[MrTechCenter]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

I always find this ironic:

My previous work runs important sections of the world's economy and military.
Only an Associates degree - can't work for FIRST.

For a long, long time, Bill Gates who's company wrote the software that FIRST uses would not qualify for having no Bachelors degree and his current degree is honorary (he has less total time in college class than I do).

Well if I ever want to take a huge pay cut: I'll go back to school to qualify for this opportunity.

Not to say school is of no value, but I judge the value of the employee to be hired on their demonstrated ability to do their job. It's hard to expect schools to develop curriculum around subjects that companies will find value in, when bleeding edge innovation companies are often so far ahead of the schools and possibly don't want to reduce the resale value of that innovation by making it common place.

Exactly this. I know that if you apply to work at Apple, Google, or a lot of tech companies over in Silicon Valley, they might ask you just once about your education. Companies like these prefer experience and ability over degrees, which is pretty great. Not saying you shouldn't go to college, but having a degree nowadays isn't worth a whole lot unless you also have experience.