Final year in HS and I plan to take a CS degree. Here's my story

Question

Hey Treehouse community,
This'll be a bit lengthy but I can't hold it in anymore. If you don't mind reading and giving insight/feedback/personal experience, I would be extremely grateful.
The reason why I was attracted to programming was that the job market is going to rise a lot thus making demand way higher and giving higher payouts. But the absolute primary reason was that I could work anywhere in the world with just my laptop. However I want to live in japan or somewhere foreign, but that means landing a job there would be hard. So i could potentially have a freelance job or a remote job based in america and not worry about trying to find work in a foreign place.
As of now, I am about to enter my final year in HS. I've mainly used codecademy.com, using it here and there but usually stopping after a few days and coming back to it a year later. However I found about treehouse a bit over a week ago and I've already learned so much stuff I find it hard to believe myself that it's only been a week. But this was all because a few weeks ago I wanted to take developing/programming seriously.  So I went back to codecademy and completed the html+css but then the javascript just got a bit too hard for me to catch up so I left codecademy and found treehouse.
Nothing really made me interested in school such as language however I always liked maths. I came to realize that this field of work is actually pretty interesting which is something rare for me to say in terms of anything school related. During my past school years, computer programming was never offered as a course in my school but a lot of other schools have that program so my first worry was that I'd be behind when I start university. However I know someone that is actually taking a computer programming course in school for already a year but he doesn't even know much html/css/javascript. In fact I'm almost perfectly sure I know more in those fields than him and I've barely gone past the extreme basics. Makes me wonder what sort of stuff they teach in school...but then again that guy is almost failing highschool so I dont think i can compare anything to him lol. I'm also attending extra math classes right now in an aim to get a near perfect score in math if possible, and therefore increasing my chances of being accepted into a CS course in UofT. I actually approached my extra classes math teacher and he said that I would be in quite a disadvantage and it'll be difficult to catch up because everyone would already know much more than me. (however he doesnt know my secret weapon: TREEHOUSE :)) However I also read that university is more theory and less application (does anyone have any idea on this?). In that case I believe if I work diligently in treehouse for the next year I could be placed ahead of the game knowing treehouse's capabilities of turning beginners into experts in as little as a year. I feel like treehouse has a strict goal of making us into the best of what we're doing and the most knowledgeable as in less theory and more actually doing coding. however im not sure what they teach in uni CS based on so much mixed reviews.
I'm also wondering how much more I could learn more from a CS degree. To anyone that has a CS degree or knows someone that has done so, what was your sort of experience? My thoughts on degrees is that it'll just open more job opportunities because these days that's all employers want...especially the big companies. However skill is obviously way more important. So a combination of the two would create something deeply desired I'm assuming.
There's around a month left before my senior year starts so I'm spending around 2 hours on html+css and 2 hours on javascript. However once school starts, I will probably only be limited to around an hour or two a day but most likely a good 4 hours on weekends. I plan to continue this habit for the next year and then for another 4 years during my university time. I can only hope that I'll keep at it and not quit somewhere along the way. I have a bad habit of giving up easily..i almost quit javascript because I couldnt do any of the challenges without help and it made me pessimistic.
Some further questions I have: 
for all you experienced in your field and even have jobs, how long did it take you? was a degree necessary? what age did you start? how long did you usually spend a day learning? what are your work hours right now? what is it like working freelance? do you make an above average salary? how does university computer course compare to treehouse? how has treehouse progressed you? after how many years are you adequate for job worthy? any final words/tips for me?
I apologize for this huge block of text and for this long story, but any information/feedback/tips/suggestions/advice/anything would all be extremely appreciated. 
Cheers!

James Kirkpatrick · Answer

Kevin P,
I would first like to congratulate you on your commitment to your education and broadening your horizons.  You seem to have given your future some considerable thought.  Now for the "meat-and-potatoes" of your questions. I have owned a few businesses (some profitable, some not so much), one of which survived for over 10 years.  I have been in the IT industry for 20 years and have recently started another business.  I also have a degree - not in CS, but applicable to the circumstance. In my career life, I have worked with Graphic Designers, IT Security Agents, Technicians, Systems Engineers, ect. While most have looked fondly upon their college experience, they all had the same or similar story about putting their degrees to work:  "Take everything you learned in school, and forget it".
Now, I'm not bashing a college degree.  It does have its place.  Unfortunately, in today's economy and job market; it's not worth what it once was.  To put it in an employer's perspective - a degree doesn't mean you actually know anything. It merely means you have the capacity to learn and follow instructions.
Although a CS degree is more specific to your interests, as an entrepreneur, I would recommend a degree in Business Management with perhaps a minor in CS. Practice your programming skills until you become proficient, create some projects for yourself, then freelance. You can do this while continuing your formal education. With careful planning and preparation, you will be ready to implement your BM degree to start your own business and be better suited to running it. All of this, of course, is provided you decide to go to college. Alternatively, you could forgo college, and cram as much programming skills as possible into your head, and take the same steps previously mentioned (minus the degree).
Before you decide to go the route of a college education, I would recommend calculating the true cost [(tuition per semester x 6 semesters) + books + supplies + housing + transportation + food + (student loans + interest) + $1K-$2K per year for misc expenses(clothing, shoes, emergencies, etc)]. Then compare that to your expected entry level pay for the first 3-5 years of work. That should give you a more accurate idea of the feasibility of said degree. Keep in mind, as a field becomes more prominent, it tends to get flooded with workers. Thus, decreasing the value of said workers.
So, is a degree necessary? Not really, but it can help you land a job or get a business loan. How long did I usually spend a day learning? I found whether I was in college or learning independently, I spent 60-80 hrs/week studying.  What is it like working freelance? Long hours, no holidays, very little time off. But I am truly living the American Dream - win or lose, succeed or fail, it is all based on MY decisions, work ethic, effort, determination, and commitment. I am free to call my own shots. And if successful, I will have worked to make myself wealthy (or at least well-to-do) and not help someone who doesn't even know or care about me become or stay wealthy. how does university computer course compare to treehouse? It has been my experience that college is good for theory and treehouse (and others) are geared more toward practical application.  After how many years are you adequate for job worthy? With or without a college degree, unless you keep in practice and up to date on programming, you're never adequate. With practice comes proficiency, proficiency leads to paycheck, continued practice + proficiency + multiple paychecks grows into expertise.
Final word/tips: Keep studying. Don't give up. Reach out for help and help others. Teaching a subject is a better learning tool than reading about it. When you can explain something you gain a more intimate understanding of the subject. Make your choices and take your chances cause life is always a gamble.
Best of luck!
James

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Kevin Faust

Kevin Faust

Final year in HS and I plan to take a CS degree. Here's my story

1 Answer

James Kirkpatrick

James Kirkpatrick