Which school to pick for computer programming

I apologize if this is on the wrong board.

I'm looking to get into the computer programming field, mainly web development/app developer/software development and am at a crossroads on what to do. I already have an unrelated bachelor's degree and want to break into the field without wasting time and energy.

Right now, I'm thinking about going to the local community college to get my AAS in "web and software development." The courses seem pretty on par as to what employers in the area are looking for (C#, HTML, Javascript, SQL, Agile management, etc.) However, I've also found a lot of conflicting answers. Some say that a bachelor's in Computer Science is the only way and that an AAS is worthless while others say that a degree matters less compared to experience and projects such as your own website or apps/programs on GitHub.

Seeing as I already have my bachelor's, I don't want to relegate myself to getting another one just to play catch-up as it would take about 3 years as most of the credits wouldn't transfer over since I have a BA and not a BS. Another reason I don't want to go for computer science is that it seems to be more theoretical rather than practical which makes sense since Computer Science != Computer Programming. I don't want to waste time taking math and physics--while very interesting and will definitely make you a better thinker--do not apply directly to being a good programmer. I could do an undergrad/grad degree in computer science which would take about 3.5 years but again it seems to be more theoretical than practical and doesn't necessarily seem to help get a job as a programmer. Because I already have a bachelor's, would this bypass HR even if it's in an unrelated field?

I'm not looking to work at Google or Microsoft or with the latest and greatest technology. I just want a stable, fun, laid-back job with good pay and cool co-workers ($50,000+ is very good for my area, midwest). I have no problem working at a non-tech company.

Stanford

What's your undergraduate in?
Coyld you jump straight into a masters program with a little self study?

MIT
Stanford
Berkeley
CMU

Anything that's not a liberal arts school

ignore me, I missed the "not" part in the first sentence of your last paragraph

Got to us news and look at their rankings for CS or CPE. Buy the 30 dollar subscription to get access to everything. I got into a top 15 Enge school with lower SAT scores and gpa than my friends who ended in top 30 for 40 schools

hm how about do somethign useful instead, in particular when hinting towards
>I'm not looking to work at Google or Microsoft or with the latest and greatest technology. I just want a stable, fun, laid-back job with good pay and cool co-workers

>I already have an unrelated bachelor's degree and want to break into the field without wasting time and energy.

Then do NOT go back to school. Just learn programming on your own.

>want to break into the field without wasting time and energy.

install gentoo
show up to interview with your gentoo thinkpad
enjoy your new senior director of development position

If you have a degree in a stem field then it doesnt matter.

Just teach yourself some shit and apply for jobs. Community college is a meme that nobody takes seriously

If you have a different degree then just give up. Software development is a fucking awful field to get into anyway.
>i want a stable, laid back job
Yeah no.

Data science u brainlet

Holy shit op is a retard.

I take it you didn't actually learn anything with your degree or you'd already know you don't need school to learn anything , unless it's a niche field that requires expensive specialist equipment

>Get a pomodoro timer
>Get a fucking book ("programming from the ground up" if you can't do your own research)
>Work through each chapter to a schedule
>Post in /dpt/ if you get stuck
>Pay someone $5 on a freelancing site to work through a concept with you if you get really stuck and need babby handholding

What's awful about software development

You get to work for your money. If that's not your thing, try gubbernment work or semicriminal stuff like lobbyism.

How about you grow the fuck up and teach yourself?

That's what I'm trying to get at, especially in this field. However, a lot of employers are saying "bachelor's degree in computer science" required even though it is absolutely not required. I already have a bachelor's; I'm wondering if that is enough for it to not matter.

I don't have a degree in a stem field. Criminal Justice and Philosophy.

What's wrong with having a stable, easy-going job? I'm positive those exist.

Undergrad is in Criminal Justice and Philosophy. I can jump into a masters program but I need to take about two semesters worth of pre-reqs.

There is a graduate degree in Computing that can be done in two years that is catered to those looking for a career change. It's a professional degree where you can tailor your program how you see fit so if you want software engineering those are the classes you would take and if you want data science, then those classes, etc.

What impact on this world do you think you are going to make. Anything mind-boggling? Are you going to be the next Gates? Musk? Tell me your name and I'll look you up in 5 years and see what you've done. Go ahead. I'll challenge your hubris.

That's what I'm thinking, especially in this field. I can get my associates for free in two years because of the GI Bill as I'm a veteran so that isn't an issue. Interestingly enough, most of what employers are looking for matches up to what the associate's degree teaches.

I'm not going to let school teach me everything. I've already started on my own a little bit.

I'm assuming you aren't too certain what software engineering is, let alone in the field itself to blatantly call it awful especially in 2017.

>just finished bachelor degree
>went back for software development

just finished the first semester

how fucked am i?

