I'd consider myself a good software engineer, although I don't know that I'd consider myself "bright". My college degress are in theology. All my computing skills are self-taught or learned by working in the industry.
If you decide to work as a software developer, I'd recommend to get a CS degree. If you don't, it may be difficult to get your foot in the door, and then you may not be regarded very well by your peers that have technical degrees.
I started my own software company about 8 months ago, and things have worked out to where my salary is comparable as a contractor to a software engineer, but I had to leave working a full-time job in order to get paid an equal salary.
So in short, it can be done doing things non-traditionally, but you will have to work hard, and you may pay the price financially for your decisions. And like many other posters have said, when you get to college, you will be challenged by other people who are much better and smarter. Best thing to do is don't cop an attitude, and learn all you can from many different types of people.
And remember that some people with technical degrees are out of work and can't get jobs, so a technical degree doesn't necessarily guarantee a good job, either.
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I'd consider myself a good software engineer, although I don't know that I'd consider myself "bright". My college degress are in theology. All my computing skills are self-taught or learned by working in the industry.
If you decide to work as a software developer, I'd recommend to get a CS degree. If you don't, it may be difficult to get your foot in the door, and then you may not be regarded very well by your peers that have technical degrees.
I started my own software company about 8 months ago, and things have worked out to where my salary is comparable as a contractor to a software engineer, but I had to leave working a full-time job in order to get paid an equal salary.
So in short, it can be done doing things non-traditionally, but you will have to work hard, and you may pay the price financially for your decisions. And like many other posters have said, when you get to college, you will be challenged by other people who are much better and smarter. Best thing to do is don't cop an attitude, and learn all you can from many different types of people.
And remember that some people with technical degrees are out of work and can't get jobs, so a technical degree doesn't necessarily guarantee a good job, either.
Life is complicated.