmr 9y ago

fwdpropaganda 9y ago

"I always felt like getting a degree is such a huge waste of time" is a humblebrag. There, I said it.

hodl 9y ago
I don't think its a humblebrag. I take it as someone who wants to get on and code but the system requires a hoop to be jumped through.
- dpark 9y ago
  It really is. It's kind of "I'm so awesome that I learned nothing of value in 4 years at a university". Which is a sad waste of time if true.
  - carlmr 9y ago
    That's not what I said though. I learned many interesting things, but most of them aren't directly of value to work. I don't regret having studied, I saw a lot of cool stuff. But it's a very long time investment which doesn't lead to an equal ROI in terms of work output if you ask me. It leads to a good ROI mostly in terms of employment offers and salaries, because it has signaling value.
    - fwdpropaganda 9y ago
      > I learned many interesting things, but most of them aren't directly of value to work. What did you study, and what do you do for work?
      - carlmr 9y ago
        Electrical and computer engineering, and I'm working on embedded systems software in engine control units.

icantdrive55 9y ago

I remember graduating from a four year school, and my girlfriend asked me, "How--do--you feel? Proud?" I looked at her, and said, "It was a waste of time." I said, "Looking back, I there were probably only eight courses that I think will help me?". (I finished because there was a health school I wanted to get into, and didn't want her getting one up on me. Plus--I didn't want to work as hard as my dad did. I remember having to say, "I want to help people when I applied to the professional school. In all honestly science was really easy, and I didn't want to break my back doing an honest job. Yes--I said it, and so many of my peers were frauds. Frauds that used The Placebo effect as their main tool, but were to in denial to admit it.) Back to my college love. She was going to a UC, and was obnoxiously proud of it. She always had to announce what school she was in, but always left out the CC that barely passed her. (At time, where people didn't brag. I'm so out of now, I guess bragging is ok now? Back in the day, it was a no-no.) I said it for two reasons. One--being it was the truth. Two--she was just irritating. For three years, I had to hear about her dream of becoming a Doctor; with her C average, and cheating off me in chemistry. I remember the last day we were together. It was the day she asked me if I was proud. I do remember thinking, I'm so glad I finished before you. A lot of you are thinking, another misogynist? No--I just was with the wrong person. She was stunning, but cold, had the emotional depth of a reptile, and calculating. I turned down so many opportunities while in school because I was with her. Back to school. I really felt it was a waste of time; But I knew the worst day at school was so much better than any day working. That is a truism for myself. If I didn't have a nervous breakdown, I would have stayed in school as long as possible. Every day, you get to look at those beautiful girls, and maybe learn something new? (My breakdown was unrelated to school. Just could stop thinking about that weird pain on my head. I was just sure it must be a brain tumor. And I couldn't quite figure out death, while delaying gratification. A little advice, there's no delay of gratification while in most schools.) If I had a kid, I would tell him to stay in school as long as possible. I would also tell her to network, even if the rich kids make you want to up chuck.

randomdata 9y ago

I find it interesting that you felt that programming had hoops to jump through. It has always seemed like a very accessible career in my experience. I started working as a programmer while I was still in high school and just kept with it. I have yet to meet an employer who has even asked about any particular credentials.

carlmr 9y ago
I think this is more my country (Germany) than a thing that's everywhere. I'm working with barely anybody who doesn't have a Master's degree. German employers value credentials a lot.