Don't think like that. I grew up in a small town in midwest. I mean reeealy small. Graduating class was 32. I am now an L6 and making the numbers shown here. It just takes time. 14 years worth of studying, multiple jobs, moving across the country, etc....

The get rich quick paradigm of tech makes everyone think they're not worthy.

Its a marathon. Not a sprint.

It seems getting access to this world requires either superlative ability, a network of people who can teach you the lingo, or university pedigree.

Probably a matter of time until programming is another power-law career like music or law is, where only the top hundred or thousand in the world can get by.

> where only the top hundred or thousand in the world can get by.

I don't think that's correct - music or law employs a ton of working professionals at all levels. If working at one of the big companies is the measure of "getting by" that means if you're a lawyer in a small town you're probably not getting by, which is absolutely not the case.

FWIW, I don’t think FAANG necessarily care about what degree you have vs. what can you do. Mine certainly doesn’t, and I know a number of people at these companies who are college dropouts.

I feel like there are two ways to get access...

1. Get hired by an SV-area startup that cares more about how interested you are in them than the other way around (assuming you're good).

2. Relocate (or pretend you've relocated) to the SV-area, and suddenly you appear on recruiters' radar.

I did #1, but interest from random recruiters before/after the move was practically like a step function. I've heard stories of people doing #2, and it working out for them.

I disagree, if you had the work ethic, you could study for a year on leetcode.com, and have a hell of a good chance at landing a FAANG job.

Just practice those types of problems, apply to a bunch of different companies, do the phone screens, get rejected, practice some more, get through the phone screens to the onsite, get rejected, repeat until you get an offer.

Don't these companies need you to be early 20s, have similar hobbies/culture to the hiring company, and live nearby already? I find it hard to believe they'd look at an applicant who doesn't fit the standard criteria. Why bother with someone who doesn't fit the mold when there's 10,000 applicants per month who do?

because those 10k fail the interviews. and no they will relocate and they do it often.

Well, I'm also 35 and have never worked as an engineer. But yes, at 25, I'd agree that this is certainly possible.