Alternative Credentials

[MNomadic]

There is a Youtuber that got a job with Google without a computer science degree.

His degree was a math degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Then he took a coding bootcamp.

After that, he practiced a lot on LeetCode in order to pass the coding interviews. Generally, the coding interview requires some knowledge of data structures, which is usually taught in a computer science degree.

An Ivy League grad with a math degree, even without any coding experience, is going to have a lot more potential to keep up with, understand, and apply what they're learning in a BootCamp than any other average joe without a prestigious degree, mathematical foundation, and experience with learning. 

Even with dedicated data structure courses, a lot of CS grads are known to spend months grinding out leetcode to prepare for those high stake interviews. 


I've always found it interesting that there's a big anti-degree mentality in some IT communities citing the theoretical guy who started with helpdesk and a CompTIA cert and worked their way up to being a CISO at their organization. Yeah, it's possible to make a great career for yourself without a degree, but you're severely limiting your opportunities and you're competing against other people who have the same experience, skills, and certs as you PLUS a degree. I always advise people that if they have the opportunity to pursue a degree without going into debt, they can greatly enhance their career prospects by doing so because breaking into tech, even with a degree, can be an uphill battle.