You might look at a list of accredited computer science programs and the ACM's <a href=”http://www.acm.org/education/accreditation/"> educational policy pages

I graduated from high school with SAT scores of 710 verbal and 510 math. My situation is a little like yours. (Except I'm 15 years older, married and with 3 dogs)

Because I couldn't get into the army, I went to college. I dropped in and out until I figured out that I really liked creating software and decided that I really wanted to be good at it.

By that time I'd been exposed to a programmers and system administrators with a variety of backgrounds. In my experience the competence rank went something like:

1. Compulsive people with a degree in something difficult like physics or People with a 4 year computer science degree from an accredited school
2. Self taught compulsive people
3. People without technical background or interest who really motivated to accomplish a particular task.
4. ….
5. ….
6. The cleaning staff
7. …
8. ….
9. MIS / CIS degreed people

   Good Programming is difficult, People who sweat through all the way through discrete math do much better at it than people who get 70% on a multiple choice exam on the syntax of COBOL.

   Some of this is because the material is relevant. A binary search is much faster than a sequential one. Some this is because the material makes you a better thinker.

   Sure the math is hard, It might take you 1-2 extra years to get a CS degree starting where you are. (or you might be smarter than me and catch up over the summer…) Sure in a CS degree you spend a lot more time programming than you do in a CIS degree. (this is a good thing right?)

   Is the pain worth it? It depends on what you want. If you want to be the best programmer you can be, it is probably worth it. If you want some free time in school to party and you want a piece of paper that might help you get a job, you might be better in CIS.

   
   
   email: mandog

   Comment on Re: College suggestions for possible programming career