Ask HN: Do I need College? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#11

Post by IgorP » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 1:46 AM UTC

jdelgado wrote: post #7

IgorP wrote: post #4

A couple more comments for if you decide that college is for you and you want to save some money: Fill out the FAFSA form; There is a lot of Grant money available that people do not know about. You may end up getting part or all of your tuition paid for. Consider attending a community college for the first two years instead of going to a 4 year college.

Absolutely something I plan on doing, thank you.

Just one more comment:

As I am studying computers/programming now, I find myself at a disadvantage over things that are probably trivial to others. I find myself not knowing the basic of things, for example. The stack? The heap? Turing Complete? With all of this stuff that is second nature to others, I had to learn about it from scratch by Google, etc.

I don't know if that was the most efficient usage of my time . So, in a way, I feel that I have missed out on a lot of basics that many take for granted by not having majored in Computer Science and have had to take the "long road" to understanding.

If you can avoid taking the "long road", you might instead have more time to spend on learning far more interesting things.

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#12

Post by sopooneo » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 1:46 AM UTC

I can't speak to the position of the OP, however, I have a general point I don't think I've seen mentioned. For some individuals, a college degree may not serve much value, either financially or for it's own sake. However I feel that collectively, all else being equal, a world where most poeple have been exposed to a broad range of views and have learned the liberal arts and sciences from passionate thinkers is better than a world in which they haven't.

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#13

Post by IgorP » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 1:47 AM UTC

mingpan wrote: post #9

You learn a lot in college. It's a structured environment where relatively well-curated information is supplied to you at a reasonable pace. You could find the same information elsewhere, of course, but it is often hard to know where to look or who to ask. Things like algorithm design, software engineering, and project management are very useful things to know. College will teach them to you. If you choose not to pur…

This first paragraph summed up much more succinctly what I was trying to say in an earlier comment.

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#14

Post by jdelgado » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 1:48 AM UTC

dasht wrote: post #3

I wish someone had given me advice along these lines, long ago: (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…

All phenomenal points. I think this is most likely going to be the route i'll take. I'll continue working and taking one or two classes a semester until I get the degree.

Really good points across the board, definitely quality advice and I really appreciate your time.

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#15

Post by christiangenco » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 1:50 AM UTC

mingpan wrote: post #9

You learn a lot in college. It's a structured environment where relatively well-curated information is supplied to you at a reasonable pace. You could find the same information elsewhere, of course, but it is often hard to know where to look or who to ask. Things like algorithm design, software engineering, and project management are very useful things to know. College will teach them to you. If you choose not to pur…

> ...some degree of truth to this one.

Ahhhhhhhhh puns.

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#16

Post by jdelgado » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 1:53 AM UTC

mingpan wrote: post #9

You learn a lot in college. It's a structured environment where relatively well-curated information is supplied to you at a reasonable pace. You could find the same information elsewhere, of course, but it is often hard to know where to look or who to ask. Things like algorithm design, software engineering, and project management are very useful things to know. College will teach them to you. If you choose not to pur…

That is exactly where I find myself being. I know there are holes in my self-taught knowledge, and I defiantly see the advantages of continuing. I guess i'm just trying to take the logic approach and find which has the most advantages to disadvantages.

Very good anecdote and I appreciate the advice!

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#17

Post by ryhanson » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 2:00 AM UTC

jdelgado wrote: post #10

ryhanson wrote: post #6

I went to college and stopped after I got my Associates because I had already landed a job in the software development world without my degree. Since then I have a few different programming and design jobs, I currently own my own development company that is doing better and better every month. Anyways, if I decided to go work for someone and they didn't hire me because I didn't have a BA or better, I probably wouldn'…

Fantastic point. I think that pretty much sums up my hesitation on continuing, why would I work for a company that doesn't care about me and my experience? Best of luck with your Development Company and I appreciate the feedback.

Good Luck to you too, and its good to see you started young. I started college when I was 16, landed my first real development job at 17, and have been working in the field ever since. I think in certain situations, being younger is more of an advantage than a disadvantage. I'm 22 now and when people see how much experience I have, they are surprised. I'm sure that's how it will be for you, if its not like that already.

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#18

Post by jdelgado » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 2:00 AM UTC

IgorP wrote: post #11

jdelgado wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely something I plan on doing, thank you.

Just one more comment: As I am studying computers/programming now, I find myself at a disadvantage over things that are probably trivial to others. I find myself not knowing the basic of things, for example. The stack? The heap? Turing Complete? With all of this stuff that is second nature to others, I had to learn about it from scratch by Google, etc. I don't know if that was the most efficient usage of my time . So…

I absolutely agree, there is a learning curve with anything IT related. There is always a best-practice scenario and another twenty ways to handle the situation.

At the same time, I have had professors that have told me blatantly incorrect things. I learn way better from experience and actually watching things fail, as do most people I would assume.

Good point, however. I think college education will always be a toss-up.

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#19

Post by jdelgado » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 2:06 AM UTC

larrys wrote: post #5

I wouldn't say it's a joke in the IT field notwithstanding whatever people on HN say which is just a very small slice of the world. 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…

I just assumed some HN readers might have gone through similar circumstances, just wanted to see where the community opinion laid.

I agree - i'll most likely continue for the degree on the side. It seems like career security if I ever find myself without a job.

The web hosting company has been running for a while now, I have just over a couple hundred customers, and I haven't done any advertising since I started working at the Startup. It's not anything that can support me due to the current saturation of the hosting market, but I felt it was a benchmark of experience.

I appreciate the feedback and your time!

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#20

Post by choxi » Sat, Jan 05, 2013, 2:26 AM UTC

sopooneo wrote: post #12

I can't speak to the position of the OP, however, I have a general point I don't think I've seen mentioned. For some individuals, a college degree may not serve much value, either financially or for it's own sake. However I feel that collectively, all else being equal, a world where most poeple have been exposed to a broad range of views and have learned the liberal arts and sciences from passionate thinkers is bette…

you're assuming that you wouldn't experience a broad range of views unless you went to college. what about working at a couple companies, and using that money to travel twice a year?