Why I Didn’t go to College for Software Engineering
By: Sun-Li Beatteay
Tags: Technology, College, Computer Science, Programming, Software Development

Two Roads Diverged

At the time, I was working as a technician in a physical therapy clinic. The pay wasn’t anything to brag about and there wasn’t any upward mobility. But it was a fine job for what it was: a means to an end.

I knew I wasn’t going to stay there for long. But I also wasn’t going to quit until I found a calling. Something that motivated me to continuously improve myself. Something that would help me achieve the life I wanted to live.

I had found it in coding.

Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash

Programming made sense to me. It was logical yet creative. It was a craft that was welcoming to novices but difficult to master. I wanted to make this my career. The question was how?

Up until the day my coworker opened her computer to find a suspicious popup, I was self-taught. I would often practice and study on lunch breaks and after work. When I decided to make this my profession, I saw my road ahead diverge into two distinct paths.

Do I continue to teach myself to code? Or should I go to college?

Believe me, it was a tough choice. While I had been learning on my own for free, the idea of a degree was enticing.

I lived in Seattle, only a stones throw from the University of Washington. If you aren’t aware, the University of Washington has one of the best computer science programs in the country. Seattle itself is also home to some of the largest tech giants in the world.

Seattle | Photo by Felipe Galvan on Unsplash

In fact, a large portion of the patients I worked with were either software engineers or computer science students. I often talked to them about their jobs and studies. Who knew that sitting in front of a computer for over eight hours a day with bad posture can lead to physical ailments?

When I was at my crossroads, I asked some of the patients I worked with how they had landed their first jobs and whether they thought getting a degree was the best way to get a job.

To no surprise, most of the engineers had computer science pedigrees. And the students all thought that a degree, or at a certificate at the minimum, was the best way to get that coveted first job.

I agreed with them. A top-notch Computer Science education combined with internships at high-profile tech companies would open any employment door. It was a straightforward plan. However, before I made a decision, I needed to consider how life would look over the next four years if I followed this path.

If I chose to pursue a degree, it’s no doubt I would get a top-tier education and a significant boost to my career, but it would come at a price. Judging by the tuition rates, four years would costed me nearly $45,000 in student loans.

There was no question that I would have to take out loans — I had hardly a penny to my name. After all, I was still trying to pay off the debt from my first degree. A second trip to college would leave me with a total bill of around $70,000. While still in the five figures, the thought of accruing that much debt made my heart race.

But the even more intimidating factor was the time commitment — four years.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

For a single eighteen year old with no life obligations, it’s not an issue. In fact, it’s expected. However, for someone nearly in their thirties, four years is an eternity to put life on hold.

I had loved my time at college the first time. I made great memories and friends. But I wasn’t 18 or single any more. I had just moved in with my girlfriend and we were enjoying a new chapter in our lives. I didn’t want to force her to live the starving college lifestyle all over again.