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Ask HN: Do I need College?

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Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#51

Post by jdelgado »

amorphid wrote: post #28

I don't think going to college is worth it if you're just going to get a degree. If the education will get you a foundation that will almost certainly benefit you, go for it. For example, if you want to be a doctor you have to finish college before you get go to medical school, but I'm not sure a C.S. degree makes you a better sys admin. Let's pretend you start your own startup and you look for an entry level dev + o…

Excellent blog post and points, I really appreciate the feedback and your time!

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#52

Post by p_sherman »

First, let me put it this way: you can do perfectly alright without a college degree, however, you can only rise so high. You must not expect to be the next Gates who is obviously an exception.

Secondly, college is not about only about learning. Queue the "Don't let schooling get in the way of your education" spiel. It's experience. I'm not even talking about partying and getting laid, which are still experiences, but professional experience where you go a talk to a professor that you liked for four hours arguing how machines will never be truly intelligent.

So, yes, I think you should definitely go to college and do your startup part-time. The startup might not work out, and you will have the degree forever thus allowing for other prospects. Besides, who knows how you'll feel in ten years.

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#53

Post by jdelgado »

mswen wrote: post #34

Clearly you are above average in intelligence, possess initiative and are not afraid to take some risks. This is a great start to adult life. My advice, keep doing what you are currently doing. Going to school part-time and working. If the start up goes bust, turn those skills to freelancing, and work fewer hours at a higher rate and go to school full-time. Since you already seem to have much of the practical applica…

I appreciate the kind words and your time, great advice for my major, I'll defiantly explore stats or marketing. Thank you!

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#54

Post by sincerelysleepy »

jdelgado wrote: post #43
sincerelysleepy wrote: post #40

Fresh out of high school I wanted to develop software and petaled around the idea that only a genius could do it so I changed my major to Bio. After two semesters, I couldn't take how boring it was. Over the years in college, I found very few people who were actual developers. I met a senior level developer playing starcraft who I became really good buddies with and got a lot of insight to what it's really like to be…

Great story and right on key with my reasoning. Thank you for that insight, I agree completely!

Definitely! If you have any questions or want to talk further feel free to msg me

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#55

Post by sincerelysleepy »

jdelgado wrote: post #43
sincerelysleepy wrote: post #40

Fresh out of high school I wanted to develop software and petaled around the idea that only a genius could do it so I changed my major to Bio. After two semesters, I couldn't take how boring it was. Over the years in college, I found very few people who were actual developers. I met a senior level developer playing starcraft who I became really good buddies with and got a lot of insight to what it's really like to be…

Great story and right on key with my reasoning. Thank you for that insight, I agree completely!

also: http://www.stefankendall.com/2013/01/all-i-learned-in-colleg...

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#56

Post by jdelgado »

hello_newman wrote: post #31

I totally know what you are talking about dude, I am in the same boat. I was going to my local community college (over 26k students) to get an AA in Business and wanted to transfer. The college (like most in California) was impacted because of the sheer amount of students so getting the necessary classes was getting harder and harder. I am not sure about other CC's but this one (one of the biggest in Orange County) h…

Yep, exactly same boat, glad you posted. I'm at the beginning of the "few weeks of constant, gut wrenching, inner monologue talks..." and just trying to weigh them out.

I would like to spend most of the time on the Startup - I really enjoy it, but I also acknowledge that there is a realistic chance that it won't work out and I will need to find another company. Now that registration for next semester is coming up, I found myself not really wanting to go back.

I think i'll probably cut back on the units and proceed primarily online on the side... just so I can slowly work my way to the degree that I might need one day.

Thank you for your post and your time, I really appreciate it!

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#57

Post by jdelgado »

bobcattr wrote: post #21

College is not beneficial to all people but to many it is critical. At least in America the state of elementary, middle and high school is simple failure. Students are graduating with skills 8th graders had 30+ years ago. Students are graduating with only ever have taken watered down math and science courses. I was one of those students who went to a public school which the standard of education was pretty darn low.…

Absolutely a valid point, that is defiantly the thought that has kept me in thus far. I know a handful of kids that graduated with me and literally haven't worked a day in their life. I think it's amazing that people are content with that type of existence.

Thank you for your feedback, it's appreciated!

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#58

Post by jdelgado »

crawdog wrote: post #38

Work will always be there. College will not. As you get older responsibilities change and it will become harder to go back. Think of it as an opportunity to learn how to: -- Interact with people who have totally different interests than you -- Find your passion outside of technology -- Succeed (and fail) -- Lead (projects, social clubs, fraternities, school) -- Make friends Life is too short.

All very good advice! Life is indeed too short. Thank you, the feedback is appreciated!

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#59

Post by jdelgado »

edw519 wrote: post #30

Go to college. Take science to discover something you're good at. Take humanities to discover something you may love. Take at least one art or music class. Take at least one advanced math class. Join a fraternity. Learn how to play bridge (and play all night sometime). Learn how to play foosball. Get drunk. Learn how to play foosball while drunk. Get laid. Play an intramural team sport. Get a part time job. Eat somet…

Not quite my idea of college, but thank you for the feedback at least! :)

Re: Ask HN: Do I need College?

#60

Post by jdelgado »

sincerelysleepy wrote: post #54
jdelgado wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great story and right on key with my reasoning. Thank you for that insight, I agree completely!

Definitely! If you have any questions or want to talk further feel free to msg me

Thank you, I really appreciate it! Also, very nice post. :)
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