David,
This topic has generated a great response,...after all, I agreed with those who think that all the things you can achieve in your life as professional is upon you...
Let me tell a brief story, years ago I come to USA, knowing nobody, I couldn't speak, write or read any English (I still can’t) but with a dream, have a better life...
In my country I earned a Master degree on mathematics, I did participate on several projects for the University on astronomy, Physics, Electronics...also I was in the cuspid of my career working in a field that always loved, interacting with so many disciplines and great professionals...I was happy, but poor, very poor, just because my country don't have the resources to sponsor all this projects due to the terrible economic crisis.
Anyway, I come to US and found that all my experience and degree was useless, just because I was coming from a third world country, I have transcripts and all the stuff needed but some employers try to suggest me that my only choice was to go back school and get a "AMERICAN" degree, you know (F#... them)...then I found that all this “degree” thing was only a great Hypocrisy, you can achieve all the things that you want without their blessing, I have degree, yes, but the better part of my knowledge has been assessed through the everyday experience, discipline and dedication you don't need any paper to achieve anyhitng you deserve, want or dream , while doing some menial jobs, I decided to get what I was looking for on my own... I don't have an American degree but that is not going to stop me from getting whatever I want (I been worked as programmer without actually having a programmer degree for the University of Illinois, and for other several companies and right now I’m working for an International company here in Salt Lake UT, all without even mentioned about my school background, based just in my experience) ...and somehow I'm disappointed for those who think that having "degree" will "open doors", you open the door if you want, with or without...just remember discipline and dedication.

William Toledo