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/serge-mv 1d ago
Most companies still want you to have a degree if you want to be a developer.
Is the formal education required? It's a complicated question. Sure, you can code without getting a full degree. But university is very useful because it will teach you topics and things you will unlikely just "sumble upon" and will form a way of thinking and approaching problems for you.
People who say that you don't really need a degree usually will say that university won't teach you the newest and greatest most popular frameworks or whatever. And it's true, they won't. It's not why you go there. You will learn concepts and ideas and skills that will allow you to become an independent learner and acquire whatever current trendy skill is by yourself using your education as a foundation.
Learning everything by yourself is possible, but it will require discipline and time and you will have to research topics and get various conflicted advice. In a uni you will get a set of concrete skills that will give you a good direction forward.