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The kind of connection you make with people you've worked with are different from people you've studied with for 4+ years, no matter what.
And also keep studying stuff by yourself.
Do you know what second normal form is? Do you know what the three basic functions that form all mu-recursive functions are? Can you write an A* search from memory? Do you know what is stored during a context switch? Are you worth your salt as a programmer? Tech is booming. I know someone who went to a bootcamp for a few months and is working as a programmer right now. A college diploma doesn't matter now. It matters…
I agree that University is worth going to. But not for any of the reasons you mention. I've had a very successful career in this industry not being able to do any of the things you ask in your first paragraph. Sure, I've taught Normalization to new devs (without needing to recite the actual forms), but I find that Google is pretty good at memorizing algorithms, and it did in fact have A* ready to go every time I've d…
University is about enquiry and learning to think critically. It doesn't matter if you never use the specific constructs they cover but you do come out with a much more flexible mindset.
The other thing is that the OP might actually become a really talented academic and have the potential to do great things in the field.
Besides programming, you can learn more things in the college, such as physics, arts, maths, finance, social skills, etc. Though they may not bring you money immediately like programming, you will benefit from them. And you can meet many people from other states and countries.
College is one of the happiest periods of my life (though I was very poor).
Negotiate a part-time role with the mainstream company, work around your class schedule. The boss surely wouldn't want to feel guilty that he kept you from completing a degree.
College value can be difficult to calculate. A good campus environment can expose you to some wonderfully random, useful people and ideas found nowhere else. The Steve Jobs calligraphy story is a classic example> http://www.leemunroe.com/steve-jobs-calligraphy/
All that said, whether there is a point depends on your own goals and whether you think you can achieve the above benefits outside of a college setting. On a purely financial basis, college almost surely does not make sense.
Also, like others have pointed out, nothing says you have to get a CS degree. You could get a degree in any subject and apply your skills and knowledge of programming to a whole new area.
The younger you are too, the more benefit you get from the networking of college, the social and dynamic skills and the problem resolution capabilities.
Would going and getting a CS degree get you more money, probably not if you have at least 3+ years of experience. Also, plenty of companies always say they want a degree but when you apply with experience they seem to drop it. Even the government jobs that say a degree is absolutely required, I have had a number of friends get those jobs with no degree, although there have been a few hoops for them to jump through.
Like this other guy says, financially it just does not make any sense. You could also end up with really bad professors who teach you squat whereas you could just pick up a high-quality textbook.
Yes. Unless you are a savant you won't get hired without a degree. If you are really 'getting offers at mid-high sized startups and a few "mainstream" companies' then you might just be one.
In particular, Google explicitly does not have a requirement for a college degree. I also know from experience that Microsoft doesn't either.
Yes. Unless you are a savant you won't get hired without a degree. If you are really 'getting offers at mid-high sized startups and a few "mainstream" companies' then you might just be one.