Ghost is right about the college path. I can't imagine how sitting in a classroom for 4 years can really compare to several years of real world experience.
Give me the "on the job" candidate every time.
Certainly some of the code and theory basics can be learned in school but you need to do the job to learn the job.
I think virtually all education should be a mix of classroom and working at the job. Unfortunately "educators" are such a closed minded group they can't think outside their little world of the classroom. Most have never even been "outside" in their whole life.
