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Discussion on: Why Not Having a CS Degree is Awesome

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Jeff Kwon

I have background in Biochemistry and Neuroscience, as well as degree in Software Engineering.
Although it is not absolutely necessary to have a CS degree to land a job as a developer, I find it very useful to have one as when I compare myself to others without the degree, the way we develop application is very different. Before I even start coding, the first thing I do is to use UML to draw and get clear picture of the project. Think about the ways to optimize, increase performance, how to make db cluster, security comes first, whereas bootcampers use their instinct and experience to code. Their products may work but usually end up taking some performance hit.

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Caitlyn Greffly

There is definitely so much that someone with a CS degree would contribute to a team, and as I said I don’t think a 100% CS team would be the strongest team, I also think it would surely be wise to have a good mix of CS background and less traditional. You’re right in that there are things you learned that they just wouldn’t have time to teach in a bootcamp, and someone needs to know that stuff and be thinking that way!

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Jason C. McDonald

Funny, I do all these things, speak at universities about this, even teach actual CS students (interns) to do this, and yet I don't have a degree.

Hmm.