As someone who has run tech companies for more than 20 years, and hired many programmers, this is 100% true. Work hard, keep up with the technology, demonstrate true passion for the art, and be creative and you will be indispensable, MIT grad or self-taught.
My oldest only looked at SUNY schools due to her health problems in high school. When it was time to begin the college search for my son, I found this website and I’m thankful that I did. It helped me to understand how the college selection process works and which schools were candidates for my son’s consideration.
I am certain that the college he attended was partially due to the help we got from here.He isn’t ordinary, but his parents are and his hometown is.
@threeofthree same here. My son had a very similar trajectory, though he is not in coding. He owns his own company that IS tech related. H’es bright-brilliant even, according to several teachers, who instead of acing everything in school, barely passed. And yes, there were a number of detours along the way, along with military service. This site would have had me sobbing into my coffee. But it’s a good resource for the “average (on CC) excellent” kids.
@threeofthree thank you for posting that story. I need to hear happy endings to spiraled-down children now. I do not know what will happen to my own personal spiraled child but child sounds similar in some respects to yours. Child was so devastated by school that child is in “recovery” mode. Child graduated at the end of June this year. To keep child from not just leaving the house suddenly as yours did, but from leaving the earth unannounced and too early, we are working around the clock to help child recover. Because my husband went through a similar sudden departure from home that you described, he is especially aware of what’s happening with child and we are attempting to ease the transition in some way. Everything we can do, we are doing. Currently we are on 24-hour watch to make sure child survives. Child is also brilliant (tested at above college levels in 5th grade when we were testing to see what was “wrong”) and that raw intelligence has worked against child because teachers get over-excited as soon as child opens mouth and push so much at child. Then child gets overwhelmed at what’s expected and verklempt. Anxiety takes over in classroom and he literally is paralyzed at that point. Over the years we placed child in the lowest-possible pressure schools, worked with guidance offices and teachers to lower expectations, offered therapy and the option to drop out of school. I would joke that I’m the only parent on the planet begging her child to drop out of high school, but that is how desperate the situation was. The last few months were devastating for everyone but child made it through based on child’s shear dogged determination and child did somehow get diploma. SAT/ACT testing was not an option. But he would fail a class, and take the Regents Exam for the same class, and score a 95. (Regents is a NYState test that public school kids are required to take in order to graduate.) That sort of thing. Now currently is on health watch to make sure child doesn’t fall into daily despair. We are unschooling him, allowing him room to have his own wonderful mind back after what’s been for him an entire lifetime of misery. College–even community college–is simply not an option. Trade school of the most seemingly innocuous kind seems so distant as to be impossible. Even looking for a job no matter how low-level is not an option at this point. We are hoping to start child on some sort of volunteer position, a place that’s kind and generous with a deeply fragile person, but are inching along at this point as child feels child has nothing to offer the world.
Thank you again for sharing your story. Thank you.
@Dustyfeathers - I can feel the angst in your post and I totally empathize with those feelings. I prayed a lot for my son’s safety and my family’s sanity. I didn’t have a decent night’s sleep for many years. I would anticipate a 2 a.m. phone call from the police or or doorbell ring with sad/bad news. When he finally came home my husband and I decided our job was to keep him alive until he found a good job where he could support himself. We were hoping he could make it as a Starbuck’s manager (I do like that company).
Deciding on his own to study for and pass a low level CS certificate exam and then beaming when he surprised his dad and I with his certificate was really what started everything moving forward. My son would strongly resist help (because, you know, he knew it all). He’s no longer like that but this is many years later. He had to make it on his own and the more he succeeded at the little things gave him confidence that he could succeed at the next thing. He had to build his confidence himself and we had to resist saying “see, I told you so”.
I’m sure your child will find his way, their time table is not the same as ours. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to help - continue to support him with a lot of love. You say he is very fragile but if he can handle any low level of responsibility or even complete an online class that may help take that first step forward and start the steps to success. Thinking about “What About Bob” - it really was baby steps for us. ((( Hugs to you ))).
