I'm 24 years old and I don't have a college degree. I'm not really keen on spending 4+ years obtaining one, and I'm considering teaching myself software development. However, I worry about whether this is a realistic path, especially when it comes to finding a job later on.
On a positive note, I'm great at math, and I've found coding to be intuitive and enjoyable so far. Still, I am concerned about wasting time or encountering barriers due to my lack of formal education.
Is it truly feasible to become a successful self-taught developer? If I take this route, how should I go about it? Or should I just opt for the 'safer' path of getting a degree? I'd love advice from anyone who's been in a similar situation or has experience with hiring, coding, or self-teaching. Thank you!
5 Answers
Absolutely, it can be done! If you're passionate and can build a decent GitHub portfolio, you have a good chance. A friend of mine who doesn't have a degree got hired as he impressed during interviews. Honestly, some of the best developers don’t hold formal degrees, but they had to be standout candidates to get noticed. Just keep in mind, getting hired is tougher now than it was a few years back, so you've got to really shine.
Yes, it's possible! I’ve built my career from self-taught beginnings. It may be tough without the formal backing of a degree, but after a few jobs, people mostly care about your experience. Just be prepared to work harder at first and be proactive in learning.
It's totally possible but expect it to take a few years of hard work. The good news is that with AI learning tools, the process can be a bit easier now. But first, clarify your goals. Are you looking to build simple apps for fun, start a business, or get hired by big companies? That will shape your learning path.
For sure, you can do it but you'll need to put a lot of effort into networking, not just coding. Building relationships can really help you get noticed compared to just being a self-taught coder.
Agreed! Balancing the two—coding skills and networking—is crucial if you want to get your foot in the door.
I learned to code back in the 90s without a degree. I was literally just a cab driver in Boston who bought a computer and started tinkering. I built simple projects, modified existing code, and learned as I went along. After landing a low-paying job, I gradually gained experience, moving to better positions over the years until I had a solid career in Silicon Valley. It’s about patience and hustling your way up from the bottom, but yes, it can definitely be done.
True, but isn't there a risk of survivorship bias here? Many passionate self-taught programmers might not get hired at all, despite their skills.