<p>I agree with all the good advice given, so this comment is not to be construed as “don’t go to school.”
However, if you’re a gifted programmer, I will tell you that just the other day the owner of a small but substantive development company told me he’s fired lots of Cs grads in his day, and that he’s hired talented kids right out of high school and started them at 70k a year.</p>
<p>In his case, he programmed from an early age as a hobby, then joined the coast guard, then became a developer… So there’s always a small chance you can find an employer who appreciates your raw skill in this field – but your odds will be better if you’re doing something else while you’re looking. So get started at your local college, but try to connect with the developer community while youre at it!</p>