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Comment by GrinningFool | Hacker News Reader

    > After three years in a college-based apprenticeship 
    > program and three years of solid work experience, he 
    > was still the equivalent of a brand-new high-school 
    > graduate in the eyes of higher education.

So much this. I've considered getting a degree countless times over the years, but have been prevented by the fact that my 2 decades+ professional experience in the field counts for nothing in terms of meeting educational requirements. And the more experience I get, the more painful that fact gets...

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> 2 decades+ professional experience in the field counts for nothing in terms of meeting educational requirements

Yeah, professors have experience with people like this. They're the students that stop lecture to ask a 5 minute long "question" that somehow hits the high points of their 20+ years of experience and doesn't really go anywhere, that roughly ends up at the same kind of "when will we ever use this in the real world" question that you'd expect from a 19 year old kid, when you're lecturing on rings and fields.

wow I hope you never have to interact with anyone slightly different from you in the real world

FYI there are experienced students who do not do this. Many, in fact. I think I can recall only a few occasions where re-educating professionals did what you're describing.

Most of my gripes with interruptions came from 18-20 year olds.

> I've considered getting a degree countless times over the years, but have been prevented by the fact that my 2 decades+ professional experience in the field counts for nothing in terms of meeting educational requirements.

That's generally not all that true. While many degree programs have no formal credit for experience and have minimum "residency" (time in program) requirements, the latter tend to be substantially shorter than the normal time to complete all coursework, and many programs have, instead of the former, means to satisfy some portion of credit requirements without actually taking classes if you can demonstrate equivalent knowledge gained elsewhere (e.g., credit-by-examination.)

> many programs have, instead of the former, means to satisfy some portion of credit requirements without actually taking classes if you can demonstrate equivalent knowledge gained elsewhere (e.g., credit-by-examination.)

Can you name some of those programs? I keep hearing about those but can't find them.

Wisconsin's university system, for one.

https://flex.wisconsin.edu/

Here's a few:

http://registrar.calpoly.edu/content/stu_info/credit_byexam

http://admissions.utah.edu/apply/special-credit/challenge-a-...

https://registrar.ucdavis.edu/records/grades/credit-exam.cfm

Generally, you should check with the university you'd like to get a degree from to find out if they have such an option.

Thanks for this, it gives me something else to look into.

I will counter your anecdote with another... My wife never completed her undergraduate studies. After working her way from reception to middle-management, she bored of that career path and applied to a Masters program at a well-regarded institution, was accepted, and 2.5 years later, she has an expensive piece of paper.

With that paper, plus her decades of experience, she was able to transition into a career she likes. She's still in corporate America, but not middle-management.

That's a great idea. Did she have to do anything in particular to meet their entry requirements?

I don't remember anything unusual for entry. They did have a probationary period, but I don't recall the details - I assume it was more of a CYA for the school.

It's also worth noting that she's in a niche field. The program coordinator was accessible. It's a small program, cohort based, so relatively easy to ensure the student is meeting expectations once enrolled. YMMV when trying this on a more common subject.

My dream is to study urban planning. There are lots of masters programs, but no undergraduate studies, and I don't have BA, only a technical diploma. I've been trying to figure out a way to do this without resigning myself to 6 years or more of expensive education. It would be amazing if I could get in without the BA.

> Masters program at a well-regarded institution, was accepted I had been considering that, good to know it's possible! I couldn't find clear guidance that says a Masters is even possible without the requisite undergraduate degree.

Probably because professional experience has little to do with academic experience. I know many brilliant software engineers but not all of them are prepared to prove NP-completeness.

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