Degree for Coding

[Rosewinsall]

Hello all. Coding and computer science are things I am fascinated by to a great extent. However I don't seem to be cut out for college. So I am wondering if I need a degree to get an entry level programming job.

If this is the wrong area to post this please delete it.

[ahammel]

Hello all. Coding and computer science are things I am fascinated by to a great extent. However I don't seem to be cut out for college. So am I wondering if I need a degree to get an entry level programming job.

If this the wrong area to post this please delete it.

Need? No. Some of the best engineers I've worked with do not have college degrees. (I do have a degree, but it's in botany.)

You may be at a disadvantage when it comes to getting your first job, since many companies hire out of CS programs. It's certainly not impossible, though. Experience tends to trump education for most hiring managers that I've worked with in this industry (the ones with a clue, anyway), so the second job will be easier.

[Rosewinsall]

Would I need a portfolio as proof of my work?

[ahammel]

Would I need a portfolio as proof of my work?

It certainly wouldn't hurt. That's the kind of thing I like to see when I'm involved with hiring relatively junior people.

If you've done web-app type stuff, put links to it on your resume. If it's not something that the people doing the hiring can play with personally, then just a description of what it does and why you built it is fine. In either case, if you can put a link to the source code on your github, that's really helpful for anybody looking to evaluate your skills.

[Tub]

Hello all. Coding and computer science are things I am fascinated by to a great extent.

Fascination and motivation cannot substitute education and practice. Whether you're self-taught, using online courses or visit a college doesn't matter much, but you do need to put in those mystical 10.000 hours. And you do need feedback and guidance from someone more experienced than you; that's easier to get in college than at home with a book.
If you cannot show your employer a degree, you need to show results, preferably in the area you want to work in. Publish a website, an app, some open source software, whatever fits.

So I am wondering if I need a degree to get an entry level programming job.

There is a market for cheap and minimally qualified programming jobs, if that's your thing. Those rarely count against your 10.000 hours though, just like working at McDonalds doesn't improve your skills as a chef.

[Rosewinsall]

I learned a couple languages in college so I have practice. Just need a whole lot more. And a job with minimal skills isn't my thing. I just asked about that to kind of get in the door.

[TvT Rivals]

What about joining a free/open source software project?

[bunny9]

You don't need a computer science degree to get a programmer job. Even the biggest tech company Google hires programmers who don't have a college degree (check their careers page faq section).

Hope it helps.