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A Bachelor's degree (even in CS) isn't just job training. At least half the classes required for a degree are not related to your major. When you graduate wit

A Bachelor's degree (even in CS) isn't just job training. At least half the classes required for a degree are not related to your major. When you graduate with a CS degree you've (hopefully) learned some CS theory and some practical skills but also you're more well-rounded from learning composition, speech, math, history, science, etc. If being a developer meant pounding out code all day long then a college degree shouldn't be a factor in the hiring process. Most developers I know spend more time doing other things - planning, estimating, communicating with other teams, etc. - than coding. This non-coding workload increases as you move up the ranks so most HR departments hire with an eye toward the future as well. So given what you know to be true - that most companies require a degree - you have two options: 1. Get a degree 2. Work for a company that doesn't require a degree And one more thing - the plural of degree is degrees not degree's. I learned that in school.

matthewking 18y ago
Interesting points. However, you seem to be assuming that people without degrees disappear into some kind of a time warp while everyone else is at university. Team work, communication, planning and organisation skills can be picked up in real life environments too, if anything in a better fashion. When you enter employment at a young age, your employer and your colleagues are more willing to show you the ropes and give you time to learn on the job, considering you usually start at a low position. Then you proceed to learn real world experience for a number of years, depending on how quickly you dropped out of education, and how quickly you landed a job. I had been working as a developer for 5 years by the time my friends of the same age finished their degrees. Put that into perspective and compare to people fresh out of university. I'm not saying people with a degree have wasted their time, or that it wasn't the right thing to do. Just give those of us who chose a different path some credit too. As far as my options go, I'm now self employed and loving it.
- xirium 18y ago
  > I had been working as a developer for 5 years by the time my friends of the same age finished their degrees. I knew a fellow who didn't go to university and was managing a team of 12 developers within his first five years of work. He was richer than the average graduate too.

matthewking 18y ago

Interesting points. However, you seem to be assuming that people without degrees disappear into some kind of a time warp while everyone else is at university. Team work, communication, planning and organisation skills can be picked up in real life environments too, if anything in a better fashion. When you enter employment at a young age, your employer and your colleagues are more willing to show you the ropes and give you time to learn on the job, considering you usually start at a low position. Then you proceed to learn real world experience for a number of years, depending on how quickly you dropped out of education, and how quickly you landed a job. I had been working as a developer for 5 years by the time my friends of the same age finished their degrees. Put that into perspective and compare to people fresh out of university. I'm not saying people with a degree have wasted their time, or that it wasn't the right thing to do. Just give those of us who chose a different path some credit too. As far as my options go, I'm now self employed and loving it.

xirium 18y ago
> I had been working as a developer for 5 years by the time my friends of the same age finished their degrees. I knew a fellow who didn't go to university and was managing a team of 12 developers within his first five years of work. He was richer than the average graduate too.