Software_geek

hi, im looking for a bit of trueful advice because im worried about my career. I want to go to uni to get a degree in computer science but dont really have the money, so im trying to learn it from home but im a little worried about my age. I know it may sound stupid but is it to late to learn programming and computer science at 20? I do know a bit about programming from what ive taught myself but i havent started the computer science part yet. Its just most of the people i talk to who are software developers and programmers alike started when they were 13 or younger. thanks :banana:

Ryan x

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Arevos

Many programmers start young because they gain enjoyment from it. I don't think that starting early actually gives you much of a head start, however. I've been programming since a very young age, but the majority of my knowledge about programming was amassed during, and after, my degree.

So, no, it's certainly not too late at all.

Benoit

Even Mozart who was a prodigy at 4 didn't start producing world-class music until 13 years later...You're never too old to learn programming.

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Johnny was a chemist's son but Johnny is no more, for what Johnny thought was H2O was H2SO4

Infinite Recursion

I concur, its never too late. When I got my degree from college, I had a few classmates that were 50+. If you are dedicated and motivated, you can learn anything... age shouldn't even be considered, unless you are to the point you can't remember things.

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http://jasonpowers.net

"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."

DaWei

Bite me, IR :p . To the OP, age is not an issue here. You're young. Time might be an issue (if you're expecting a high-paying job in the next few months or a year), but not age.

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Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code.
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Infinite Recursion

lol @ DaWei... we all forget shit, no worries

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http://jasonpowers.net

"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."

52Degrees

I hope age isn't really an issue. My dad is almost 60 and hasn't been programming professionally for very long. I'm 34 and just learning.

I've been looking around a little and while some firms demand a BS or even MS (and one high fallutin' outfit insisted on a doctorate, for a job that paid les than $70K :eek: ) many do not require a degree, only proficiency.

A know that the hardest part for me, is figuring out how to learn things while I'm juggling a full time career (auto mechanic), a wife and 3 young children, the various side jobs that help to almost keep my from living out of my car and sleep. It sure makes learning new stuff slow.

nnxion

I don't think it's a big issue either. I learned most of what I know the last couple of years. I still don't know as much as a lot of others here, but I picked up a lot from them over the years.

By the way, trueful advice is hard to find, maybe you'd rather have some truthful advice instead.

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"Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for."
-- Socrates

Software_geek

thanks guys, thats made me feel loads better. got to go libary kicking me off lol.

Ryan

p.s. thanks for the spelling error nnxion

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CHAV = Council House And Violent

stevengs

I began my CS degree at a German college at 28 with poor ta half-assed german skills and two jobs, as a full time mechanic and a mathematics tutor - so the German authorities would let me remain in country. I finally got my degree (somewhere between a bachelors and a masters) at 35, one child richer. It can be done... with enough "gumption" (as my old man would say ). Good luck.

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-Steven
"Is this a piece of your brain?" - Basil Fawlty