I have a degree in Health Science education. Not really pertinent to what I do today. I lived in a college town after graduation and there is a bit of degree snobbery there...secretary (which was my title) required a degree. I'm not sure people look at that anymore however. It seems to be based more on who you know, i.e. networking. I don't necessarily mean the random encounter at a social event, I'm talking about people who truly know you, who've worked with you. My current job took all of 2 hours to get from sending my resume to getting the call and accepting an offer (I still don't know what that offer was...). I basically got this job because I worked with another one of this company's employees. He spoke well of me and they took him at his word (and a little of my resume). I don't know if physics or any other degree will necessarily help you out, unless you're going to be a DBA at a nuclear lab and you want to be able to understand the scientists. I will say that it speaks volumes of your drive and spirit for even entertaining the idea especially with full time work. Not sure if that helps, I just like to talk (write). :) On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 6:02 PM, Kellyn Pedersen <kjped1313@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I just went through an interesting test of this, my last go around on the > job market, as I have an odd situation, so I'm going to share... > I actually have two degrees, one in Journalism and a second in > mathematics. Post my degrees, I suffered a couple strokes in my early > 20's due to a medical condition that simply needed the right doctor to > figure out and to be honest, those years of my life are pretty much blank > slates. I started over, literally.... I sold computers while my brain > healed and as it healed, my second go around in life showed I had a knack > for software, the rest is history. > I worked my way into database support and then was certified in Oracle 8 to > become an Oracle DBA at US West. > After eToys went out of business, I had become quite tired of people asking > me why I wasn't a journalist or utilizing my accounting skills that I had > worked so hard for in my college years, so I just left it off my resume this > last time around on the job market to see what would happen. > > I was unemployed for all of one week.... :) I know many HR representatives > and recruiters ask about a degree, but in the technical arena, they are > starting to stop- looking more to experience and certifications, realizing > that techies are a little different breed. Does the college curriculum > really create the best technical specialists? Not when often the arena is > changing so fast, a "just the facts" certification with natural skills are > better equipped to be successful. > > The work ethic my parents shared with me, my IQ that thankfully had a few > extra points to spare during the difficult times and my natural adaptive > skills have served me better than any college time I lost along with those > years... > Nobody tell my parents though, I think they would have rather used the > money to go to Europe than sending me to Tulane! > > > Kellyn Pedersen > Multi-Platform DBA > I-Behavior Inc. > http://www.linkedin.com/in/kellynpedersen > > "Go away before I replace you with a very small and efficient shell > script..." > > > --- On *Mon, 12/7/09, Andrew Kerber <andrew.kerber@xxxxxxxxx>* wrote: > > > From: Andrew Kerber <andrew.kerber@xxxxxxxxx> > Subject: Re: [OFF TOPIC] College Degree > To: cicciuxdba@xxxxxxxxx > Cc: "oracle-l-freelists" <oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Date: Monday, December 7, 2009, 3:02 PM > > > Well, that is kind of strange computer engineering degree. My degree is in > computer science, which included 5 semesters of EE. That was about 20 years > ago. These days, it seems like the computer science degree is really more a > programming degree. On the other hand, if you expect to have a decent > professional career (at least in the US), a college degree is mandatory, > though just about any real degree is sufficient. > > On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 3:40 PM, Guillermo Alan Bort > <cicciuxdba@xxxxxxxxx<http://us.mc320.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=cicciuxdba@xxxxxxxxx> > > wrote: > >> Well, I've been doing a little soul searching, I've been studying computer >> engineering for a few years now. >> I don't like programming, I don't like project management... and that's >> about all they teach over here in comp eng.... >> >> So... my question to you is, what is your degree (if any) and what is your >> opinion on college degrees and real life work. >> >> I've been working with Oracle for a few years (4 or 5) and I've come to >> know it a little, I got a good job as a DBA, but I don't really like the >> 'regular' careers that are usually associated with Systems >> Administrations... so... if I got, say, a degree in mathematics or >> physics... how would it affect my work-life? >> >> thanks for your input. >> cheers. >> Alan.- >> > > > > -- > Andrew W. Kerber > > 'If at first you dont succeed, dont take up skydiving.' > > >