Not Everyone has to go to College • Hacker News Board

Re: Not Everyone has to go to College

#51

Post by il » Mon, May 02, 2011, 8:00 PM UTC

smcj wrote: post #50

il wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>One wouldn't refer to someone who decides to live in a remote hut in the woods, fishing and hunting but having 0 income and not managing anyone as "successful". Would you refer to someone like that as successful? I think some, unspoken, element of the definition of success is "more successful than others" . This is usually related to accomplishing some difficult task or solving a difficult problem others have failed…

> Would you refer to someone like that as successful? If that person does what it always wanted to do, this person is obviously successful. Note to myself: The American definition of "success" is much more f*cked up than expected. No wonder that they have these problems recently...

I don't think this is uniquely American, more like ambitious or not. Otherwise it would be too easy for everyone to "hack" success by simply setting easily attainable goals.

Re: Not Everyone has to go to College

#52

Post by ascendant » Tue, May 03, 2011, 1:39 AM UTC

sebkomianos wrote: post #36

ascendant wrote: post #27

I didn't finish my college degree after I got into programming professionally and I honestly am disappointed I didn't. I can write software but I feel a lot of times I know how things go together the way they do, but not the why. There are times when I wish I knew the theory behind things instead of just knowing the syntax. I think the takeaway is that unless you're going to a really expensive school for the alumni n…

I am graduating from a University of London college in a few days and I can guarantee you it's not worth it. Whatever you are interested in, pick a book and study about it. If you are having trouble, go online and ask. What more can a college give you?

A degree. No matter what people tell you it will open doors for you. After 10 years in the industry I can tell you it will get you in the door in certain places.

Re: Not Everyone has to go to College

#53

Post by sebkomianos » Thu, May 05, 2011, 5:22 AM UTC

ascendant wrote: post #52

sebkomianos wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am graduating from a University of London college in a few days and I can guarantee you it's not worth it. Whatever you are interested in, pick a book and study about it. If you are having trouble, go online and ask. What more can a college give you?

A degree. No matter what people tell you it will open doors for you. After 10 years in the industry I can tell you it will get you in the door in certain places.

That happened 10 years ago, sure. And still happens in a lot of places but these places just follow: Once some major voices go "Yeah, higher education is no big deal", these places will start considering other things.

I've been sending emails about job opportunities as crazy lately and I am really glad that the majority of the people I talk to ask me for samples of my work in terms of coding and or project design rather than instead of exams results.

And it's sad that I don't have a lot of things to show because I've been thinking that I'll be okay just by doing the silly coursework.