Are qualifications necessary?

[Camul]

So, after three years of college trying to become a game designer, I still suck. I'm about ready to give up with it now. Another thing I would be interested in doing is programming, but I was wondering if I could get a job programming by just being self taught? It's just in my experience, I.T. teachers tend to be the most boring fuckers on the face of the Earth, and I'd much rather just kill myself than go through three years being lectured by them. 

[Oshino Shinobu]

Qualifications are useful, but not necessary. Experience is much more necessary in certain cases. A mixture of the two is by far your best way to go. 

 

Have a look at some programming Moocs, they aren't really official qualifications, but show that you can do it. 

 

Keep pushing. 

 

EDIT: Are you doing an I.T course, or a computing/something similar? I agree that I.T courses are useless, but computing courses are much more advanced and useful. 

[Willson94]

Apprenticeship?

What do you learn about at college about game design? thought that would be programming just focussed around games.

[UnderADyingSun]

How far are you into your math series? If you're actively talking calculus and calculus based courses then you have alot of options. 

 

I'd stray from the miserable path you're heading down. Shudders at the thought of working for EA

[DudeWazap]

I think a lot of companies just want to see that paper that says you really know the material.

[Nallown]

I'm 100% self taught and got no qualifications regarding programming, gfx design or computer science and I managed to get a job as a app developer. I gave up on school because I learned nothing from it but I recommend you to first find out what is possible to do where you live, I managed to get a job through an apprenticeship but I live in UK where apprenticeships can be started with just your motivation and starter experience. I LOVE PROGRAMMING and that's why I got this job because they knew that I'll be putting effort into the apps because I enjoy it. I know how you feel btw because at school all I learned was business related stuff so I never really got anything from it and also I always have put more effort into teaching myself stuff then into school because I found it pointless. Before when I woke up for school was I was like "fuck another day of bullshit whatever lemme just go back to sleep" where as now I'm like "Another day of work, time to wake up :)" so basically I'm loving it. Btw when i say time to wake up I still stay in bed for another 30 minutes because I'm a badass sleeper .

 

I'd say if you wanna quite school then before that build up a portfolio, it doesn't matter whether it's good it just needs to show that you've got motivation and that you did stuff and didn't mind spending time doing stuff.

[applebook]

Degrees and diplomas don't guarantee anything, but they might help you get "in the door." Without a piece of paper certifying that you know what you claim that you know, you might never be given a chance. Experience is far more valuable to most employers than education, but without education it's very difficult to gain any experience. My suggestion is not to give up but to keep at it and try IT classes if you have the time (assuming you're still very young, under 30) and family support. The worst that can happen is that you end up 3 years from now with a good education behind you. In the meantime, keep looking and applying for work and be prepared to drop out if an opportunity arises.