u/CarlO_js

I'm very young and I'm quite lost between pursuing a technical degree or a computer science/engineering degree.

Background: I already studied a technical degree for a semester and dropped out because it wasn't beneficial to me and I felt I was learning much more on my own. In programming, I'm self-taught: Node.js, React, SQL, backend, management systems, integrations, fundamentals, resilience, idempotence, recursion, transactions, etc. I've done projects for businesses (inventory/billing for a lumber company, e-commerce for some clients, landing pages), and later personal projects like live chats—simple projects, but they helped me learn. I'm also studying English, some marketing, and I'm trying to find an IT job or freelance clients. My main goal is NOT to "have a degree for prestige," but to build a life with financial freedom and possibly start my own business in the future. The thing is:

The technical degree seems too basic to me, and I feel that academically it wouldn't offer me much.

But engineering is 5-6 years, and honestly, I don't know if I'd finish it if I get a job/options before then.

I'm worried about wasting years on something that won't make much of a difference later on. Talking to people who have been in the sector for years, I've concluded that unless you want to work for Amazon or companies of that caliber (which doesn't interest me that much), the degree stops mattering after a few years of experience.

If you were in my situation: Would you do engineering or a technical degree?

I'm especially interested in the opinion of people who already work in IT or have years of experience.

P.S.: I'm from Argentina, in the future, I'd be interested in specializing in cloud computing or something related to cybersecurity.

Soy muy joven y estoy bastante indeciso entre estudiar una carrera técnica o una de informática/ingeniería.

Antecedentes: Ya estudié una carrera técnica durante un semestre, pero la abandoné porque no me resultaba útil y sentía que aprendía mucho más por mi cuenta. En programación, soy autodidacta: Node.js, React, SQL, backend, sistemas de gestión, integraciones, fundamentos, resiliencia, idempotencia, recursión, transacciones, etc. He realizado proyectos para empresas (inventario/facturación para una maderera, comercio electrónico para algunos clientes, páginas de destino) y, posteriormente, proyectos personales como chats en vivo; proyectos sencillos, pero que me ayudaron a aprender. También estudio inglés, algo de marketing y estoy buscando trabajo en el sector de TI o clientes freelance. Mi principal objetivo NO es "tener un título por prestigio", sino construir una vida con libertad financiera y, posiblemente, emprender mi propio negocio en el futuro. El problema es el siguiente:

La carrera técnica me parece demasiado básica y siento que académicamente no me aportaría mucho.

Pero ingeniería dura entre 5 y 6 años, y sinceramente, no sé si la terminaría si consigo trabajo u otras opciones antes.

Me preocupa perder años en algo que no marcará mucha diferencia más adelante. Hablando con personas que llevan años en el sector, he llegado a la conclusión de que, a menos que quieras trabajar para Amazon o empresas de ese calibre (lo cual no me interesa demasiado), la titulación deja de importar después de unos años de experiencia.

Si estuvieras en mi situación: ¿Estudiarías ingeniería o una carrera técnica?

Me interesa especialmente la opinión de personas que ya trabajan en TI o que tienen años de experiencia. P.D.: Soy de Argentina. En el futuro, me interesaría especializarme en computación en la nube o algo relacionado con la ciberseguridad.

*People are getting confused about whether I'm asking about self-taught individuals or those with a degree. What I'm asking is which has a higher ROI: a technical degree in programming (an associate degree in the USA) or a systems engineering degree, considering the opportunity cost.

I'm very young and I'm quite lost between pursuing a technical degree or a computer science/engineering degree.

Background: I already studied a technical degree for a semester and dropped out because it wasn't beneficial to me and I felt I was learning much more on my own. In programming, I'm self-taught: Node.js, React, SQL, backend, management systems, integrations, fundamentals, resilience, idempotence, recursion, transactions, etc. I've done projects for businesses (inventory/billing for a lumber company, e-commerce for some clients, landing pages), and later personal projects like live chats—simple projects, but they helped me learn. I'm also studying English, some marketing, and I'm trying to find an IT job or freelance clients. My main goal is NOT to "have a degree for prestige," but to build a life with financial freedom and possibly start my own business in the future. The thing is:

The technical degree seems too basic to me, and I feel that academically it wouldn't offer me much.

But engineering is 5-6 years, and honestly, I don't know if I'd finish it if I get a job/options before then.

