Thanks to JWdom, I left school and started pioneering because the end of the world was imminent. I was working on two bachelor's degrees simultaneously. I actually had enough hours to get one of the degrees, but was missing a few courses. I don't want to reveal my majors because some JWs are aware of them. However, I can reveal some courses I took.
In addition to standard core curriculum courses like history, English, humanities, etc., I took two years of calculus, differential equations, advanced calculus, prob & statistics, linear algebra. a year of calculus-based general physics, about a year of advanced physics, mathematical physics, two years of chemistry (one year general & one year organic), and a year of biology.
adjusted knowledge: Though I think credentials are important and add weight to a person's argument, I also think a well read person with life experience is just as qualified
I thoroughly agree with that, and I might add that sometimes those who are well-read and self-taught can be more qualified. It all depends on the individual. I've known college graduates who couldn't split a simple recipe. I've known many who have nowhere near the knowledge, reasoning skills, and insight of many of this board who don't have degrees.
That's not to belittle universities and degrees. I love learning and would love to go back to school. I just think that what's most important is one's desire and ability to learn and the effort he puts forth. Of course, there are some fields, such as nursing, that require degrees. But there are other fields, such as math and physics, in which one could be entirely self-taught and still make great contributions to the fields.