The comments here are generally super confusing to me. Are there companies in San Francisco who actually give a shit about where you went to college? I've only been here for 5 years, but I spent 2 or so of those just bouncing around from startup to startup doing consulting work. I've never worked with anyone who gave a shit about what college people went to. Literally, none. The startups I've joined have been predominantly staffed with college dropouts (even including a high school dropout or two), and a lot of the best engineers I know here have no degrees. Where are all these startups that are hiring based on credentials?
I'm not sure that it's startups hiring based on credentials as the bigger more established companies. I am pretty sure Google is famous for its hiring strategy. IIRC Facebook has taken a similar approach, no?
Lots of fresh new startups with no money or traction take what they can get, and that perversely often leads to talent that would be rejected by more established companies. But you only have to read job listings to see how many of the well funded more established companies, out of the very early stage, look to hire from a very narrow range of schools. YYMV but I see ads like that ALL the time.
> And a lot of the best engineers I know here have no degrees.
I think you are conflating coders with engineers. The latter entails a lot more requisite knowledge, and generally requires formal education of some sort.