I'm worried about wasting years on something that won't make much of a difference later on. Talking to people who have been in the sector for years, I've concluded that unless you want to work for Amazon or companies of that caliber (which doesn't interest me that much), the degree stops mattering after a few years of experience.

If you were in my situation: Would you do engineering or a technical degree?

I'm especially interested in the opinion of people who already work in IT or have years of experience.

P.S.: In the future, I'd be interested in specializing in cloud computing or something related to cybersecurity.

Soy muy joven y estoy muy perdido entre hacer una tecnicatura o ingeniería en sistemas/computación.

Contexto:

Ya estudié una tecnicatura durante un cuatrimestre y la dejé porque no me aportaba nada y sentía que aprendía muchísimo más por mi cuenta.

En programación aprendí autodidacta: Node.js, React, SQL, backend, sistemas de gestión, integraciones, fundamentos , resiliencia, idempotencia, recursividad, transacciones etc etc

Hice proyectos para negocios (inventario/facturación para una maderera, ecommerce para algunos clientes, landing pages, después proyectos personales como chats en vivo, proyectos simples pero que me sirvieron para aprender).

También estudio inglés,algo de marketing y estoy intentando conseguir trabajo IT o clientes freelance.

Mi objetivo principal NO es “tener un título por prestigio”, sino construir una vida con libertad financiera y posiblemente emprender en el futuro.

El tema es que:

La tecnicatura me parece demasiado básica y siento que

académicamente no me aportaría mucho.

Pero ingeniería son 5-6 años y sinceramente no sé si la terminaría si consigo trabajo/opciones antes.

me preocupa perder años en algo que después no haga tanta diferencia. Hablando con gente que lleva años en el sector saque la conclusión de que a menos que quieras entrar a Amazon o empresas de ese calibre ( cosa que no me interesa tanto ) el título después de unos años de experiencia deja de importar

Si estuvieran en mi situación: ¿Harían ingeniería, tecnicatura ?

Me interesa especialmente la opinión de gente que ya labura en it o con años de experiencia

Pd : en un futuro me interesaría especializarme en CLOUD o algo de CIBERSEGURIDAD

I'm 19 years old and I need a REALISTIC opinion.

For the past year and a half, I've been studying programming and technology on my own, many hours a day. I've learned frontend and backend (Node.js, React, SQL, APIs, architecture, some cloud and applied AI, concepts like idempotence, resilience, recursion, transactions, etc.), and I've worked on projects, including billing/inventory systems for a lumber company, e-commerce for a few clients, and other personal projects like live chats, a portfolio, LinkedIn, GitHub, etc. I've also learned English, some marketing, and other things.

The problem is that I still don't have a stable job in tech or a significant income.

I was enrolled in a programming technical program, but I dropped out because:

- the level was VERY basic

- I learned much more on my own

- I wasted a lot of time traveling

- many classes didn't offer me anything.

I'm currently considering several options and would like to know what you would do in my situation, thinking about the future and the job market:

Systems Engineering

Programming Technician (at another university)

Work (in another field) and continue self-studying

Continue being fully self-taught

Something else I haven't considered

Honestly, what matters most to me is:

- High income

- A realistic future in the job market

- ​​Not wasting years

I'd like honest opinions from people who are already working:

- Does a degree really make that much of a difference today?

- Is engineering worth the years it takes? What would you do in my situation?

Later on, I might want to specialize in cloud computing or something related to cybersecurity.

Please be honest. I'm from Argentina

I'm 19 years old and I need a REALISTIC opinion.

For the past year and a half, I've been studying programming and technology on my own, many hours a day. I've learned frontend and backend (Node.js, React, SQL, APIs, architecture, some cloud and applied AI, concepts like idempotence, resilience, recursion, transactions, etc.), and I've worked on projects, including billing/inventory systems for a lumber company, e-commerce for a few clients, and other personal projects like live chats, a portfolio, LinkedIn, GitHub, etc. I've also learned English, some marketing, and other things.

The problem is that I still don't have a stable job in tech or a significant income.

I was enrolled in a programming technical program, but I dropped out because:

- the level was VERY basic

- I learned much more on my own

- I wasted a lot of time traveling

- many classes didn't offer me anything.

I'm currently considering several options and would like to know what you would do in my situation, thinking about the future and the job market:

Systems Engineering

Programming Technician (at another university)

Work (in another field) and continue self-studying

Continue being fully self-taught

Something else I haven't considered

Honestly, what matters most to me is:

- High income

- A realistic future in the job market

- ​​Not wasting years

• financial Freedom

I'd like honest opinions from people who are already working:

- Does a degree really make that much of a difference today?

