{"id":17390,"date":"2013-06-13T23:01:46","date_gmt":"2013-06-13T15:01:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/?p=17390"},"modified":"2023-07-03T18:12:10","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T10:12:10","slug":"degree-vs-self-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/degree-vs-self-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Education vs. Traditional College: Which Path to Choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates are some of the most prominent figures in the tech industry, and they all happen to be college dropouts. Their success stories have fueled a narrative on the Internet suggesting that it\u2019s possible to achieve immense success and amass billions, even without a college degree.<\/p>\n<p>So, how crucial is a degree in the tech world?<\/p>\n<p>Years ago, it came to light that Yahoo! CEO Scott Thompson had <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/2012\/05\/03\/technology\/yahoo-thompson-education\/index.htm\">falsified his degree on his resume<\/a>. Contrary to his claims of holding a degree in computer science and accounting, he had not actually studied computer science in college. His previous roles as CTO and President for PayPal did not mitigate the situation. He resigned just 10 days after the revelation, attributing his departure to \u201chealth issues\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>From this, we can infer that indeed, a degree is important, especially if you aspire to lead a company that you do not own.<\/p>\n<h2>Intelligence Gathering<\/h2>\n<p>Setting humor aside, I decided to delve deeper and focus my attention on web designers and developers. The internet is a vast repository of knowledge, if you know where to look for answers. I took the traditional approach: I emailed a few of our authors at Hongkiat.com to ask for their opinions.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re at a crossroads in your life, contemplating whether you need a degree to have a successful career in web design and development, keep reading.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ref-block ref-block--post\" id=\"ref-post-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/books-for-web-designers-developers\/\" class=\"ref-block__link\" title=\"Read More: 30 Books For Web Designers and Developers\" rel=\"bookmark\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">30 Books For Web Designers and Developers<\/span><\/a>\n<div class=\"ref-block__thumbnail img-thumb img-thumb--jumbo\" data-img='{ \"src\" : \"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/thumbs\/250x160\/books-for-web-designers-developers.jpg\" }'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n<style>.no-js #ref-block-post-55215 .ref-block__thumbnail { background-image: url(\"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/thumbs\/250x160\/books-for-web-designers-developers.jpg\"); }<\/style>\n<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ref-block__summary\">\n<h4 class=\"ref-title\">30 Books For Web Designers and Developers<\/h4>\n<p class=\"ref-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIf you are a designer or developer, you probably know that this field is one of the most...\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Read more<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>The baseline<\/h3>\n<p>Generally, to have a successful career in web design and development, you must commit to lifelong learning. After four grueling years at university, you might think, <em>\u201cI\u2019ve learned all there is to learn.\u201d However, once you step into the real world, you might realize, I\u2019ve been learning outdated technology!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/degree-vs-self-learning\/college-classroom.jpg\" alt=\"college classroom\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"><\/figure>\n<p>Jake writes, <em>\u201cMany of the languages (PHP, MySQL, jQuery, MongoDB, etc.) can be learned without a college degree.\u201d<\/em> Anything related to building for the web in terms of practical use cannot be confined to a syllabus or taught by a teacher.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike fields such as medicine or law where human anatomy doesn\u2019t change overnight and lawyers (or senators) make their own laws, the field of web development is vast and evolves rapidly. <em>\u201cAlmost all universities get left behind due to the rapid growth of this field,\u201d<\/em> writes Victor.<\/p>\n<h3>The Curriculum<\/h3>\n<p>Web design and trends evolve quickly due to immense online competition. However, when it comes to universities, you might find that they don\u2019t <em>\u201coffer what you want to learn about, just a combination of a few computer-related topics,\u201d<\/em> writes Thoriq.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWhen you take charge of your own education, you get to choose the niche and specializations you see a future in,\u201d<\/em> he adds. Nancy writes, <em>\u201cThe internet provides a wealth of information on any topic you need, so you can learn everything from home.\u201d<\/em> Essentially, you learn at your own pace and on your own terms.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/degree-vs-self-learning\/self-learning.jpg\" alt=\"self learning\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> You have the web development industry to thank for this, so please support your altruistic web designers\/developers who share their codes and ideas with you free of charge.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ref-block ref-block--post\" id=\"ref-post-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/open-source-community-give-back\/\" class=\"ref-block__link\" title=\"Read More: 10 Ways to Contribute to The Open Source Community\" rel=\"bookmark\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">10 Ways to Contribute to The Open Source Community<\/span><\/a>\n<div class=\"ref-block__thumbnail img-thumb img-thumb--jumbo\" data-img='{ \"src\" : \"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/thumbs\/250x160\/open-source-community-give-back.jpg\" }'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n<style>.no-js #ref-block-post-25324 .ref-block__thumbnail { background-image: url(\"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/thumbs\/250x160\/open-source-community-give-back.jpg\"); }<\/style>\n<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ref-block__summary\">\n<h4 class=\"ref-title\">10 Ways to Contribute to The Open Source Community<\/h4>\n<p class=\"ref-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOpen source software has helped accelerated the development of information technology, generating opportunities never seen before. Just think...