>What's wrong with having a stable, easy-going job?

i have no experience in the field but from what i hear software development is stressful as fuck at times. ive never heard it described as easy going

>software engineering
I got that covered by semicriminal stuff. And even then, if you're doing SE right and see all the shit it's not that fancy.
I'm not saying it's like coal mining. But once you grow up and realize all the software stack are half-defective shit and so is the hardware built by corrupted assholes and nobody pays for actual quality so it's not far from magic anything works at all it will get a lot of less fun.
You're right of course, but I'm getting at the parts around "fun job" and "cool co-workers".
Addendum:
>Tell me your name
You need to be 18+ to visit this board.

MIT is trash, this is the school that made Scratch.
Stanford is trash, they teach intro CS in Javascript now.
Berkely is full of retards.
CMU is the only one of this list that deserves its reputation.

Sounds like you have a very jaded past with computers. Maybe you should look into web development as I am.
>I got that covered by semicriminal stuff.

What does that mean?

>hardware built by corrupted assholes

Why should I care who builds the hardware?

I want to make at most $80,000 a year in the midwest with 10-15 years of experience. I don't need to go to CMU to accomplish that. Hell, I could probably do that with an associates degree being a web developer. Am I wrong? That's what I'm trying to find out, not be the next Jobs.

CC classes go slooooow and are shalow. You can move much faster on your own.

>I could probably do that with an associates degree being a web developer
You could easily do that without a degree.

So even if I go for my BS in computer science, it would take me at least 3 years. With just my AAS, it would take me 2 years. If I need to, I can go to grad school for software development which would take 2 more years. What's an extra year if I can get my masters since I already have a bachelor's?

Perfect! So an AAS would only make things easier and more helpful with a teacher. Plus, networking, recommendations, and an internship here and there.

That is 2 years you could be working instead. Only reason people go to college for programming is because they don't have the willpower to teach them self.

You don't need any formal CS credentials to be a software engineer. The best software developers at the company I work for majored in math, physics, ee.

You can take CC classes if you're completely lost and feel like it will give you a solid foundation, however you can find really good free courses on places like Coursera and teach yourself too.

Why do ppl Make topics when they already have their stubborn mind made up

having an unrelated degree is sometimes worse than no degree

I didn't major in a STEM subject. Philosophy and Crim. Justice.

You are right and I completely agree that I do not need a formal CS degree, but so many employers list it is a "requirement" on their applications and I've read on reddit that a BS in CS is the only way to a good job so I'm looking for other viewpoints.

I can definitely start teaching myself and start applying and go from there, but how far will that take me without any type of degree from a relative field?

school 42

I don't have my mind made up at all. I'm looking for the best path here and I've been getting a lot of conflicting and contradictory results. You guys are mostly saying a degree doesn't matter and I agree but to HR and employers, it seems to matter when it shouldn't. Experience and projects should matter more and what you can actually DO.

Over at other sites, people are very adamant about a BS in CS being the only way which I disagree with but ultimately it matters to the employer and whether you are employable or not. You can have all the self-taught knowledge you can possibly have with no degree, but if HR or whoever is saying "BS in CS only," then you are shit out of luck, aren't you? I'm trying to find the better path here.

only if you work in shitty industries like video games, my jobs have always been chill as fuck

self taught programmers are the worst ones out there

What is your education level if you don't mind me asking? Bachelor's? Associates?

I've found the exact opposite to be true.

Don't do community college if you already have a degree, it's a total waste. The stuff they teach is outdated by 10-20 years, and you already have a degree for the "need a degree in literally anything" jobs. A 4 yr computer science degree teaches completely different topics from a cc 2 year IT style degree. Some of these things will actually be useful and you should learn some data structures and algorithms on your own no matter what you do.

Go to freecodecamp.com and learn full stack javascript if you want to do webdev. They have irl meetups and gitter for when you get stuck. The new beta version is even better but it's taking its sweet time to come out.

>i couldn't get into any of these schools, so i think they are bad
>t.double digit brainlet

It's stressful only if didn't do any self-studying beyond what's taught in college and only got into the field for the money.

You already have a bachelors, which'll get you past HR. So a computer science bachelors won't do you much good.

An associates will give you a piece of paper that tells employers you have at least a little idea what you're doing. I have a few companies wanting to hire me, but they're telling me to get an associates first because HR requires it.

Perhaps get a C# or Java certification either with the associates or instead of the associates. After your first job, take it off your resume, though, because a lot of engineering leads look down on it because it makes them feel superior.

Consider getting the associates for, if nothing else, an opportunity to get a programming internship.

So, just find your way to get your foot in the door in a sw dev shop, and it's experience from then on out. The quicker and sooner you can do that, the better.

Moscow State University
St. Petersburg Technical University
National Taiwan University

It's real. I blame that retard aaronson for mit's downfall

If you want to go into web dev and other pajeet-tier stuff then I doubt you need a computer science degree - any degree should work as long as you can show that you've made some good, useful stuff in the 30+ web technologies they list as a requirement.