Thank you @threeofthree. Thank you again. You give me hope.
@poblob14 Yes, we are a household of mere mortals. Oldest went to community college for two years then transferred to our state flagship. Youngest is headed straight to an OOS state flagship, on scholarship. Neither one is sure what they want to do with their lives. We still love them and have not changed the locks on the house. 
@Dustyfeathers We have been duly impressed by the magic our D’s therapist has worked upon her. She is a DBT therapist.
http://behavioraltech.org/resources/whatisdbt.cfm
This approach has resonated with our kid. It’s…concrete, for lack of a better word. There’s a workbook even, daily log of sorts, and group classes, as well as weekly individual sessions. This practice, in combo with the psychiatrist the therapist recommended has been a life-saver. It’s given our daughter the tools to better handle the emotional storm inside her head.
Anyone familiar with Buddhist principles of how the mind works will recognize DBT fundamentals.
Nothing wrong being a auto mechanic - lol. This has some great info for parents whether S/D has a 3.0 or a 3.9. The college info, questions and advice are priceless…even for a Picachu - lol.
@Midwest67 Thank you for this suggestion. We are definitely open for any suggestions!!
Currently we are applying lots and lots of hugs as soul band-aides.
Child also has the help of a really competent and compassionate therapist. She’s helping child and us in all kinds of ways. Thank you!!
OP, my third child is average/below average. I don’t think college is even in the cards. My oldest son graduated from MIT. Middle son will be attending an Ivy in the fall, but I doubt he’ll last very long because of multiple issues, and his story might not have a happy ending. I hope he can just survive somewhere, somehow. Third son has issues (dyslexia, language disorder, among others), and is behind the curve in many ways. We just plug away and do the best we can. So yes, there are folks on here with “ordinary” children.
Yes! I have a whole group of regular kids. They all have their own gifts and got decent grades. But, no one was published as a high school student, started in football, walked on water or won the science fair. They were in the science fair, they participated in sports, they sang in the choir, they were involved in a church youth group, and they rode their bikes. The first one just graduated and is still looking for a job but has had numerous calls, interviews, etc. I am proud he got out in 4 years. The next one will be a freshman in college in the Fall. The other one will be entering high school. Regular kids are awesome and not everyone can make straight A’s and play the violin and speak 5 languages. But, they are happy, they are kind and they are mine. 
This may sound ridiculous in 2016 but many extraordinary people strive to have ordinary lives.
Dumb question here . . . is there one continuing thread for class of 2017 parents that people are suggesting or do people just follow multiple threads where the class of 2017 is referenced?
@pittsburghscribe There is a specific thread titled Parents of HS Class of 2017. If the title describes you I would highly suggest you follow it. Lots of very smart and very nice folks in there all going through the same stuff. Hope to see you over there!
Good luck!
@pittsburghscribe not a dumb question
this is the main thread a few of us have referenced
and this is the 3.0-3.4 (UW) thread
Hope to see you on one or both!
@sbjdorlo - I hope your middle son has a happy ending.
OP, We all just do the best we can. Keep in mind what one person thinks is ‘ordinary’ another person may think is ‘extraordinary’.
@Dustyfeathers sending healing and unschooling vibes to your fragile brilliant one. I can only imagine. Have hope, it is out there.
@pittsburghscribe You’re welcome on the Parents of 2016 thread too. We just went through what you’re getting ready to go through. Many are happy to help an support. Good luck .
@poblob14 Yes, there are plenty of posters with kids like yours.
If you can tell us a bit more about your daughter perhaps we can be of more assistance. Here are a few questions that come to mind.
Is she a high school Senior?
Which state do you live in?
How big of a concern is cost/financial aid?
Have you run any net price calculators?
What subjects is she most interested in?
Has she shown an interest in any particular majors yet?
What are her favorite extracurriculars?
Is she ready to rule out engineering, business or nursing? (Not every college has these schools).
Any special preferences? (e.g., Catholic or other religious school preferred).