My first boss out of college use to tell me to use pirated software, place all my SQL code in C# instead of creating store procedures(Some cases the queries were like 6 printed pages long and would not let me use a string builder atleast), micro managed my code down to if I could use a while loop over a for loop and last but not least lied to people about his application failing always blaming IT because we were in a separate Web Development department. -- Modified Monday, July 18, 2011 3:16 PM

My CS degree really does come in handy when it comes to algorithms, data structures and solving problems. However, programming without a CS degree is possible, but I think the principles of CS give you an edge of people who dont have a CS degree. For examples at work most people are atleast 8 years older than me and learned web development on their own without a CS degree. They seem to know more syntax and functionality of technology, but hands down my code is more robust, cleaner, runs faster and easier to maintain. The computational mindset you learn with a CS degree I think can really give you an edge over non-CS degrees I think if you push to learn principles in college. But than again I am young and this mindset might change with my next job.