College VS IM

[mickyfu]

You are far the exception compared to the rule. No doubt you got there through hard work and dedication (the same skill sets a degree needs) but only 1 out of 100 of the people who attempt what you do will be a success at it.

As for the self education, I get that. I do the open university, other than links to videos I should watch they don't do much. Thats one of the kicks I get from it (as well as no having to hang around 18 year old mongs)

Out of the friends I have left from school my job earns twice as much as the next closest guy (excluding the premier league footballer) and its less than half of my income.

Yes but how many people fail their degree? How many pass and never succeed in getting the job they worked hard for? I have worked with many people with degrees in warehouses, and when they have not made it to their dream job, they end up arrogant and bitter. When you get your degree, how many people are you competing with to get that one job?

How many people these days get a back door job simply because of their relatives? Fuck the people more educated than them.

Personally I would say it all levels out to the same chances as making it in IM.

 

[jazzc]

Yes but how many people fail their degree? How many pass and never succeed in getting the job they worked hard for? I have worked with many people with degrees in warehouses, and when they have not made it to their dream job, they end up arrogant and bitter. When you get your degree, how many people are you competing with to get that one job?

How many people these days get a back door job simply because of their relatives? Fuck the people more educated than them.

Personally I would say it all levels out to the same chances as making it in IM.

It's the echo of their parents experience - "go to college and you'll be set for life". Old people don't want to realize that shit changes and younger people tend to be followers of older people. Newsflash - it used to be true. It stops being true once the supply overcomes the demand and in case anyone has missed it, it has by a lot in most sectors.

Then there's the matter of statistics - "on average college degree guys get more than those without". The keyword here is on average and the question is "what does that tell ME?". The "on average" part includes guys who don't care to succeed in their life, who are perfectly fine with living on wealth care etc. What does that group have to do with someone who actually cares about his monetary success?
Then, the "with degree" group is obviously skewed towards risk aversion. What does it tell you about your chances if you're an entrepreneurial type and not a bum type?
So, the "on average" statement, tells me nothing of usefulness in making a call on the matter. Statistics is a tricky mofo. Unless one gets the subtleties of statistics (which requires study of it, so it's not something to be expected at all), it's amazingly easy to be tricked by it.

 

[NoobGuru]

Just remember this Floyd May-weather may not be able to read but I promise you he can hire the best reader to read for him on this god damn planet. Think about that for a second.

 

[Banned member 185991]

Just remember this Floyd May-weather may not be able to read but I promise you he can hire the best reader to read for him on this god damn planet. Think about that for a second.

He also gets punched in the face for a living.

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

Yes but how many people fail their degree? How many pass and never succeed in getting the job they worked hard for? I have worked with many people with degrees in warehouses, and when they have not made it to their dream job, they end up arrogant and bitter. When you get your degree, how many people are you competing with to get that one job?

How many people these days get a back door job simply because of their relatives? Fuck the people more educated than them.

Personally I would say it all levels out to the same chances as making it in IM.

How many of those that work in warehouses refused to stack on some credentials with something related to what they got their degree ? How many choose not to volunteer for anything?

The Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that promotes volunteerism, tracked more than 70,000 jobless people between 2002 and 2012 and found that those who volunteered had a 27% better chance of finding a job than those who didn't.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/06/24/proof-that-volunteering-pays-off-for-job-hunters/

 

[DanDanger]

I never went to university. I was a pretty decent programmer and web developer by the time I was 19 (all self taught). At 19 I went up against university graduates for a job at a local web development company, a impressive portfolio and "if you don't like my work, don't pay me" landed me the job. Through self education I was earning more at 19 than most people who leaving university with a degree.

In the only 2 jobs I've ever had I've out performed colleagues who had university degrees, all through experience, starting young and self education.

When hiring my staff I've never looked at someones CV and thought "oh wow, they have a degree in X, I really need this person". I go straight to where they list experience and past employment.

------

But that's perhaps a unique situation as I was uber nerd and web dev guy very young.

My view is.... if you are really passionate about a subject... teach yourself through books, internet research, investigation, etc You'll learn far more than university will teach you.

