[sdiy] Who Needs a Degree?

[Dave Manley]

Paul Schreiber wrote:
>
>> BTW, I've worked with a number of non-degreed engineers - in my 
>> experience these people were top-notch engineers, and deserved the 
>> title.
>
> Like I said before: then go get the degree (no matter your age) and by 
> doing so will increase not only your stature, but help to re-assert 
> the EE "brand" where it was 30 years ago (before the freakin' JAVA and 
> .NET toads took over the world).
>
You know Paul, I don't think any of these individuals felt that having 
the degree meant much.  It didn't matter to any of their colleagues or 
their managers, and it shouldn't have.  They were as, or more, effective 
than anyone else in the organization.

One of them made probably $50E+6 during the bubble, and retired in his 
late 40's.  Another, in his 50's did go back and get his degree.  He 
told me most of the students in his classes didn't care much for his 
presence - it raised the expectations of the professors on everyone else 
in the class.  These two were both naturally bright and curious 
individuals and had a long history of self-learning - they didn't need 
to be spoon fed an education.

Regarding the EE brand:  The term "engineer" got diluted years ago when  
garbage haulers and stay-at-home spouses were re-branded as Sanitation 
Engineers and Household Engineers.

-Dave