- Is engineering worth the years it takes? What would you do in my situation?

Later on, I might want to specialize in cloud computing or something related to cybersecurity.

Please be honest. I'm from Argentina

Tengo 19 años y necesito una opinión REALISTA.

Durante el último año y medio, he estado estudiando programación y tecnología por mi cuenta, muchas horas al día. Aprendí frontend y backend (Node.js, React, SQL, APIs, arquitectura, algo de cloud y IA aplicada, conceptos como idempotencia, resiliencia, recursión, transacciones, etc.), y he trabajado en proyectos, incluyendo sistemas de facturación/inventario para una empresa maderera, e-commerce para algunos clientes, y otros proyectos personales como chats en vivo, un portafolio, LinkedIn, GitHub, etc. También aprendí inglés, algo de marketing y otras cosas.

El problema es que todavía no tengo un trabajo estable en el área tech ni un ingreso importante.

Estuve inscripto en un programa técnico de programación, pero me salí porque:

• el nivel era MUY básico
• aprendí mucho más por mi cuenta
• perdí muchísimo tiempo viajando
• muchas materias no me aportaban nada.

Ahora mismo estoy considerando varias opciones y me gustaría saber qué harías vos en mi situación, pensando en el futuro y en el mercado laboral:

Ingeniería de Sistemas Técnico en Programación (en otra universidad) Trabajar (en otro rubro) y seguir autoestudiando Seguir siendo 100% autodidacta Algo más que no se me ocurrió

La verdad, lo que más me importa es:

• Alto ingreso
• Un futuro realista en el mercado laboral
• No perder años
• libertad financiera

Quiero opiniones honestas de gente que ya está trabajando:

• ¿De verdad un título hace tanta diferencia hoy?

• ¿Vale la pena la ingeniería por los años que lleva? ¿Qué harías vos en mi situación?

Más adelante, capaz quiera especializarme en computación en la nube o algo relacionado con ciberseguridad.

Por favor, sé honesto. Soy de Argentina

*Edit : I appreciate all the responses, but I don't think I explained myself clearly enough or clarified my point. My dilemma is more about choosing between a technical degree and an engineering degree.

The technical degree seems too basic, and I feel like it wouldn't offer me much academically; I'd only do it for the certificate. But an engineering degree is 5-6 years, and honestly, I don't know if I'd finish it if I got a job or other opportunities before then.

Tengo 19 años y necesito una opinión REALISTA.

Hace 1 año y medio estudio programación y tecnología de forma autodidacta muchísimas horas por día. Aprendí frontend y backend (Node.js, react, SQL, APIs, arquitectura, algo de cloud e IA aplicada, conceptos como idempotencia, resiliencia, recursividad, transacciones etc etc), hice proyectos, sistemas de facturación/inventario para una maderera, ecommerce para algunos pocos clientes, demás proyectos personales como chats en vivo etc, portfolio, LinkedIn, GitHub, etc. También aprendí inglés, algo de marketing, demás.

El problema es que todavía no tengo trabajo estable en tech ni ingresos importantes.

Estuve en una tecnicatura en programación pero la dejé porque:

- el nivel era MUY básico

-  aprendía mucho más solo

- perdía mucho tiempo viajando

- muchas clases no me aportaban nada.

Ahora estoy entre varias opciones y quiero saber qué harían ustedes en mi lugar pensando en el futuro y en el mercado:

Ingeniería en sistemas 

Tecnicatura en programación ( en otra universidad) 

Trabajar(otro rubro) y seguir autodidacta

Seguir full autodidacta

Alguna otra cosa que no esté contemplando 

La verdad que lo que más me importa es : 

- ingresos altos

- futuro real del mercado

- no perder años

Quiero opiniones sinceras de gente que YA esté trabajando:

- ¿el título realmente hace tanta diferencia hoy?

- ¿ingeniería vale los años que consume? En mi situación que harían?

Más adelante quizás me guste especializarme en CLOUD o algo relacionado con la CIBERSEGURIDAD \

Sean honestos.

