First, let me tell you a bit about myself. I am an undergraduate in Computer Science and currently, it's my 6th semester. These days I am doing the #100DaysOfCode challenge and learning CSS and JavaScript(there's a semester break going on due to the Corona Virus). Why am I writing this post if my degree isn't even complete yet? Well, I would like to share some thoughts with you.

I saw some posts debating whether you really need a CS degree to build a career. My answer? Well yes, but actually no.

Let's have a look at both aspects, shall we?

Benefits of Computer Science Degree:

• They teach you the very basics i.e. the bits and bytes of the computer. Knowing this tremendously improves your understanding of how the computer works.
• There's a great focus on Data Structures and Algorithms(They're very important).
• The course material is great.
• The assignments and quizzes make you feel accountable and force you to do hard work.
• There's a whole batch of students with you and it improves your teamwork skills.
• There's always a professor or a mentor that can answer all of your questions and help you out when you're stuck.

Not so great aspects of Computer Science Degree:

These are very few but the thing is: they matter!

• You learn a lot of stuff that you wouldn't even need at your job.
• You have to study some courses that are totally irrelevant.
• It takes FOUR YEARS!

The reason I'm telling you all of this is that I want to make a point: Learning on your own is also beneficial given that you stay disciplined and committed.

I have spent the last 80 days learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on my own from online courses and I am more confident in coding than ever before. Because previously I spent so much time delving into the theory(I didn't have a choice, did I?). In university, you do learn how to code and build stuff, but you have to spend so much time learning other things as well and you can't focus on a single subject. And of course, you don't get to decide your own pace.

Let me summarize these benefits for you:

Benefits of learning on your own:

• You learn at your own pace.
• You only have to focus on a single path, it may be Data Science, Web Development, Game Development, etc.
• It can still take you more than a year to get there but still there's no minimum limit of 4 years.
• You can start working as soon as you're confident and keep learning alongside it.

In the end, it's just your own choice and it depends on the kind of person you are. Neither way is easier. It requires hours of hard work and consistency.
So did my Computer Science degree help me? Yes, it did!