Or going to school for it? I just feel like it's getting a LOT more hype now, and it's really worrying me that it's going to be tough to compete because everyone will be going to school for it. Has it always been like this? Or is it true, that a lot more people will be going to school for stuff like this, since it's now becoming known that it is the future?

trades are the future, IT fields have been flooding since the 90's youre almost 20 years late to the bandwagon.

Let me say something here,

I am currently at a University, and at first I was quite skeptical because of the volume of CSCI students coming in.

After taking one of the "harder" Computer Science courses and watching how many people dropped out and changed major due to it, I have no worries anymore.

Honestly, if you have a passion for programming, or for computers, then you should definitely pursue it, the world will always need more good programmers. There are plenty of shitty ones

i'm always nervous when there's too many people in my class or around me at all, but that's because i'm unsocial and xenophobic. but in your case, i wouldn't worry about it.

most people suck, be someone that does not and you will be fine.

Yep, exactly my point

"It doesn't matter what you do, just be good at it"

Is what I go by, really a good way of life imo.

The truth of the matter is that there are a lot more jobs out there than their are people who can program.
Also, if you can be better than everyone else, it doesn't even matter.

depends how good you are at it
as indicated in some posts, there are plenty 'average' quality ones
if you are not sure that you will be (very) good at it
become a plumber or electrician

There's still plenty of market in software engineering. General IT probably not so much.

Same thing at my school. The class started with 60 people and only about 15 actually graduated.

Learning to program takes a ton of dedication, and especially to get good at it.

Chances are, if you're passionate about programming, you'll have no problem finding a job.