I have found real world experience and self-study vastly underused on a lot of engineering projects. I'm not taliking
about Programming, or CS. You guys can succeed without a degree. I'm talking about the mechanical, and electical engineering projects. I have tried to decipher too many blue
prints form licenced Electricial Engineers--whom I can guarantee didn't spend one day on a construction site. Getting your hand dirty counts for something. Know the theory--essential, but know how to put it together too. I have met mechanical engineers who can't work on their own automobiles--which I
found baffling, because these guys didn't have a lot of extra
money to spend--at least when I knew them. I do still kind
of cringe when people throw around the title of engineer though, if they don't have the math backround and license to
back it up.