[marincounty]

I couldn't imagine a tech start-up caring about college--unless it's a big stupid company? Plus--the guys I know without a degree, seem to try a little bit harder? I've always thought if I had the right idea, and funding--would I even bother to hire a college graduate, unless they had a lot of projects/accomplishments under their belt? I would prefer people who worked hard, and didn't have that Little bit of self-entitlement a degree brings.(It's there--it seems to just sneak in somewhere along the line? I have found it gets in the way--sometimes?)

Unless your degree is in the hard sciences, we all know what college entailed; for most of us it was a four years of fun, and the worst day in college was better than working? Hell--I never wanted to leave!(That was before it got so expensive though.)

I sometimes over hear recent graduates in gossip groups(usually after a few cocktails) go on and on about their degree, and college accomplishments; If my upchuck reflex is not irritated--I listen a bit, and ask myself, "I couldn't imagine paying them to do anything?".

That said, if you can swing it; go to college, and I guarantee when you look back, it will be the best years of your life--for the majority of you. While I'm on it--don't let upper division classes scare you. I found them no harder than lower division courses. If for some reason you find yourself wanting to drop out, get a four year degree in anything! Anything! Go to a notoriously easy college like Santa Cruz, or Chico State and get your degree in Spacing Out?

Why, because too many of the idiots out there still think a bachelor's degree is important? Oh, and they love to quote that worn out statistic, that I can't even write anymore. I guess it's still true--so finish and get the diploma? I have a weird feeling federal bankruptcy laws might change in the future, and student loans might become dischargable?

One other thing, that person in college you kinda take for granted--that guy, or girl who you sometimes wonder, "Why do they put up with my antics?"; are not hanging out in bars waiting for you to graduate with open arms!

[ErikRogneby]

There are plenty of tech startups where the people doing the interviewing are recent enough out of their CS degree that they ask you a bunch of big-O related questions. If you didn't go to college and just have been hacking on code you probably don't know the answer.

Personally I feel like this is misguided and probably triggered more around self-validation and feeling clever. (worry about scale when you need to, etc...)

[spamizbad]

It's rare, but some startups prefer their early hires to have degrees tier-1 schools. I assume this is to impress investors and (enterprise/gov) customers. Today's market makes this nearly impossible but I recall it being a thing in the 00's

However, they are looking for a very specific type of college graduate. Merely having a degree with a good GPA is insufficient for them. It must be a tier 1, name-brand institution.