In a message dated 5/16/2006 11:47:12 AM US Mountain Standard Time, jason@spatafore.net writes:
>But
>tell me why degree in programming doesn't require heavy math? Because I
>suck at math.
Well, you can take maths classes for your technical electives. I took them.
>I get annoyed when people like to come up some type of negative response
>or even portray a holier than thou attitude in general.
I'm sorry for the attitude. I merely thought (at the time) that acquiring a degree would look more impressive than any individual certification in the eyes of employers. In part it was also a sarcastic "sucks to be me" comment about the poor employment value of my degree.
>The bottom line to the certification debate is that certifications are
>important.
I guess I still remember the old Microsoft Certified Button Presser fiascos of the late dot-com era... "Come to our cram school! Get a paper MSCE! Yet still be baffled by a request to find the 'on' switch!"
I actually tend to agree; in many regards, a WELL-DONE certification programme can be a sensible alternative to an academic programme. Especially when the academic programme includes a bunch of bull. (Why couldn't they offer some classes in .net instead of language theory? :rolls eyes:) Given the diverse needs of the computer and IT industry, certifications might be a superior way to locate qualified candidates than to try and analyse wildly different degree programmes.
The one merit I will give to a degree over a certification: it's a lot harder to dance your way through a four or more year degree programme without any actual skills, than to pull out a pass on a single certification test.