Re: Experience vs College Degree

["Richard B Baird" <rbaird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Justin,

I've been programming IBM midrange for around 20 years.  I have been lucky
to have good, challenging and reasonably well paying jobs, but I, like many
who have already replied, don't have a degree.

I too, found that the time and money involved in getting one was
prohibitive, though it is one of my biggest regrets.  Now, i'm probably too
old and set in my ways, and have too many other responsibilities to do it -
which, come to think of it, is probably just another excuse :)

You don't have to bite it all off at once.  At 21, you have a LOT of time
to finish school and get a degree.  The time and money, at this point in
your life, shouldn't deter you.  Take a couple hours at a time.  It may
take you a few years, but it'll eventually get done and it'll help you
along the way too.  Many companys offer financial assistance in extended
education as well, not to mention student loans, pell grants, etc.

I would advise you though, since you are already gainfully employed in IT,
that if you do go back to school, don't go for IT.  Take Dan Bale's advice
major in business.  Focus on finance, economics, accounting, project
management and resource management.  This will do you more good in your
career goals than strictly computer science.

You will learn that the most desired skill of our ilk is the ability to
walk from the computer room into the board room and not lose confidence in
what you are talking about.  Being able to speak intellegently and
confidently with a computer operator, programmer, project manager,
department manager, accountant, cio, cfo, ceo and everyone in between will
be your biggest asset when developing your career.

hope this helps,

Rick

---original message---
From: "Justin Houchin" <justin@RELIATEK.COM>

I know this is off the topic, but I need to ask the programming
community. I am 21 years old and have been programming in RPG and E-RPG
for about 1.5 years. I  love it! But I do not have a degree. My question
is do you all feel that I could get turned down for a job over someone
that has a bachelor's degree? This has never happened to me but I do not
want it to ever happen. I am very seriously thinking about starting back
to college at night to get my bachelors in CIS. This is a very hard
decision to make because of the amount of money it will cost to go to
college. That is why I'm am trying to see if job experience would
triumph over a degree. Please give me some pros and cons on this
situation.

Justin Houchin
Programmer and Web Developer
ReliaTek, Inc
justin@reliatek.com