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Originally Posted by Astronouth7303
If I were an employer, I would hire the guy with a degree. But how much of it can be self-taught and/or mentored? I have 0 formal schooling in what I do, but as a software engineer I am capable and becoming more so every day. I may not measure up to the guy with a PhD in Computer Science, but I'm doing pretty well, I think.
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I'm sorry, but I don't think you get it.
You don't measure up to someone with a PhD in Computer Science, and you aren't doing well in comparison. It takes years of hard work to get a PhD. You need to discard a chunk of your life to reach that point. Say goodbye to your friends, family and hobbies for a while, because your life is consumed by your thesis. A PhD for some people is there entire life's work. My Father finished his when he was 34. Just because you've written a couple of programs here and there does not put you on par with someone who has written a thesis. This is like a 15 year old saying, "ooh, I've finished all the experiments that came with my chemistry set, I'm a chemist now."
The main goal of FIRST was to change our culture to a point where young people looked up to engineers as role models in the way they currently look up to athletes. How many little leaguers out there have the audacity to compare themselves to Derek Jeter and say "Oh yeah, I'm almost there". This whole attitude is ridiculously insulting to all the engineers in the forum.
Oh and to be technical, having a PhD in Computer Science doesn't make you an engineer either. Becoming a member of a society Professional Engineers does (In most states and provinces). By taking that oath, you're taking on a huge ethical responsibility. This is a large distinction.
You may be on a path to becoming a fine engineer, but you still have a bit of time before you can call yourself one. You're eagnerness and enthusiasm is certainly admirable, but remember it's a long road.