College Vs. Self-Educating

[Ciden]

Hello everyone, this is my first post. I've been reading the AnandTech forums for a long time now and you guys have help greatly on deciding what parts to order for my computers. Now I have a question to ask that kinda involves the rest of my life.

First off, here is me. I'm 19 and just last year I graduated from High School. All my life I wanted to follow in my uncle's footsteps and work with computers. I consider myself to be pretty smart or, at least, above average. Yet, my grades have never shown this. I am a great test taker but a horrible procrastinator when it comes to Homework or any off campus work. I took my first semester as an IT student and flunk most of the courses do to outside work. Even though I would Ace any test put in front of me.

Now with that said, here is my question. How important is college in employer's eyes? Is it possible to be find a good job and be hired through experience and not a degree? I'm assuming that most of you work in a computer-related field and some of you went to college and some of you did not. Please help me by giving some feedback. I'm considering not going to college and just getting ceritified in several areas (A+, Cisco, Windows)

Thank you.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Stop slacking off and go to school.

 

[mdchesne]

welcome to anandtech... unfortunately you posted in off topic... *warning voice from terminator 2* you will be verbally assaulted here!

you might find a techy job... computer maintenence, repair, etc. but generally employers want to see at least a bachelor's degree in comp engineering or science for any kind of job. experience is good, but you'd need a TON... like... starting back when DOS was new and working with computers since... but you're 19 and don't have that luxury. my advice: study harder. try to find coops. those are the only experience employers actually look for... but you need to graduate college for them to count.

GL, and welcome to the forums

 

[BigJ]

You're going to be at a huge disadvantage.

 

[leftyman]

yes this is an excellent place to get serious advice on making life altering decisions :thumbsup:

 

[imported_griffis]

It will take you twice as long to find a job and you get will get paid half what I get paid just because I have a degree. Experience matters for a job when you are in your 40's and 50's and need a job. You are 19, quit being a pansy and suck it up and do your school work. College is the easiest time of your life

 

[mdchesne]

Originally posted by: leftyman
yes this is an excellent place to get serious advice on making life altering decisions :thumbsup:

that, everyone, is the perfect sarcastic remark. take note: the confidence, the structure. you wouldn't realize it was BS if you weren't in OT for at least half a day reading these posts. lol

your prize:

a :beer: for your :thumbsup: -> clasp it in pride

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: mdchesne

Originally posted by: leftyman
yes this is an excellent place to get serious advice on making life altering decisions :thumbsup:

that, everyone, is the perfect sarcastic remark. take note: the confidence, the structure. you wouldn't realize it was BS if you weren't in OT for at least half a day reading these posts. lol

your prize:

a :beer: for your :thumbsup: -> clasp it in pride

Agreed. :beer:

 

[JLGatsby]

College is only not important if you have 20 years of work experience.

5 or even 10 years will not cut it with employers.

The only reason to not go to college is to start your own business.

If you plan on getting a job with someone else, go to college.

 

[Red Dawn]

Consider this, having a College Degree won't hurt your chances of suceeding.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Consider this, having a College Degree won't hurt your chances of suceeding.

Exactly. And think about all of the people trying to get what you will have. (ME)

 

[alm4rr]

unless you are going to teach yourself philosophy, foreign languages, economics, political theory, and history of Europe, go to college

 

[mdchesne]

replace the Y-axis with "employment" and the X-axis with "level of degree" and flip the values on the X-axis
that should help you visualize :laugh:

 

[lastrhino]

I had 4 years of direct experience for the last job I applied for (software QA), and my lack of degree wasn't an issue, even thoug it was posted as a requirement. I was 25 at the time. That said, I lucked into my first QA job, and had that not happened, my life would be much different right now, maybe still working the help desk *shudder*.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: Ciden
First off, here is me. I'm 19 and just last year I graduated from High School. All my life I wanted to follow in my uncle's footsteps and work with computers. I consider myself to be pretty smart or, at least, above average. Yet, my grades have never shown this. I am a great test taker but a horrible procrastinator when it comes to Homework or any off campus work. I took my first semester as an IT student and flunk most of the courses do to outside work. Even though I would Ace any test put in front of me.

high test scores, but low grades.....sounds like you're the typical smart kid who's also a lazy-ass. realize that if you want any amount of success in the world (not just financial), you're going to have to learn to buckle down and work hard. it sucks, i know, but employers can't look inside your head to see how intelligent you are.

quit being a procrastinator. go to college.

getting a job doesn't mean you'll stop being a procrastinator. it may hinder you in your workplace and cause you to fail.

 

[tami]

given that more and more people are going to college than 5, 10 years ago, it should be a message to you that you should go to school. you'll compete for jobs with folks that have much higher qualifications than you -- and yes, i consider college a qualification.

good luck.

 

[meltdown75]

go to college.

the networking and friendship opportunities alone are worth it.

 

[mitmot]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
go to college.

the networking and friendship opportunities alone are worth it.

:thumbsup:

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Ciden
First off, here is me. I'm 19 and just last year I graduated from High School. All my life I wanted to follow in my uncle's footsteps and work with computers. I consider myself to be pretty smart or, at least, above average. Yet, my grades have never shown this. I am a great test taker but a horrible procrastinator when it comes to Homework or any off campus work. I took my first semester as an IT student and flunk most of the courses do to outside work. Even though I would Ace any test put in front of me.

high test scores, but low grades.....sounds like you're the typical smart kid who's also a lazy-ass. realize that if you want any amount of success in the world (not just financial), you're going to have to learn to buckle down and work hard. it sucks, i know, but employers can't look inside your head to see how intelligent you are.

quit being a procrastinator. go to college.

getting a job doesn't mean you'll stop being a procrastinator. it may hinder you in your workplace and cause you to fail.

