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I agree with that experience, but it's not clear how it relates to the topic we are discussing.

My argument would be that having the education/degree does not help you correlate the day to day work in the field with what you learned to get that degree. The degree is worth dirt if you can't apply that experience to your job and I think that's the case an above-average amount of the time.

So maybe getting the degree isn't necessarily the best path to get into our industry.

> having the education/degree does not help you correlate the day to day work in the field with what you learned

I also agree with that. The vast majority just aren't interested or did the minimum to pass classes, without really absorbing it.

What I disagree with is the self-taught correlation. The people who can do what you describe overwhelming are academically curious and have degrees.

> maybe getting the degree isn't necessarily the best path

I think you'll find a similar pattern in all fields. I think what's more in question is the ability of education to transform ingrained aptitudes and interests.

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