[dasil003]

It took me 8 years to get my BS degree. I would say that when I started I just didn't have the discipline to buckle down and do the work. My personality tends contrarian, so there is something about our Victorian education system that has always made me bristle. It took me until age 22 to develop the maturity to properly apply myself. The turning point for me was actually wanting to learn versus just going through the motions to get the credential. I recognize that's a privileged position, but it is what it is.

I can't help but notice you mention three times what you've "been told". Your frustration with the gatekeepers is palpable, but remember the world is a big place and college administrators are not notable for their broader influence; don't let them get in your head! What I'll say is this: a lot of things in life come down to intrinsic motivation. Why is it that you are in college? If your goal is to become a professional programmer than go write code and build stuff, get your foot in the door somewhere, and show what you can do.