The most common question I'm asked always centers around how to get started in user experience design, to which my response is always that nothing can substitute real-world experience.
Building the skills required of a user experience designer takes time, patience, and commitment. Higher education is a great way to equip yourself with some core skills, but it will not prepare you for actual challenges you'll face with clients' work. In other words, being proficient with a design tool and a few methods doesn't make you a user experience designer. There simply isn't a one-size-fits-all process.
Being effective requires adaptability — something you don't really learn in school, much less in a 6-month training camp. It's gained through experience on the job and learning what's appropriate given the needs of the project.
I found my way to user experience through graphic design and slowly over many different roles and experiences. That led me to become a user experience designer. It took time and commitment to continue to pursue roles within teams that I knew could teach and challenge me. That's not to say that I think my path is the only one. But once again, nothing can substitute real-world experience. You can start anywhere as long as you know your end goal and you commit to actively pursuing opportunities to learn and grow along the way.