Ask HN: Do I need College?

I have been programming since I was in 7th grade and I have owned a web hosting business since I was in 9th grade. I know my way around both pretty well. I'm currently a Systems Administrator and Developer at a Startup, but if that ever fails, I would like to have options.

I've heard such contradicting things, as I'm sure you all have, about college in general. I've heard that it's both a necessity and a joke in the IT field, it should be first and last priority - I don't know what is actually true. I know I got my current job simply because I know what i'm doing, but I know a lot of companies only hire based on education requirements.

From your own experience, should I continue getting my degree part-time, or should I ditch the idea all together and continue without a degree?

I really appreciate the feedback!

(a) Make sure you have a really strong grip on your finances. (You sound like you probably do but I'm mentioning it anyway.) Include worst-case planning like the scenario where you are pulling part-time shifts flipping burgers or whatever -- the more savings you can accumulate early, I'd bet the happier you'll be. This industry most definitely does have its "bust" periods when even many of the "best" can't find work.

(b) As long as you've got work.... nothing says that you have to be a full time student, or complete in four years, or go deeply into debt. Consider working on a BA or BS or higher part-time on a pay-as-you-go basis while still accumulating savings. And, especially if you'll be paying out of pocket -- even though you are only part-time -- be a really f'ing good student and really nail everything along the way. Dig in and enjoy it all. Shine.

(c) avoid the trap where you think you'll get started on that "part time student" thing next year (or the year after, or the year after).

With this path you'll be managing your money conservatively, dedicating a substantial amount of your life to guided learning, gaining a diversity of real-world experience at the same time, minimizing your dependency on some all-or-nothing guess about what future employers you care about will want.

There is not enough detail in your question to even give any specific advice to you. Like "what car should I buy.." Most importantly you haven't given any reason why you can't stay at the startup and continue to go to community college (cost, time from what you write don't appear to be a problem). Consequently (once again from the info you present) seems to be more of a downside to quitting then an upside to not finishing.

It's possible that going forward you will have to go beyond a BA so if you don't get that now where will you be? I'd stick it out and get the degree.

What do you do with the web hosting business? How many accounts do you have?

I don't think you can expect (with the limited info you are providing) though for anyone on HN to give you advice specific to your situation.

Additionally, there is some perceived value in a having the degree. In a perfect meritocracy, if Alice and Bob have similar skills and experience, they should be treated similarly in the professional world. However, if Alice went to college but Bob was purely self-taught, the real world may well hold its prejudices against Bob.

Here is a personal anecdote of mine, which may be relevant to you. Not long ago, I finished a 4-year bachelor's degree in 3 years. On my resume, it lists a 3 year time span for this. I regularly get recruiters (both official company recruiters and 3rd parties) asking me whether I actually finished school, whether I was in a proper 4-year program, and the like. This leaves me in an awkward situation, and I am forced to clarify my circumstances.

People often joke about the value of a piece of paper, but sadly there may be some degree of truth to this one.