If you want to work for yourself and go through life being your own boss... dive into the deep end. You'll find a way to make it work, because you have no option but to. Law of attraction.


If you want to go into a field that requires a university degree, then ignore everything I said, obvioulsy.

 

[kahuna74]

My take on the subject, distilled:

College for the life experience.
IM/Entrepreneurship for the freedom.

 

[archon10]

I never went to university. I was a pretty decent programmer and web developer by the time I was 19 (all self taught). At 19 I went up against university graduates for a job at a local web development company, a impressive portfolio and "if you don't like my work, don't pay me" landed me the job. Through self education I was earning more at 19 than most people who leaving university with a degree.

In the only 2 jobs I've ever had I've out performed colleagues who had university degrees, all through experience, starting young and self education.

When hiring my staff I've never looked at someones CV and thought "oh wow, they have a degree in X, I really need this person". I go straight to where they list experience and past employment.

------

But that's perhaps a unique situation as I was uber nerd and web dev guy very young.

My view is.... if you are really passionate about a subject... teach yourself through books, internet research, investigation, etc You'll learn far more than university will teach you.

If you want to work for yourself and go through life being your own boss... dive into the deep end. You'll find a way to make it work, because you have no option but to. Law of attraction.


If you want to go into a field that requires a university degree, then ignore everything I said, obvioulsy.

Yeah but you probably made less than your peers, and your staff is probably making less than they could if they worked for the big boys. You need a degree to work with the big boys and make money. My income increased significantly as a developer when I graduated, and more opportunities opened up.

That's if you want to climb the ladder in big corps, and there are a lot of people who do very well in big companies and those companies require degrees. Some kids just want to work for Google. Others want to work for MS, etc. They need a degree.

Schlepping junk spam links on the web? Yeah, OK, spammers don't need degrees. This is BHW after all.

 

[MrSevenUp]

Can't thank you guys enough for this discussion and advice; really opened my eyes and gave me a smack in the face. Seems like I'm on the right track with everything but I keep second guessing my actions with the lack of confidence I have. The job growth for my field is at 22%, my parents are paying for my college education, and I have the "entrepreneurial mindset" for the future if I ever decide to invest in anything. I have nothing to complain about my life is great haha.

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

You can still get into IM now if you want to, you can get a domain for only like $1 and can get hosting for $.01 for first month if you find a hostgator coupon.

 

[KangTank]

just like my life now. I'm choose IM . . .

 

[HoneyHelper]

I am doing Both!
not having any problem with that

 

[Jurr]

I am doing Both!
not having any problem with that

Yes, why not do both?

 

[jazzc]

Yeah but you probably made less than your peers

You really think they offered him less in the position he got hired than if they'd chosen an applicant with a degree?

 

[erniedawg]

Don't lose focus guy. School is definitely where its at. Its your foundation for life. I know it doesn't seem like much now but it will always be there for you to fall back on if needed. Not to mention the access to higher paying jobs and management positions if needed. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't even think about it. School is way more important. Hope that helps. - message from a college dropout

 

[mootonandy]

Don't lose focus guy. School is definitely where its at. Its your foundation for life. I know it doesn't seem like much now but it will always be there for you to fall back on if needed. Not to mention the access to higher paying jobs and management positions if needed. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't even think about it. School is way more important. Hope that helps. - message from a college dropout

From a college graduate, I'd say its a tragic waste of time and money.

 

[archon10]

You really think they offered him less in the position he got hired than if they'd chosen an applicant with a degree?

You've never seen tiered payscales? Srsly? In CS related jobs, you will make more and opportunities open with the big boys. Some place cap you without a degree. For instance, you can't take the step into management without a degree. A small dev shop is just a stepping stone for someone who wants a better job with the bigger players. They are also known as practice jobs.

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

From a college graduate, I'd say its a tragic waste of time and money.

So college is a waste of time, but smoking pot,playing video games and watching porn nearly all day long is a great use of time?

 

[zenithpk]

You could do both!

 

[pxoxrxn]

I did a Bachelor's degree and graduated yesterday. I did IM, studied and worked for 4 years. It was well worth the effort.