I have been trying to learn the process of game development for a long time. I have mostly done hobby projects so far, nothing serious. In school, I am always that guy who nearly sleeps during class, and still gets an A+ on every assignment. When I started learning how to program, it came very naturally to me, and it wasn't long before I was way ahead of my classes. This is probably because I spend so much of my free time tinkering with things such as Unity, while my classmates just do the bare minimum in order to pass. I can do shaders even, which I have taught myself how to do using tutorials I found online (Catlike Coding ftw).

I think one of the main issues I have, however, is that I am not going to have a fancy enough diploma to go where I want to go. I am only going to a community college, and I will only receive an Associates in Programming. Though I feel that I am an advanced programmer who is very capable, I am worried that my degree is lackluster and might be an issue when I am finally graduated and am looking for work. Or maybe, I have only seen the tip of the iceberg so far, and I only THINK that I am good at programming. It could be that there is a lot of stuff I haven't even seen yet, because my education hasn't covered advanced topics. When I graduate at the end of this Summer, I am certain I will get a job of some sort since programmers are in high demand, but I question what sort of job. My goal is to work on video games, probably with graphics or something like that. Am I doomed to never achieving this silly dream of mine? Should I go back to school and get even more education? Or do you think I am good enough to get a job with the skills that I've got?

16 hours ago, Innoc uous said:

I am only going to a community college, and I will only receive an Associates in Programming.

You are correct in thinking that an Associates degree is not enough. Transfer to an affordable 4-year school and get a Bachelors degree.

16 hours ago, Innoc uous said:

Am I doomed to never achieving this silly dream of mine?

Only if you allow yourself to wallow in your fears and don't pursue your not-silly dream in a realistic way.

16 hours ago, Innoc uous said:

Should I go back to school and get even more education?

Yes.

16 hours ago, Innoc uous said:

Or do you think I am good enough to get a job with the skills that I've got?

It's not about you being "good enough." It's about your resume not being good enough. You'll also need a portfolio that demonstrates that you should be hired.

Yes, I'd echo what Tom said, specifically about getting a bachelor's.

Since your coasting through your classes, the question becomes what are you doing with your time?

Sounds like you have a good start, shaders are no easy task.

Sounds like you need to be a little more proactive with your education, if advanced topics aren't covered, then stay after, and ask the prof/ teacher what more you can learn and do. 

If you go to a 4 year, you can find research labs and such, I don't think community college has any of those.

Do all you can to make yourself stand out.

A friend of mine got an offer to go to a very prestigious college, he decided not to go, and chose a mid tier local school instead. He could have had a name brand school on his resume, and be a big fish in a bigger pond, if only he would have left his comfort zone.  And now, no one will know just how far he could have gotten.

I'm not a programmer, but from what I've seen, Associates are not enough to get into games straight off the bat. 

Sorry,

I was assuming he is in the US.