Khane
Got something right about marriage
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As someone who's been in the industry for a long time I'll never agree with you guys. Most of the developers I know are self taught and they are excellent at what they do. Most self taught developers are better at handling new technology and finding ways to solve problems than programmers who learned through traditional schooling because they don't get caught up in the mantra their professors tried to instill in them or stick to the (most likely) ancient technologies they learned at a university.
I will agree that the degree can make it easier to land that first job but after that it doesn't matter at all, it's completely inconsequential. Hachima comes from a different world in software development. What he was exposed to and had the opportunity to work with is far from the norm, he is either being modest or just doesn't understand that he is the top .01% of developers who got into and experienced a program like those offered at MIT. It's a completely different world than your normal CS program at a typical college or university.
You're talking about spending money and 4 years of your life vs teaching yourself the skills you need in less than half that time and starting to work and earn money (even if only modest freelancing work) right away. I'm fairly successful at 31 years old making well over six figures and as someone who hires and has done so for the better part of the last 6 years I can honestly say if I could go back and do it all again I wouldn't have gone to school for a degree in software. I would have gotten a degree in business management/entrepreneurship and taught myself development skills on the side.
This is a field where if you are truly interested in being a developer and put in the time you can excel without ever needing a formal degree. I see it every day when I go to work and with all the people I've met in the field over the years.
TragedyAnn, in your specific case I wouldn't recommend quitting school. You've put the time in already and just because you are in school doesn't mean you can't teach yourself as a compliment to your schooling as well. You've already invested time and money into getting the degree so it's probably in your best interest to finish and get that piece of paper.
I will agree that the degree can make it easier to land that first job but after that it doesn't matter at all, it's completely inconsequential. Hachima comes from a different world in software development. What he was exposed to and had the opportunity to work with is far from the norm, he is either being modest or just doesn't understand that he is the top .01% of developers who got into and experienced a program like those offered at MIT. It's a completely different world than your normal CS program at a typical college or university.
You're talking about spending money and 4 years of your life vs teaching yourself the skills you need in less than half that time and starting to work and earn money (even if only modest freelancing work) right away. I'm fairly successful at 31 years old making well over six figures and as someone who hires and has done so for the better part of the last 6 years I can honestly say if I could go back and do it all again I wouldn't have gone to school for a degree in software. I would have gotten a degree in business management/entrepreneurship and taught myself development skills on the side.
This is a field where if you are truly interested in being a developer and put in the time you can excel without ever needing a formal degree. I see it every day when I go to work and with all the people I've met in the field over the years.
TragedyAnn, in your specific case I wouldn't recommend quitting school. You've put the time in already and just because you are in school doesn't mean you can't teach yourself as a compliment to your schooling as well. You've already invested time and money into getting the degree so it's probably in your best interest to finish and get that piece of paper.