You can gain social experience lots of other places while making money rather than spending tons of money.
Degree inflation means that getting a job with one is about as hard as getting a job without one a couple decades ago. In any case, who you know is usually more important than what you know when starting out. If you wind up self-employed, then
I started out my professional programming career before I had a degree (and started learning programming around 9-10 years old). In my many, many interviews, I've never been asked about my degree.
Likewise, I've never asked a programmer about their college education in an interview and I don't see a reason to start asking that question. I care about if you can do the job and that's all any company really cares about too.
> Degree inflation means that getting a job with one is about as hard as getting a job without one a couple decades ago.
Agreed. Still both easier than getting a job without a degree now!
> In any case, who you know is usually more important than what you know when starting out.
Erm not really - when you're starting out you don't know anyone, so you can't use networking to get a job and qualifications are relatively more important. It's only when you've had a bit of a career that you start to have a network and can e.g. bypass HR because you know someone.
> I've never asked a programmer about their college education in an interview and I don't see a reason to start asking that question.
Me neither but programming is a bit of an exception. I think because so many people learn it on their own, and because it's relatively easy to directly test in an interview. It wouldn't be the same for accountancy or management or lawyers or doctors or ...
Degree inflation means that getting a job with one is about as hard as getting a job without one a couple decades ago. In any case, who you know is usually more important than what you know when starting out. If you wind up self-employed, then
I started out my professional programming career before I had a degree (and started learning programming around 9-10 years old). In my many, many interviews, I've never been asked about my degree.
Likewise, I've never asked a programmer about their college education in an interview and I don't see a reason to start asking that question. I care about if you can do the job and that's all any company really cares about too.