I have a 2 year University Diploma in Digital Media Technologies and I’m thinking about going back to school to finish a 4 year bachelor program. I am told that I can use some credit to carry forward. Right now I’m interested in anything to do with the web (Bootstrap, HTML5, CSS3), building responsive websites, plugging it into a CMS such as WordPress and giving them module based functionality. I’ve dipped into PHP programming and have decided it’s not really my cup of tea – I would rather stick to front-end development. I am also skilled with InDesign and print media, however the web is my biggest passion. I also feel it is very future proof field to pursue, as long as I keep at it.
Can anybody point me in a good direction for some high paying career paths in tech/web/media? Perhaps continuing with a masters degree is not necessary, however I am not opposed to it if the end result is worth it. I know that the general advise is that work experience is better than school experience, and I would agree to an extent, however I have a good opportunity for pursuing further schooling right now in my life and figured I should use it.
It is true that in the web world experience is more important than schooling. There are various reasons for that but I would say that the main factor is that universities and colleges have very outdated programs and don’t prepare you for a real job.
Having said this, if I had the opportunity of going back to school, even at my age, I would think of it seriously.
There are some things that a good school or University can give you that you can’t get from any other place:
New friends and contacts. Mainly other students as yourself but some teachers are close to companies and can be a good starting point.
A system and a habit for learning. Probably, this is the major point of the whole thing: creating good habits is hard but while you’re studying, this is your real job. If you’re constant and have a good system, you’ll ask the right questions and everything will go as a charm. When you’re out there in the field, the only way to make good money is by being really good, much better than the rest. And that means that your learning will go on. You can’t stop. So creating a good system and good habits is essential.
Fun. Yep, you’ll have to stress with the results of the exams but this is a time in your life to learn, relax, go a little crazy (not overboard, those videos stay on the web forever ;)) and spend time with friends. That time will be gone when you’re working… somehow, it seems that meeting your friends is harder and harder, even more when someone gets married and the kids and all that.