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do I need to go to school to learn coding
I want to learn coding to make my own video games but don't want to go to college #coding #video-games #video-game-design
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4 answers
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Leo’s Answer
You can definitely learn coding on your own, but going to college will earn you credibility and expose you to ideas that you might otherwise never hear about.
Going to college proves to future employers that you satisfy a set of requirements and skill: that you have some amount of discipline, that you can comply with deadlines, that you can work as part of a team, that you can do enough Math, that you understand Computer Science, Algorithms, Complexity, etc.
If you don't go to college, you'll have to learn all that anyway (somehow, on your own) *and* you'll have to put an extra effort to prove that you can get the job done. I suppose it's not impossible, but it won't be easy either. You can earn credibility by doing projects by yourself and publishing your code on github (you'll have to follow standard coding guidelines, like Style-9 too, if you want to prove to others that you not only can code; but that you can code in a way that others will find readable). You'll also have to learn Computer Science on your own, because you'll have to understand that others mean when they say things like "This algorithm runs in O(n)" or "What's the Complexity of that Algorithm", or "that can probably be solved using Djikstra's Algorithm". Again, not impossible, but it might be a little hard.
Personally, I learned how to code years before I went to college; but being in college exposed me to Math and Theory that I otherwise would never know about. It also made me a better and more disciplined programmer.
Going to college proves to future employers that you satisfy a set of requirements and skill: that you have some amount of discipline, that you can comply with deadlines, that you can work as part of a team, that you can do enough Math, that you understand Computer Science, Algorithms, Complexity, etc.
If you don't go to college, you'll have to learn all that anyway (somehow, on your own) *and* you'll have to put an extra effort to prove that you can get the job done. I suppose it's not impossible, but it won't be easy either. You can earn credibility by doing projects by yourself and publishing your code on github (you'll have to follow standard coding guidelines, like Style-9 too, if you want to prove to others that you not only can code; but that you can code in a way that others will find readable). You'll also have to learn Computer Science on your own, because you'll have to understand that others mean when they say things like "This algorithm runs in O(n)" or "What's the Complexity of that Algorithm", or "that can probably be solved using Djikstra's Algorithm". Again, not impossible, but it might be a little hard.
Personally, I learned how to code years before I went to college; but being in college exposed me to Math and Theory that I otherwise would never know about. It also made me a better and more disciplined programmer.
Thank I appreciate it I'm a highschooler so it gives me time to decide
Josue
Updated
Nikhil’s Answer
Hi Josue,
You can definitely learning coding on your own. There are resources on the internet that can help you do that. Having said that there are many advantages of going to college and learning the same skill there.
1. College exposes you to other areas. You will take elective courses in other courses. What if you find something else "more" interesting ?
2. College degree provides credibility.
3. Colleges provide you on campus recruitment. A good college would have tie ups with reputed game companies that come over to hire bright students like yourself
4. Down the line you want to change to management ? What if you want an MBA ? Or some hire degree ? A college degree is a must in that case.
You can definitely learning coding on your own. There are resources on the internet that can help you do that. Having said that there are many advantages of going to college and learning the same skill there.
1. College exposes you to other areas. You will take elective courses in other courses. What if you find something else "more" interesting ?
2. College degree provides credibility.
3. Colleges provide you on campus recruitment. A good college would have tie ups with reputed game companies that come over to hire bright students like yourself
4. Down the line you want to change to management ? What if you want an MBA ? Or some hire degree ? A college degree is a must in that case.
Updated
Adrian’s Answer
You don't really NEED to go to school for that. However; if your goal is to get employed by a company, some employers might require a STEM degree or similar. Having said that, not all do. Almost all require a bachelor's degree, though.
You can learn a lot about coding on your own. They key is "learning what to learn" first. I'd recommend you exploring bloggers, writers, and Youtubers with expertise in the area or areas you are interested in to pick up their brains. For example, many would have video formats like "how would I learn software development from if I had to start again." Or same with data science, etc.
There are many free resources as well as pretty well courses at a reasonable cost. Make sure to do your research before! Remember, there are no easy paths or magic formula; you'll need patience, consistency, and quality time invested in learning. Beware of scammers and charlatans (there are way too many out there).
My final advise would be to not "over do it." Focus on time quality rather than quantity,
You can learn a lot about coding on your own. They key is "learning what to learn" first. I'd recommend you exploring bloggers, writers, and Youtubers with expertise in the area or areas you are interested in to pick up their brains. For example, many would have video formats like "how would I learn software development from if I had to start again." Or same with data science, etc.
There are many free resources as well as pretty well courses at a reasonable cost. Make sure to do your research before! Remember, there are no easy paths or magic formula; you'll need patience, consistency, and quality time invested in learning. Beware of scammers and charlatans (there are way too many out there).
My final advise would be to not "over do it." Focus on time quality rather than quantity,
Yes, because at this time college is not in my scope of affordability.
Josue
Updated
Mae’s Answer
https://thebestschools.org/rankings/certificates/online-computer-programming-certificates/
You definitely can learn coding on your own. If you don't want to go to a college and stay 4 years you can always get a certificate in computer program. I would recommend picking an industry you are passionate about and start coding.
Many jobs do not ask for degrees anymore.
I also would write blogs that solve problems using coding to catch people's attention that you can code and are able to solve problems.
Hackathons are also good to help solve problems and meet other coders.
You definitely can learn coding on your own. If you don't want to go to a college and stay 4 years you can always get a certificate in computer program. I would recommend picking an industry you are passionate about and start coding.
Many jobs do not ask for degrees anymore.
I also would write blogs that solve problems using coding to catch people's attention that you can code and are able to solve problems.
Hackathons are also good to help solve problems and meet other coders.
Thank you for your advice
Josue