Considering a career as a web developer
 

Well, I talked to my college guidance counselor today, and it looks like I'lll have to take 2 whole semesters of prerequisite classes before I can even begin SQL/PHP programming classes :( I was really bummed out when she told me, which led me to question being a website developer. Do any of you all have any advice/input on the advantages/disadvantages of being a website developer?

Tell me anything positive because this is really what I want to do. I just worry about it not being a job that will bring in enough money to support a family.

Developement can be a great career, if that's what you are interested in. You will most likely not be doing much php or mysql professionally as most companies don't use that on a corporate level. Still, SQL (as you mentioned) is heavily used and a decent developer can do quite well with it. I think if it's something you are really interested in that you should go for it. :)

Well what I want to do is more along the lines of a freelance web developer, kinda like a stay at home job. I have some aspirations of creating a company with a buddy of mine, but I didn't know if that would bring in the same amount of money as working for a corporation or large company would. Thanks for your feeback :)

Well if you are interested in doing PHP/SQL work, you should consider either coupling that knowledge with XHTML/CSS, or team up with a mate good at this. Although your paycheck might not be as steady as if you were working for a large company, you will be able to work with exactly what you are interested in. Depending on the extent of the work (and how greedy your mate is :p), the individual paychecks may be more frequent or larger than the case of a large company (this of course depends on your rank within the company, and other factors Im unfamiliar with).

Note to the record that I am not an educated Webdesigner, I do not speak from experience but common sense. I am going Webdesign with my edu as it is what Im interested in, not just because of the money it can bring in.

I hear that-I love web design, and that's the reason I want to pursue a career in it. It would be awesome for me to do something I love, while bringing home the bacon. ;)

Learn PHP, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Solaris and Oracle.

this magical combination will see you able to enter most organisation as a Web App Dev. (don't ask me why but they're hired left right and centre and for good money) of the course the latter two are just a matter of flexibility and look good on your CV especially if you're gonna work in the financial district, and leave your options open for moving into DB Administration.

It just so happens that all of those languages are on my curriculum :D Thanks everyone for all your comments and advice :)

PHP won't get you anywhere in most companies, nor will MySQL. However, Oracle, JSP, ASP, and MS SQL will take you far given they're enterprise-level products. PHP is poorly suited to such tasks, as is MySQL.

it all depends he may get picked up by jelsoft all php/mysql work there.
i know of other co's that wont higher anyone who knows asp in my town. i know they are a rarity but still it exists. but for the most part big co's love ms crap because they pay 10k for a software package so they think oh we have this expensive os now lets higher someone for 50k that will offset the costs of the software that you can get on linux virtually free... go figure... i dont understand most companies when it comes to software purchases

Well, it's really about integration. Like them or not, MS integrates most of their software with eachother which is very attractive to corporations. Filburt is dead on, php and MySql are great for what we like to do with it but there is no place for it in the corporate world, at least at this time. I know that they are working on scaling MySql that direction though, it would be nice to see it grow to that level.