[brudgers]

I am not saying that a CS degree is necessary or necessarily better, but I believe it is a categorical mistake to treat the experience gained obtaining a formal CS education with the experience gained teaching oneself...if only for no other reason than that a student, by definition is less able to distinguish among the hoops and accurately separate them into useless, useful, important and critical.

The features of a formal education include guaranteed access to experts [for some definition of 'expert'] and a proven set of priorities [for some definition of 'proven']. The downside is less potential breadth since standardized systems are standardized.

The real question is what does 'make it' mean? For some people the piece of paper matters. It's a goal with social and personal significance and there is nothing wrong with that. If 'make it' is tied to wealth...well it's easier if you were smart enough to pick rich parents.

In the end it depends on what you want. And in any event, while a CS degree won't necessarily make anyone good [for some definition of 'good'] it may open opportunities and if they are good a CS degree will probably make them better, and almost certainly not make them worse.

Good luck.

[eugeneross]

Thanks for your input. Adding to what you've said, I've read and heard on some occasions (from professionals in my sector) that taking some CS classes as electives was beneficial and wasn't too overwhelming.

[brudgers]

You're welcome. Many years ago, I "just got the piece of paper to hang on the wall," Amost as many years ago, I got another piece of paper that hangs on the wall as a credential - not in CS and in a field where credentials have legal standing in the pursuit of other non-academic pieces of paper to hang on the wall. Which is a way of getting to the core decision that you face. What is the value to you personally of the piece of paper that you can hang on your wall?

It doesn't really matter much how much I value a diploma, unless I a hiring manager and you are a candidate and that's the typical case. Diplomas are meaningful culturally. If you already have a piece of paper to hang on the wall your calculus may be different than if you don't. That's ok either way.

If you have a diploma, then Coursera's MOOC's are a middle option. There is the formality, at least in some offerings, of a fixed course schedule and consequently a peer cohort and clear instructor student relationships. And it offers some excellent courses by excellent CS teachers. But it's not going to get you academic credit if you might really want a degree at some point.

I've taken a bunch of them and gotten a lot out of it [I've also dropped a lot of courses when I haven't]. But my situation is my situation - that's why I described it - and not your situation. Or YMMV.