Do you have to do a-levels and a degree to design complex websites?

Question

i've noticed that all the creators of major websites (such as: ebay, google, youtube,amazon etc) have a degree in either computer science or computer engineering.

I'm 17 and don't want to go to college.

any information appreciated. thanks

Answer 1

No, you don't but you do have to work hard. You could teach yourself but don't expect to get yourself employed. Employers want qualifications. ^^

Answer 2

whilst you do not specifically need such qualifications you do need the knowledge.

such knowledge is normally learnt from teachers in such institutions that  give awards like degree's etc or diplomas.

it will be very hard but not impossible to learn and work at the level you want to without  getting instructions and being able to ask questions form a knowledgeable person who will give you the time and attention you will need.

Answer 3

Hi

I have just finished my degree in Computer Science and have got a job as a web developer. I personally feel that university is good for the experience and qualification...but for the actual web developing no. If you wanted to be a doctor then yes you have to go to university but web developing.....no. Start from a trainee position and work your way up. I feel that the degree never really prepared me and I taught myself many of the programming languages  

Answer 4

No, but it helps

Answer 5

Ha ha.

I would like to be a doctor but I don't want to go to medical school. Do you realise how stupid you sound???

If you want to take shortcuts, I am sure there are plenty of BTEC diplomas for IT that will land you a 4th rate job. You want a good footing in the computer/programming industry, then you must do a difficult degree.

Simple as that.

Answer 6

I did A-levels (double maths, physics and computer science) but didn't do a degree, and I am a senior developer for a multi-national manufacturing company and have been selected to go on the global development team (5 people selected from about 1000 global IT staff).  I actually found it advantageous not doing a degree as I gained experience that was far more valuable in the years I spent working rather than studying at university.  I have met (and this won't always be the case, but I have noticed it several times) degree students who didn't have a clue about real-world computing - in fact, when we were recruiting we would reject people if they were straight out of university, even if they had a good degree, but didn't have at least 2 or 3 years in the workplace.  Nowadays, there are plenty of alternative qualifications to A-levels, but I still don't think they are given the credence that A-level are, so maybe think about doing A-levels but then not going on to university.  Of course, if you think A-levels are definitely not for you then look at alternative qualifications as there is no point in wasting your time.

The fact is, you will have to start relatively at the bottom, even if you do a degree (which is another problem we have found with degree students - they tend to think they can start out at £30K a year because they have a degree), whatever you do, and if you want to do IT and go far in it, you need to be passionate about it and also have some talent already for it, or you will probably end up stuck in a low level support job as many people see IT as a golden egg from which they can earn millions, so only the really good people (or the lucky ones who can b***s*** well) progress.

Answer 7

not necessary but it helps in a competitive world, and because of such competition you need to be able to prove your competence hence large companies like the ones you have mentioned will normally ask candidates to have these qualifications however read their adds properly as sometimes they may say 'ideally' which doesn't necessarily mean essential.  Check recruitment sites like Monster and agency sites as there are loads of jobs for people like yourself. granted they are not as big as the companies you have mentioned but I reckon they are well paid even for training / junior positions and it will give you a really good head start to move not just into the industry but a huge step up onto the ladder.

For example I know a company thats not well known or particularly large but are offering such positions and its not a requirement to have a degree, you just need gcse's and the ability/knowledge of doing the job and its well paid for. taking up such positions will also allow you get specialised qualifications such as certified professional in your field which you can do in your own time and then if at a later stage you think you want to you can go to college and get a degree to go beyond and get entry into these larger companies if thats important for you but by then I would have thought you would have plenty of experience behind you.

If you decide not to go to college then i'm sure you know you will need to work hard and passionately to prove your competence in the field. so get out there and start looking for those opportunities. A real good start would be with companies willing to take on juniors/trainees.

good luck in whatever you choose to do.

Answer 8

Pay someone from India to do it, much cheepness..

Answer 9

i don't think its either computer science or engineering.. maybe computer design or something, and if you want to compete with the web designers and programmers then you should get a qualification from it, I would like to do this as a career, but the income isen't very high. Google is already google, youtube is already youtube, ebay is already ebay, you would need to come up with a good original idea before you can even think about becoming as successful as them.

Edit: Bottomline is you do not need to go to college, The internet has infinite resources if you want to learn these skills. And no its not a stupid question, people who want to be doctors cannot walk around hospitals to learn what to do, but to be a web designer, you can surf the internet to learn, ask and discover.

Answer 10

No way!!! there's plenty of other options...