Many students and applicants are sure that a diploma in a particular specialty does not solve anything today. However, in IT this opinion is partly true. Only a small part of today’s IT people graduated from universities of programming and have a programmer’s diploma, but did not study the specialty by themselves. Is it not necessary to study the specialty?
Why future programmers cannot go to college (or enter another specialty)
Some thirty years ago it was impossible to obtain a diploma in programming independently: there were no adequate teachers, and in educational institutions, they taught to handle punched cards and draw schemes. Over time, not only quality technical universities appeared but also training courses and free online tutorials. And it also turned out that someone who knew the basics was much easier to teach on the job. As a result, employers rarely look at a person’s specialty based on his diploma: if a person is interviewed and shows at least some knowledge, he will be hired.
Sometimes technical education can play a cruel trick on a student. If he thought that a diploma from a prestigious university would get him a well-paid job, and he treated his studies irresponsibly, he will be seriously disappointed after graduation. Often enthusiasts with incomplete college become more successful in the workplace than graduates with a diploma but no knowledge.
So the profession indicated in the diploma (if there is one at all) is not so important for a successful career as a programmer. Anyone can become an IT specialist – all it takes is desire, initiative, and ahead on your shoulders. Yes, you can use programming assignment help for some time because it will help you to not get lost in the material. However, higher education can help develop systematic thinking and scrupulosity, as well as to understand self-study – in general, to get exactly those skills that are useful for an independent IT specialty.
Who exactly needs a degree in programming
If we are talking specifically about a diploma, rather than the knowledge obtained, there are not many such students. The necessity of documents is connected only with the type of work.
- The programmer’s diploma will be checked if you want to get a job in a state-financed state organization. In this case, you need at least a related technical specialty, such as an engineer.
- When moving abroad. The employer will look at experience, knowledge, and portfolio, but there may be problems with the registration of documents for residence if the specialty in the university was from another area.
- If the employer encourages higher education and does not promote it without it. In small web studios, a diploma of any profession will do. But in large corporations, education in the current specialty will significantly increase the chances of promotion.
But, if you treat your studies responsibly, institutes for programmers can give much more than an official document. And then a lot of opportunities open up for the student.
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How a quality education as a programmer will help in work
Although everyone can get additional training, the importance of self-education is a bit exaggerated. There are not so many successful programmers who have never used the services of teachers. And passing courses does not guarantee quality knowledge and change of profession: often work in practice differs from theory, which is given to beginners. These are the benefits that higher technical education can provide:
- Programming universities, like other universities, teach how to learn. To get good marks in a diploma, a student either has to memorize information quickly, learn the tickets and write his or her term papers, or learn to rewrite other people’s work to one hundred percent uniqueness and develop eloquence. Both are very useful skills for independent living.
- Despite the opinion that universities teach irrelevant theory, the knowledge gained is not so useless. For example, students are taught the obsolete Pascal language not because Soviet-era teachers don’t know anything else. If you start with the basics, then modern, more complex programming languages are much easier to learn. In addition, they have much more similarities than differences. Some of the subtleties of C++ or PHP will not be understood if you do not know their more primitive counterpart.
- Don’t forget that programmers can work for anything: from web and game developers to CNC machine setters at heavy industry plants. The former can still get the knowledge on their own. But the latter has to deal with the theory for a long time, if they did not have the appropriate education – there the cost of error is much higher.
- Numerous courses on mathematics, analysis, geometry, and construction are necessary for modern IT specialties: work with 3D graphics, programming graphs, game development. And management and economics will come in handy when you grow up to be a department head. Those subjects that seem superfluous and unrelated to the profession, can be very helpful in future work.
- If you are lucky enough to study at a good modern university for programmers, and the management has created the conditions for quality training and practice, then your career will immediately begin successfully. Industrial practice in a company where you want to get a job after graduation, a useful and applicable theme of the thesis, making acquaintances with future employers – all this will be very helpful at the beginning of your working path.
No, you can, of course, get all the same on your own. But the necessary habits, skills, and timely practice can only be provided by the university. In addition, it will give a good start at the beginning of your career.
But also do not forget that it is difficult to find a really good university. In one, too much time may be allotted to non-core subjects, in another, there may be incompetent teachers or irresponsible supervisors.
So, to summarize:
- If you are not sure you want to work as a programmer, then there is no point in enrolling in a programming-related specialty. You can always take short courses (including free), and gain experience already at work. Documents and diplomas in this case do not play any role.
- If becoming a programmer was your dream since childhood, then feel free to go to university! There you will gain knowledge in all related disciplines, learn the basics and get your systems and programming thinking up.
- For ordinary work and routine tasks, no one will demand not only a programmer’s diploma but no certificates. Only an interview, a test assignment, and a check of your knowledge level. In the process, you can grow into a very good specialist.
- But for managing a department or solving complex problems, it is unlikely that self-taught people will be recruited. Audiences are likely to be skeptical of research or new developments from someone with no education.
Still, does a programmer need a college degree? If you only see IT as a high-paying job, you don’t need one. With the proper diligence and zeal for knowledge, you can rise as an expert without training courses and programs.
If you are interested in this field and you are not only willing to fulfill someone’s tasks, but also to create something new, you can’t do without higher education. A large well-known company is unlikely to take you on a team if you do not have experience and a degree in programming. Well, if the dream of becoming a programmer emerged after you have graduated from another university – a good option is to master the basics of the profession, get a job, and develop already in practice. After a few years, you will become a high-level developer. And later, if required by the leadership of their desire, you can go to university and learn the specialty officially. It certainly will not be redundant, and how much benefit and knowledge the university will bring you, it’s up to you.
