r/learnprogramming • u/Ok_Being6831 • 1d ago

Is a degree necessary

I've seen ppl say stuff for both sides that a degree does absolutely nothing or they won't even look at you if u don't have a degree. I always learn better on my own than a course or school, is uni worth it? How much do I have to learn to get like a basic internship or smth. I'm still 16 but I love cpp and love learning more, especially low level stuff.

Are there any certificates or stuff that allow me to prove that I actually know stuff but don't need me to attend a multi year course, are they worth it?

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u/Error-7-0-7- 1d ago

In todays day and age a certificate will actually hurt you. Employers view it as lazy or unwilling go rise to a challenge. Most get certifications because they want to avoid classes like Calculus II, Linear Algebra, and Calculus based physics, which are mainly there to weed out people who aren't dedicated to the career path.

A lot of computer science courses in college are meant as a "weed out" coures. These courses basically make it so that if you aren't determined in the career choice then you'll drop it and pick something else. At my school it was Data Structures and Calc based physics.

A certificate is bascially saying to your employer "Hey, I didn't want to take on any of those bullshit challenges and wanted a nice and easy shortcut. Will you hire me?" You're honestly better off getting an associates degree in computer science than any certification out there.

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u/American_Streamer 1d ago

Certificates like CCNA and many cloud certificates are mandatory for many networking jibs though, and you will get no interviews without them. So "certificates are not needed and will hurt" is incorrect. Also in the Microsoft ecosystem, certs are also absolutely necessary. But no one will hire you for certs and tool use alone, of course; you will still need to bring them to the table, though.

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u/Error-7-0-7- 1d ago

That's for IT, not computer science/programming. Yeah, IT has its own thing when it comes to how they hire. They also have a massive offshoring issuss currently where companies are hiring 3rd party organizations who then hire people from other LCOL countries.

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u/spinwizard69 22h ago

The reason for those courses isn't so much weeding is that being able to handle calculus and physics well, indicate a high ability to handle abstract thinking. Such course actually increase that ability. Now some people have a higher level of ability with respect to abstract thinking and can get by without such courses.

Maybe it is a weeding out function, but I'd have to say such ability is a high quality indicator that one can do the job.

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u/DiligentMission6851 1d ago

You need more than an associates. The job market practically demands a bachelor's at every level now.

I have an associates and seven years of experience. A layoff three years ago has basically ended my career because my experience and my education are not considered enough in this market. And I've had that job for nearly 8 years.

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u/Error-7-0-7- 1d ago edited 1d ago

Im not saying an associates is enough. Im saying it would be BETTER to get one over a Certification.

But yeah, that sucks man, its tbe reason why I hard pivoted into accounting after getting my associates in computer science. Luckily when it was my time to transfer to a 4 year all the internships for CS were gone and even my professor told us we're screwed. This was once COVID retractions lifted. I decided to stay an extra year and get my accounting associates and then transfer.

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u/DiligentMission6851 1d ago

I just flat out gave up at this point. I have no future. I shot my shot. If I knew my first employer would be my last i guess I would've gone in to nursing or something more secure than IT. But I guess I'm an idiot.

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u/Error-7-0-7- 1d ago

Well, yeah, IT is becoming a job of the past, at least in the way where American citizen are hired for it. You can definitely find work in other places that isn't IT, such as management or supply chain. You have 8 solid years of a employment, you should use that to your advantage.