I'm 19 years old and I'm pretty lost (more worried than lost) with an important decision about my future. I studied programming in a technical program for a while, but I dropped out because I felt I was learning so much more on my own. Many professors even said that in programming, 95% of growth is self-taught. During this last year, I studied on my own every day: - Technologies to build a project from start to finish (React, Node.js, Express.js, SQL, TypeScript, Docker, etc.) and very important fundamentals, architecture, concepts, and patterns - I did real projects - Billing/inventory systems - Ecommerce and landing pages - I learned English - I read and learned about business, sales, investments, and marketing - I tried to get clients and a job The problem is that, although I feel I've grown a lot in skills, I still don't have a stable income or strong formal work experience. And that makes me wonder if I should have gone into a traditional engineering program from the beginning. Now I'm going to: - try to get into engineering (trying, because it's not easy with the current economy in Argentina and my family situation) - or get a job while I continue building projects/starting businesses/studying on my own. My real question is: Do you think the self-taught path I took was a good decision, or do you think it would have been better to pursue a traditional degree from the beginning? And for someone in my situation today: What would you do and why?

I'm 19 years old and I'm pretty lost (more worried than lost) with an important decision about my future. I studied programming in a technical program for a while, but I dropped out because I felt I was learning so much more on my own. Many professors even said that in programming, 95% of growth is self-taught. During this last year, I studied on my own every day: - Technologies to build a project from start to finish (React, Node.js, Express.js, SQL, TypeScript, Docker, etc.) and very important fundamentals, architecture, concepts, and patterns - I did real projects - Billing/inventory systems - Ecommerce and landing pages - I learned English - I read and learned about business, sales, investments, and marketing - I tried to get clients and a job The problem is that, although I feel I've grown a lot in skills, I still don't have a stable income or strong formal work experience. And that makes me wonder if I should have gone into a traditional engineering program from the beginning. Now I'm going to: - try to get into engineering (trying, because it's not easy with the current economy in Argentina and my family situation) - or get a job while I continue building projects/starting businesses/studying on my own. My real question is: Do you think the self-taught path I took was a good decision, or do you think it would have been better to pursue a traditional degree from the beginning? And for someone in my situation today: What would you do and why?

I'm 19 years old and I'm pretty lost (more worried than lost) with an important decision about my future. I studied programming in a technical program for a while, but I dropped out because I felt I was learning so much more on my own. Many professors even said that in programming, 95% of growth is self-taught. During this last year, I studied on my own every day: - Technologies to build a project from start to finish (React, Node.js, Express.js, SQL, TypeScript, Docker, etc.) and very important fundamentals, architecture, concepts, and patterns - I did real projects - Billing/inventory systems - Ecommerce and landing pages - I learned English - I read and learned about business, sales, investments, and marketing - I tried to get clients and a job The problem is that, although I feel I've grown a lot in skills, I still don't have a stable income or strong formal work experience. And that makes me wonder if I should have gone into a traditional engineering program from the beginning. Now I'm going to: - try to get into engineering (trying, because it's not easy with the current economy in Argentina and my family situation) - or get a job while I continue building projects/starting businesses/studying on my own. My real question is: Do you think the self-taught path I took was a good decision, or do you think it would have been better to pursue a traditional degree from the beginning? And for someone in my situation today: What would you do and why?

Honestly, I'm getting fed up with programming. The market feels saturated, and it's really hard to find a job these days. I'm starting to question whether it's worth continuing in this field. What careers or areas currently have: good demand good earning potential the possibility of advancement? I'm open to changing course if there's something clearly better. What do you recommend?

Honestly, I'm getting fed up with programming. The market feels saturated, and it's really hard to find a job these days. I'm starting to question whether it's worth continuing in this field. What careers or areas currently have: good demand good earning potential the possibility of advancement? I'm open to changing course if there's something clearly better. What do you recommend?

Honestly, I'm getting fed up with programming. The market feels saturated, and it's really hard to find a job these days. I'm starting to question whether it's worth continuing in this field. What careers or areas currently have: good demand good earning potential the possibility of advancement? I'm open to changing course if there's something clearly better. What do you recommend?

La verdad me estoy hartando de la programación. El mercado se siente saturado y es muy difícil conseguir trabajo hoy en día. Estoy empezando a cuestionar si vale la pena seguir en este rubro.

¿Qué carreras o áreas hoy tienen realmente:

buena demanda

buen potencial de ingresos

posibilidad de escalar?

Estoy abierto a cambiar de rumbo si hay algo claramente mejor.

¿Qué recomiendan?