I have a long and varied history. I spent 16 years working in electronics, doing component-level repairs. Somewhere around age 30, I really started liking computers, starting with games, but quickly moving on to taking evening classes in programming languages, anything I could get into, at the local community college.
At age 35, I changed careers, having been hired by a local development house/sweatshop that kept hiring people from the community college.
I never finished that degree. But here I am now, with 18 years of programming under my belt, making good money, and taking online coursework toward my bachelor's. I've changed jobs a lot, took the independent route for a few years, and just completed my associate's program a few months ago.
I have never been out of work for more than a few weeks, and am so close to making six figures, I could take a weekend job flipping burgers to push me over the line.
It is really never too late.
I am currently "attending" Axia College of the University of Phoenix. There has been no requirement to take tests at all, so far. You have to write papers, have online discussions, and submit programs (so far Java and HTML). Occasionally there were requirements to do certain exercises dealing with grammar, cultural diversity, and the like, but no tests and no requirement to actually go to a brick and mortar location of any kind.
A camera would definitely put a crimp in my dress code, though. (You really don't want to know)
Besides, you're not hurting anyone but yourself by cheating.
Slashdot Mirror
I have a long and varied history. I spent 16 years working in electronics, doing component-level repairs. Somewhere around age 30, I really started liking computers, starting with games, but quickly moving on to taking evening classes in programming languages, anything I could get into, at the local community college.
At age 35, I changed careers, having been hired by a local development house/sweatshop that kept hiring people from the community college.
I never finished that degree. But here I am now, with 18 years of programming under my belt, making good money, and taking online coursework toward my bachelor's. I've changed jobs a lot, took the independent route for a few years, and just completed my associate's program a few months ago.
I have never been out of work for more than a few weeks, and am so close to making six figures, I could take a weekend job flipping burgers to push me over the line.
It is really never too late.
Mike
I am currently "attending" Axia College of the University of Phoenix. There has been no requirement to take tests at all, so far. You have to write papers, have online discussions, and submit programs (so far Java and HTML). Occasionally there were requirements to do certain exercises dealing with grammar, cultural diversity, and the like, but no tests and no requirement to actually go to a brick and mortar location of any kind. A camera would definitely put a crimp in my dress code, though. (You really don't want to know) Besides, you're not hurting anyone but yourself by cheating.