[bindley]

I'm kind of in the same boat. I took a year off college to focus on learning web development.

A year later, I'm working for a startup, but I am also making double I was at my old job. It was really a paradigm shift in my mind.

I looked at college as my entrance to a career, and later learned that wasn't the case. People value unique skills, not cookie cutter graduates.

You're asking some deep life questions, that extend outside programming. a book: The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin really helped me when I was at a place you're in right now. Helped me understand how really successful people do it. hope that helps :)

[antonius]

People value unique skills, not cookie cutter graduates.

I'm hoping to be able to work in Seattle next year at either Microsoft or Amazon and the main requirement they look at is whether the applicant has a degree in Computer Science or related field. Only after do they begin to look at personal projects/past accomplishments etc.

Not trying to say a university degree is for everyone, but for people like me looking to get into a top technology company, it's a requirement.

[girasquid]

Not always though. I didn't get a degree but have had recruiters from both companies reach out to me based on work experience. Based on the conversations we had, it didn't sound like my lack of a degree was a big deal.

If you have the unique skills they're looking for, the top technology companies are willing to budge on the degree requirement.

[bindley]

Definitely, it's a shift all intelligent companies are making. Google has been relatively vocal about hiring quality people regardless of degree or quality of school i.e. ivy league.

[DaleHarries1]

Thanks for the book suggestion, will try and get it :)