Half of our engineers did not go the academic route. A few went through intensive programs such as hacker school and a few were self taught. There are definite

Half of our engineers did not go the academic route. A few went through intensive programs such as hacker school and a few were self taught. There are definitely jobs out there that look at skill and experience over a degree, but on the flip side there are companies that do look for degrees or rather look for knowledge that you might not get going the non-academic route. Have you thought about attending an intensive program? If you're looking for a quick and cost effective way to get in the industry it might be a great alternative. If you're self-driven, you could go the self-learning route, but there is something to be said about being with other students, having teachers, and being focused on learning. Wish you well, always glad to hear of people that go the non-traditional route.