I have been told - first by the CEO of a retail chain [1] - that 'a college degree' isn't so much for talent, or fit, as a proof that the applicant can stick wi

I have been told - first by the CEO of a retail chain [1] - that 'a college degree' isn't so much for talent, or fit, as a proof that the applicant can stick with something for a few years. He proved his point by hiring me [2] for a job. At that point in my life I had no degree, but I had just spent eight years in the Marines, and had done everything from programming computers (badly) to micro PC repair and LAN administration. [1] Who was, improbably, interviewing me for a job. Long story. [2] Sort of. He called me back said he _would_ have hired me but the company had just gone into Chapter 11.