(05-22-2012, 05:33 PM)rumsfald link Wrote: [ -> ][quote author=zaneyard link=topic=2632.msg245837#msg245837 date=1337709892]
Kinda makes me want to go back to school to get my BS but that will put me 20k dollars in debt 2-4 years down the road with a ~slightly~ better chance at getting a job in my field. I dunno yet I still have to make some decisions. If anyone has any insight into the matter, I would appreciate if you shared.
The statistics on long-term earning potential continues to show a divide in favor of those with college degrees vs. those who do not.
That said, two caveats apply.
1) depends on your major, as art degrees, soft-social science degrees, and underwater basket weaving tend to underperform, for obvious reasons.
and
2) most of this data is pre-internet. We are witnessing the rise of Programming/Coding as an elite profession on-par with law/medicine/MBAs, one can develop ability to be a great Programmer without a BA.
I've said this before, if you want to write your own ticket, learn to be a hacker. Start reading news.ycombinator.com daily. Find a language and learn it. Take classes at Khan Academy. Look for open source projects on github to contribute to. Most IT startups these days will request your github profile in lieu of a resume. If you've got the brain for logic, and the motivation to dedicating yourself to teaching yourself to code after-work for 2 years, all of the education one needs to develop the skills to be a $70,000 a year programmer are available free online.
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I should have taken your advice more seriously last time as far as the programming goes rummy, cause damn if i'm not seeing 1:10 ratio on "help desk" to "software engineer" jobs on monster right now. I never really noticed it the last time I was looking for work but it's sticking out to me now.
For everyone else that was asking, I currently hold an Associates of Applied Science for IT - Network Support and I would be going for a Bachelors of Science for Information and Communication Technology. It's rather relevant and I think it would help me get a position, as well as the possible internships via networking through the school. As it stands now I think I'm turned down quite a bit because I hold a 2 year degree with about 4 months of relevant (technical) experience.
I'll have to do some research on what languages are currently relevant, but it's been something I'm interested in.
I thank you again for the great advice rummy, I hope that one day I can be balling as out of control you are.