A few things. First of all, I'd say a pretty good proportion of the best programmers I know were self taught (i.e. didn't go to college or else majored in something completley unrelated to CS, e.g. French lit).
Second, there are growing opportunities to learn code online. I don't even need to mention any of them to this crowd.
Third, most of the CS majors I talk to say that CS curricula are out of date and almost always have been (at least with respect to what employers are looking for, in terms of theory it's less true).
Fourth, as the author makes clear other universities are sweeping in to fill the gap left by UW.
So, is this really a problem? I guess it's a problem for UW because they don't have the sense to move resources from weaker programs to CS. But then again, is that what's really going on? It could be that UW is simply wishing to enhance it's program by being more selective (and the UW people in the article might disagree with that). or it could be that UW's administrators are just morons, that wouldn't be the only case of stupid mismanagement in American universities.
I just don't see what the big deal is. With today's opportunities nobody is being denied the opportunity to learn coding.
Of course, maybe people really, really want to learn actual academic CS instead of just getting employable skills. I seriously doubt that though.
While the teachers interviewed in the story are amazing, I'm glad UW rejected me because I don't think I'd be were I am right now with their education. I've helped numerous high school friends who are now taking Computer Science classes learn what they need to learn for their assignments and the problems they have are just so non relevant that it scares me.
This isn't a case of someone complaining "Why do I have to learn Calculus, I'll never use it!" (because I actually do use Calculus every day), but rather complaining about "why have I had to explain for loops to four different sets of hard working and studious friends, the day before their assignments are due?"
I'm fairly certain that if any of my friends currently attempting a Computer Science degree from UW want to work at the level I do professionally, they'll have to study a lot on their free-time and learn things on their own rather than follow along with the classes they're taking.
Note: This doesn't include people who have contacted me asking for her saying they're only taking Computer Science just because they hear it pays well.
First of all, I'd say a pretty good proportion of the best programmers I know were self taught
there are growing opportunities to learn code online.
CS curricula are out of date and almost always have been
with respect to what employers are looking for
nobody is being denied the opportunity to learn coding.
really want to learn actual academic CS instead of just getting employable skills. I seriously doubt that though.
But what works for me won't work for everyone.
However, you're point about selection bias is a good one, it's just not applicable in terms of educational experience in my case, but in my case it is applicable in terms of geography - I live and work in the SF Bay Area, so educational credentials are just not valued as much here).
But I would contend that the rest of the world might learn a thing or two from the SV model of focusing ruthlessly on results and not pieces of paper.
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-gradu...
After TA-ing for the intro courses for many quarters I've seen first hand tons of qualified students turned away -- student I know would do well in the major. The problem is definitely budget cuts. The department currently can't let in more students while maintaining a high quality program.
Back in the day 1987-1991 (started when I was 16) it was still challenging to get in - but not this retentive.