So a few months ago I applied to the University of Texas in the hopes of _finally_ getting my college degree. I was getting interested in doing AI research or something high-level like that, and that paper would be my gateway to graduate work.
I was accepted and, slowly, as is the wont of giant organizations, all the bits and pieces got approved, including the ever-vital student loan. I have two lighweight classes this semester to "hold my place", as I try to get other bits of my life together. I also plan to test out of as many credits as humanly possible.
Fast forward a couple of months and I have the National Instruments job search. As of right now, it's teetering on the edge of an offer, but what the offer will be is up in the air.
The big holdup is my lack of degree.
Not unexpected. This is a part of a country where people seem to care more about such formalities. I'll still get a job there, it looks like, but without a good title or maybe making less money than I could be.
All the impediments go away once I get the paper.
This touches on one of my pet peeves. Will getting my degree really mean anything? Does it make me a better employee? Will it improve my programming skills?
Probably, to a small degree, yes. But not very much. It's like the discrimination given to women in business... and it irks me.
So now I'm looking to not get a CS degree, but to find a college within UT, or a different university even, where I can leverage testing, job skills, and evening classes to their fullest extent to slam a degree out of the way.
A degree gotten this way will have no meaning at all, other than I jump through hoops for a year or two. And THEN I can get back on track to actually learn something. In this respect, pushing for the quick degree so I can advance at NI will actually be impeding my education.
Go figure.
But NI only really understands college graduates. It's what they do, and I'm definitely throwing sand into their gears. They want to hire me, but are having trouble figuring out how to structure it.
I'm sure it's good for 'em. You know, like my dad calls it, "Another Fucking Growth Opportunity."
But me, I just want a job. Once I'm in, they can see what a great guy I am in person. I'll still probably have to have a degree to go anywhere, but at least I can eat while pursuing it.