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Ask HN: I got kicked out of an Ivy League, now what?
I got withdrawn from the Engineering program at an Ivy League because of my grades. Looking back, it was completely my fault, but I can't change that now. I was transitioning from a "core" engineering major to CS but before I could, I was asked to leave. I've applied for transfers but lets see where that goes. I'm a fairly decent coder, getting better and better now that I have nothing else to do, and I want to know if its even necessary to have a university degree at the end of the day. Do employers really care where you went to school as long as you have a great portfolio of projects you've worked on? Also if anyone knows of any programs or universities I could apply to that would seriously consider me despite my situation, that would be helpful, especially if they are tech/entrepreneurial programs (like makeschool).
- MichaelCrawford 12y agoEveryone says they do, but really they don't. Tom Cumming, one of the very finest embedded systems developers that has ever walked the earth, never even applied to college. I myself was kicked out of caltech for being mentally ill. That would be illegal now, but the americans with disabilities act had not been enacted yet. I transferred to UC Santa Cruz, but eventually dropped out to work as a coder. I did so for six years - with no degree - but eventually did complete my degree, but only because I grew weary of being asked by interviewers why I never graduated. If you are someone who, like me, is commonly discriminated against, a good solution is to start your own business. I'm working on that right now, and I've done it successfully in the past.
- gamechangr 12y agoIf you go open source a degree is not necessary. If you go enterprise, it will be hard to get your first job. In enterprise it may limit your ability to be promoted.
- GFK_of_xmaspast 12y agoMy understanding of ivy league schools is you really gotta screw up to get the boot. Are you sure you're ready to continue school.
- crappystudent 12y agogot one F and i was told i couldn't continue
- GFK_of_xmaspast 12y agoWithout more to it, that is very atypical.