In the modern world, during the development of new technologies and the informatization of society, one of the most popular and sought after is the profession of a programmer. In this regard, many applicants are thinking about their future careers in this area.
How to become a professional programmer? What subjects do I need to take for admission and do I need to study at a university in order to be a specialist in demand? Read more about this in our material.
What items need to be handed over?
Due to the fact that the profession of a programmer is very popular among young people, many universities train specialists in this area. For To enter this direction, you must pass an exam in subjects such as Russian, mathematics, physics and English.
However, the future programmer should not only be guided by this general rule, but also approach this issue more individually. So, some universities and institutes put forward other, more specific requirements for future students. For example, higher education institutions may attach greater importance to introductory assignments.
One way or another, but before you start preparing for admission, you need to call or go to the admissions office of a particular university to find out all the details and details that may ultimately affect your future destiny.
Can I enter after grade 9?
Traditionally, admission to a higher educational institution is carried out after the 11th grade.At the same time, it is considered that entering a programmer is rather difficult, since it is necessary to have broad knowledge in exact disciplines and to be fluent in English. Besides, Due to the great popularity of the destination, there is a lot of competition for the place.
That is why many students think about learning to become a programmer after the 9th grade and are interested in how difficult it is. In order to start studying in this specialty after grade 9, it is important to decide on a specific educational organization.
Today in our country there are a large number of colleges and other secondary specialized institutions that will help you get the dream profession.
Where and how many years to study?
As we have already found out, in order to get an education in the specialty "Programmer", you need to go to college and university. At the same time, depending on the chosen educational institution, on the specialty and direction of preparation, the periods of your training and obtaining a diploma can vary significantly.
So, traditionally in institutes and universities, in order to learn how to programmer, you have to spend 4-5 years. Moreover, this time period may increase if you choose not full-time, but part-time education, which can last 5-6 years.
If in order to become a programmer, you decide to go to college, then your studies will take 2-3 years. After that, you can become a full-fledged participant in the labor market and find yourself a job.
However, at the same time, it should be noted that not all programmers who are now very successful with employers have high status and professional respect, graduated from official educational institutions. Many of them are either self-taught at all (moreover, examples can be found not only in our country, but throughout the world), or they completed only short courses.
This is all possible due to the fact that not all employers require formal education and a diploma from programmers. A much larger number of employers will ask you to demonstrate your skills, as well as tell about your work experience.
One way or another, but it should be remembered that in order to become a qualified specialist, you need to constantly study, improve your skills and master new relevant skills.
Such specialists are always appreciated among employers, and also gain an advantage among applicants who simply have a diploma.
Do I need a higher education?
Higher education for a programmer is more likely an opportunity than a necessity. To date in the professional environment there is no consensus on whether a diploma in a specialty is necessary. You can find both supporters and opponents of this opinion. Consider the pros and cons of higher education for programmers.
Let's start with the benefits.
- The presence of basic knowledge. So, in the process of studying at a higher educational institution, students receive a large amount of knowledge in such basic disciplines as the basics of programming and mathematics. It is believed that without a complete understanding of the basics of these subjects, more advanced material cannot be learned.
- Ease of employment. Employers who see that a person has a specialized diploma have confidence in the job seeker and are ready to hire him with a greater desire than a self-taught programmer. In this regard, the diploma is evidence that a person is serious, as he was not too lazy to get an education, during the training process he also received a large number of practical skills, which is required according to educational standards and programs applicable to specialists of this kind.
- The presence of connections. People with a diploma of higher education have a large number of useful acquaintances (teachers, practice leaders, classmates).Such contacts can be useful not only to the programmer himself, but also to the employer.
At the same time, there are opponents of higher education for programmers.
- Time spent. The average duration of study at the university for a programmer is from 4 to 6 years. Moreover, not all graduates believe that the time spent was worth it. There is a widespread belief that the necessary skills can be mastered in just 1-2 years.
- Technical backwardness. Often, traditional higher schools do not have at their disposal the latest equipment or the latest programs. In addition, the curriculum itself is considered rather outdated. Much of the attention is paid to theoretical knowledge, and practice is not in that preferred place.
- Lack of relevant specializations. The labor market of professional programmers is constantly replenished with the latest vacancies in various directions. Moreover, such specializations are absent in the curriculum. Thus, getting a specialty at the university, a person can enter the labor market as a specialist whose services are no longer relevant, and he will have to retrain on his own.
Thus, you were able to make sure that there is no single answer to the question of whether a higher education is mandatory for a programmer. Therefore, everyone should decide for themselves, after weighing all the pros and cons, as well as assessing their future chances in the labor market.
Can I take courses?
Another way to get a programmer position is to take courses. They can be either full-time or online. With the help of such courses, you can learn how to program in a relatively short time and acquire all the necessary skills for working in the IT field.
Today you can find a large number of such courses. In addition, educational events can take place in the form of trainings, master classes, conferences, hackathons, etc. It is important to consider that for the most part you will have to act on your own. Despite the fact that all the necessary information will be provided to you, it is up to you how much quality education you will receive.
The main disadvantage of the courses is the acquisition of knowledge only in a highly specialized field. In order to become a specialist, you will need to attend several such educational events. However, there are courses upon successful completion of which you will be offered a job.