Which is one of the screening criteria college does for employers.
They can look at your grades. If you have bad grades it means you either are really dumb or you didnt apply yourself.
If you have really good grades it means you either are naturally smart or have very good study habits which translates to good work habits (generally).


You have 3 choices.
1) Work at a below average salary for the majority of your life and do not go to college
2) Start your own business
3) Enjoy a average to higher then average salary and go to college.

 

[serialkiller]

go college.... make you smart... like me... and get goo job...

but on a more serious note, that stupid piece of paper that says you graduated from an accredited college is how employers calibrate your salary... no degree, no good pay....
back in the days a highschool diploma was enough... but nowadays you need ATLEAST a bachelors to even be considered to do anything.


bottom line, go to college

 

[Gibson486]

no college....no foot in door.

That is how it is now. If you would have aced any test put infront of you, then you wouldn't have flunked, would you?

 

[imported_Pablo]

If you're good at tests, go to college. Try kinda hard to get through your classes, make some real friendships. You'll have more options that way. There were times when I thought I might want to work with computers too, but once you get to college, I think your horizons are broadened.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Ciden
First off, here is me. I'm 19 and just last year I graduated from High School. All my life I wanted to follow in my uncle's footsteps and work with computers. I consider myself to be pretty smart or, at least, above average. Yet, my grades have never shown this. I am a great test taker but a horrible procrastinator when it comes to Homework or any off campus work. I took my first semester as an IT student and flunk most of the courses do to outside work. Even though I would Ace any test put in front of me.

high test scores, but low grades.....sounds like you're the typical smart kid who's also a lazy-ass. realize that if you want any amount of success in the world (not just financial), you're going to have to learn to buckle down and work hard. it sucks, i know, but employers can't look inside your head to see how intelligent you are.

quit being a procrastinator. go to college.

getting a job doesn't mean you'll stop being a procrastinator. it may hinder you in your workplace and cause you to fail.

Which is one of the screening criteria college does for employers.
They can look at your grades. If you have bad grades it means you either are really dumb or you didnt apply yourself.
If you have really good grades it means you either are naturally smart or have very good study habits which translates to good work habits (generally).


You have 3 choices.
1) Work at a below average salary for the majority of your life and do not go to college
2) Start your own business
3) Enjoy a average to higher then average salary and go to college.

It's a general assumption that has been proven wrong over and over again, but it's all employers can look at.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Ciden
First off, here is me. I'm 19 and just last year I graduated from High School. All my life I wanted to follow in my uncle's footsteps and work with computers. I consider myself to be pretty smart or, at least, above average. Yet, my grades have never shown this. I am a great test taker but a horrible procrastinator when it comes to Homework or any off campus work. I took my first semester as an IT student and flunk most of the courses do to outside work. Even though I would Ace any test put in front of me.

high test scores, but low grades.....sounds like you're the typical smart kid who's also a lazy-ass. realize that if you want any amount of success in the world (not just financial), you're going to have to learn to buckle down and work hard. it sucks, i know, but employers can't look inside your head to see how intelligent you are.

quit being a procrastinator. go to college.

getting a job doesn't mean you'll stop being a procrastinator. it may hinder you in your workplace and cause you to fail.

Which is one of the screening criteria college does for employers.
They can look at your grades. If you have bad grades it means you either are really dumb or you didnt apply yourself.
If you have really good grades it means you either are naturally smart or have very good study habits which translates to good work habits (generally).


You have 3 choices.
1) Work at a below average salary for the majority of your life and do not go to college
2) Start your own business
3) Enjoy a average to higher then average salary and go to college.

It's a general assumption that has been proven wrong over and over again, but it's all employers can look at.

Whoa.
I'm not saying its right. I'm not saying I agree with it. And yes, there are exceptions to the rule.

I'm simply telling the OP how it is in general.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Ciden
First off, here is me. I'm 19 and just last year I graduated from High School. All my life I wanted to follow in my uncle's footsteps and work with computers. I consider myself to be pretty smart or, at least, above average. Yet, my grades have never shown this. I am a great test taker but a horrible procrastinator when it comes to Homework or any off campus work. I took my first semester as an IT student and flunk most of the courses do to outside work. Even though I would Ace any test put in front of me.

high test scores, but low grades.....sounds like you're the typical smart kid who's also a lazy-ass. realize that if you want any amount of success in the world (not just financial), you're going to have to learn to buckle down and work hard. it sucks, i know, but employers can't look inside your head to see how intelligent you are.

quit being a procrastinator. go to college.

getting a job doesn't mean you'll stop being a procrastinator. it may hinder you in your workplace and cause you to fail.

Which is one of the screening criteria college does for employers.
They can look at your grades. If you have bad grades it means you either are really dumb or you didnt apply yourself.
If you have really good grades it means you either are naturally smart or have very good study habits which translates to good work habits (generally).


You have 3 choices.
1) Work at a below average salary for the majority of your life and do not go to college
2) Start your own business
3) Enjoy a average to higher then average salary and go to college.

It's a general assumption that has been proven wrong over and over again, but it's all employers can look at.

Whoa.
I'm not saying its right. I'm not saying I agree with it. And yes, there are exceptions to the rule.

I'm simply telling the OP how it is in general.

No, I'm just reiterating what you said. Even though he may be smart, employers will not look at him if can't flash any proof of his intelligence on paper.