I'd MUCH rather pay the piper in toil, get the 4 yr degree and enter through the same gate that 98% of applicants have gone though, than go to great lengths to try and stand out another way and try to enter through the gate that 2% try and beat that is guarded heavily with pitbulls and torches

Just get the degree!

(And I'm speaking as one who only has a 2 yr degree who plans to get a 4 yr soon BTW)