\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Read more<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Should I Skip University?<\/h2>\n<p>Well, it\u2019s not that simple. To begin with, you would be missing out on a multitude of experiences. While not all universities are the same, they all foster multitasking, enhance social skills, offer vast networking opportunities for future prospects, and essentially help you become a more organized individual.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, as Alvaris points out, <em>\u201cA university is primarily a place to hone your self-learning skills. If you\u2019re considering the self-taught path, it\u2019s crucial to know your goal.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Traditional Companies Value Degrees<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re not satisfied with merely working remotely from home and prefer an office environment with colleagues and watercooler chats, then pursuing a degree is a wise choice.<\/p>\n<p>All the respondents mentioned this, but Alvaris encapsulates it best by saying, <em>\u201ceven though web design is a progressive field, most companies hiring in-house web designers are still traditional and will likely ask for your academic credentials.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/degree-vs-self-learning\/college-degree.jpg\" alt=\"college degree\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"><\/figure>\n<h3>Learning is Challenging!<\/h3>\n<p>Another argument for obtaining a degree is that not everyone possesses the self-motivation to learn independently.<em> \u201cSome people simply lack the internal drive to educate themselves because it\u2019s incredibly challenging,\u201d<\/em> Jake notes. In a structured education system, we learn the basics, then intermediate and advanced materials, current trends, and future prospects, even if it may be somewhat outdated.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, self-learning doesn\u2019t have a clear beginning or end. It\u2019s a beautiful, chaotic mix of everything and nothing, and it\u2019s our responsibility to make sense of it. In short, <em>\u201cIt\u2019s not for everyone.\u201d<\/em> (Jake)<\/p>\n<h2>Should I Pursue a Degree or Not?<\/h2>\n<p>The decision to pursue a degree largely depends on your career aspirations. If you\u2019re interested in venturing into the corporate world of design and development, a degree is often necessary, along with a substantial amount of creativity. However, if you\u2019re more inclined towards entrepreneurship and prefer being your own boss, a degree may not be as beneficial.<\/p>\n<p>If the idea of traditional studying doesn\u2019t appeal to you, it\u2019s important to remember that self-learning is also a form of studying. As Arfa suggests, it\u2019s <em>\u201ca skill almost every professional should develop.\u201d<\/em> Moreover, self-learning can be more cost-efficient and allows you to focus on relevant topics that directly contribute to your advancement in web design and development, rather than spending time on less applicable subjects.<\/p>\n<h2>Of Debts and Degrees<\/h2>\n<p>While it\u2019s true that some universities continue to produce high-achieving graduates who make significant changes in the world, the cost of a good education can be prohibitively expensive. To put this into perspective, consider that student debt in the US has surpassed $1 trillion.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/degree-vs-self-learning\/student-debts.jpg\" alt=\"student debts\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"><\/figure>\n<p>Addison, a recent graduate, shares that many of her peers are burdened with substantial student loan debt, a burden they\u2019re likely to carry for the rest of their lives. She believes that the only viable solution is to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and take control of their own futures, a skill that surprisingly few schools effectively teach. She suggests that entrepreneurship should be a mandatory subject in schools, with a focus on tech entrepreneurs, if possible.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Possessing a degree is not a guaranteed path to success. In fact, there are no shortcuts to success, despite what diploma mills might suggest. However, a degree can serve as a measure of your capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>Even high-profile figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates didn\u2019t drop out from just any university, they left Harvard, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Steve Jobs, while he did drop out due to financial constraints, continued to attend classes that intrigued him, such as a course in calligraphy. If you appreciate the beautiful fonts you see on your computer today, you have Jobs\u2019 passion for elegant typography to thank.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note: <\/strong>Singyin thanks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/author\/nancy_young\/\">Nancy<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/author\/alvaris\/\">Alvaris<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/author\/arfa\/\">Arfa<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/author\/kay\/\">Kay<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/author\/thoriq\/\">Thoriq<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/author\/victorbalasa\/\">Victor<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/author\/jake\/\">Jake<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/author\/addison_duvall\/\">Addison<\/a> for their feedback and insights on the topic at hand.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates are some of the most prominent figures in the tech industry, and they all happen to be college dropouts. Their success stories have fueled a narrative on the Internet suggesting that it\u2019s possible to achieve immense success and amass billions, even without a college degree. So, how crucial&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3405],"tags":[1720,2992,2501,3285,510],"topic":[4522],"class_list":["entry-content","is-maxi"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.8 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Self-Education vs. Traditional College: Which Path to Choose? - Hongkiat<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates are some of the most prominent figures in the tech industry, and they all happen to be college dropouts. 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