I disagree with the notion that it is necessary to attend a university to prepare one’s self for real work as a software developer. I taught myself C++ by writing code and reading books. It took about a year in between stocking shelves at the local supermarket to master the basics. After realizing that I wanted to write code for a living, I decided that I should probably go to school.
I wouldn’t say it was a mistake, because it opened a door to an internship that grew into a full time position. But, I learned far less useful information through my 4 years of (part-time) college than I did in that first year of actual programming. After working full-time and taking night classes for 4 years, I decided to put school on hold and haven’t looked back since.
If you lack the ability to learn complex new concepts without the structure of a university environment, you will not survive in this field. Going to a university may teach you how to learn, but if you already can, teach yourself the skills necessary to build something impressive. Then do it. Contribute to an open source project, or create your own. In my book, a background of excellent work is far more impressive than a college degree.