Depends upon the type of work you are doing .... Coders responsible for the binaries on 8 different OS ... yes they had better have the system in their head. I guess we would define superstar a bit differently than you would ... Perhaps the distinction would be more between a superstar coder and a superstar engineer or product designer. In our business you need to know quite a bit of mathematics: I dont know how you would be able to keep up or exceed the current work in the field without having the necessary training upon which to base your work - most of the current stuff is only accessible via relationships amongst a handful of workers which you wouldn't have unless you had the background ... this could be self taught or learned on the job but this would be exceedingly rare.
Sorry to disappoint, but yes I have a BS comp sci degree and I hold a couple of technology patents to boot. Why did I get the degree? I already explained. To get around the short sighted managers in the corporate world. But I consider the 4 years of college almost a complete waste. Sure, I had to take a shit load of advanced math classes, which is used in less than 1% of comp sci jobs out there, but they are rarely useful. Advanced CS stuff? Its pretty rare in the field too. But ive done OS kernel work, ive written 3 production computer languages (custom languages for unique purposes, compiled and interpreted), tons of monster scalable systems and distributed systems, and lots of architecture and design, but refuse to completely give up on the coding. Ive worked in most areas of comp sci, and ive coded in at leat 12 computer languages. I learned FAR more on my own than college ever taught me. Then I learned 10 times as much in the field my first year than 4 years of college. I WOULD advise that everyone get their BS degree in comp sci for political reasons. This will not guarantee that you will learn much though. You can learn it all on your own if you have the drive. I worked the unix help desks in school and was the guy debugging all of the students code. The MAJORITY had no business being in comp sci. I used to fix their code just to get them off of my back. Otherwise they just kept coming back whining. Just more evidence that a degree is barely worth the paper its written on. But anything beyond that is a complete waste of time. Your learning will accelerate at incredible speeds once you enter the field and start cranking on some REAL systems. Ive also run my own successful consulting firm. Cashed in nicely during the boom, then burned out living on an airplane working all over the country. Now im enjoyng the ride and just cruising as I learn to trade. Computers are utterly boring and unchallenging now. But I love trading, and its a challenge, so thats where im going. "As far as hiring you: no we would not be interested. " This is hilarious. You actually seem to think I would be interested in working for a bunch of snooty "theory" boys. No thanks... I dont feel like schooling some thoery guys. Started coding machine language when I was 10, and been coding ever since. I seriously doubt you guys could challenge me enough to make it interesting...yaaawn So the moral of the story is, boys and girls... go to school, get your BS, then go to work and really start learning. Its just like trading... read all the books, then get to work and REALLY learn how to trade. Orrrrrrr.... go get your "PHD" in trading school, and then start trading size immediately and watch yourself get KILLED. LOL! I dont need any "luck" CalTrader... not in my field. I mastered computers years ago, and have a consistent track record of kicking comp sci butt. Who needs luck when you have a lifetime of skills? This is TOO easy. peace axeman
At our company all your experience would qualify you to do is wash the windows. Thats about it. The real experts already work for us. Best of luck to you.
Could you be any MORE close minded? Several experienced computer people here have stated that some of the best comp sci guys they know were NOT heavy into degrees. Even Bill Gates is a college drop out, and im sure he is far more successfull than anyone you know with a degree! Keep passing up people based on pedigree. Go ahead... continue to handicap yourself. In the meantime, i'll continue to IGNORE people's pedigree and hire the guys WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING and have a proven track record, over what a little piece of paper says. I cant tell you how many PHD's ive rejected in interviews. I could care less. You on the other hand will continue to miss out on these gems with no degrees. Im sure you would choose a trader with 4 years of "trade school" over a trader who learned on his own and has been profitable for 4 years straight. Yeah right.... your argument is so weak. Pull your head out of the sand. A lack of a degree means nothing when it comes to kick ass comp sci types AND traders. It has far more to do with the individual and the type of person he is. College has NO monopoly on knowledge. Apparently, you didn't learn this in school either. My dad didn't make it past the fourth grade, and yet he became a multi millionaire. How? Because he LEARNED ON HIS OWN. What a concept, huh? peace axeman
I can tell you right now that I know half a dozen people, all without a degree from school, let alone a degree in CS, any of which could be the best programmer on your team. Some of them are _getting_ degrees, but many of them never bothered [and only one in CS, most are gettting degrees in Number Theory, Recombinant Biology, Physics, etc.] I will say this though - Out of all of the people in the field that I know, I would venture to say that the ones WITH degrees are WAY better managers and way better orginized to run a project. As to be better designer than the programmers themselves - not a chance in some cases, yes in others. nitro
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. " -Mark Twain That about sums it up. peace axeman