More than anything else software engineering most closely resembles a trade. The majority of useful education comes from mentorship and on-the-job experience.

More than anything else software engineering most closely resembles a trade. The majority of useful education comes from mentorship and on-the-job experience. Sure, you can get a formal education, and sure it helps, but it doesn't make you a useful software engineer. It just gives you a foundation to build upon through mentorship and experience.