I have been leaning towards Computer Science for a while. I already have a pretty decent amount of experience in programming and haven taken a few Computer Science classes. The main question I have is, how are the job prospects as a Computer Science major. I hear that the problem solving/logical skills work in a bunch of different jobs but are you pretty much limited to being a programmer?
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Anonymous2007-09-30 0:03 ID:dfgbbbtC
Not really, no. Most jobs don't care what kind of degree you have, as long as you're capable.
Make sure your course load is varied. Do a wide range of things when you first hit the workforce too, even if it's just serving coffee.
Also, the prospects of developers specifically depends very heavily where you are. In some place they can't be had for love or money, while in others you're just another unemployed monkey.
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Anonymous2007-09-30 0:22 ID:X6jJPCRW
>>2
I don't really care about how much money I make. I'm really just wondering if I should major in Computer Science and minor in Physics or major in Physics and minor in Computer Science.
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Anonymous2007-09-30 0:25 ID:X6jJPCRW
Oh, also thanks very much for the advice.
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Anonymous2007-09-30 0:26 ID:O77F7p2q
I'm in Germany thus the following may not be true for America.
If you study CS in an university and end up as a programmer then you did something horribly wrong (unless you're working on some really advanced stuff and that means not VIDYA GAEMS).
Programming is for lesser creatures.
Your job will be doing that maths stuff(which everyone who decided to study CS fails at), making presentations for the management and fucking your subordinated programmers.
>>5 Your job will be doing that maths stuff(which everyone who decided to study CS fails at)
You're right, there. I personally suck ass at maths. Basically because (1) I only decided to start using my brain when I was 16 (age at which you leave school in England, mostly) and (2) I took a "software development" diploma instead of math and computer science A levels. I really think I should take a course just to get a holding of maths. I doubt it is like programming in the way that you can just learn it with books and practise.
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Anonymous2007-09-30 1:00 ID:dfgbbbtC
major in Physics and minor in Computer Science.
Do this.
You'll be far, far better at math, which is where all the cool stuff in CS is anyway. CS majors are drooling morons compared to physics majors. I hate to admit it as a CS major myself, but that's the way it is.
Also, at one of my jobs most of the developers were actually physicists.
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Anonymous2007-09-30 2:12 ID:lArhaDcs
>>7
I'm doing the exact same course as you and realised the same but I'm taking A levels in my spare time.
Some remarks:
- You can teach yourself mathematics and enter yourself in the exam as a private candidate. Get the A level and further maths A level in your spare time. Get the books Core Maths for Advanced Level and Further Pure Mathematics by Bostock & Chandler.
- Computing A level is not worth it, too.
- A level maths is tedious exercises which feels like a chore rather than using any brains. Look at STEP/BMO/(possibly) AEA for more interesting questions. "The Art and Craft of Problem Solving" is a nice book with some great questions, too.
- Read SICP or learn a functional language for university and add it to your personal statement or something. Professors go nuts over another EXPERT PROGRAMMER.
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Anonymous2007-09-30 2:42 ID:GXYJo0XX
Read SICP or learn a functional language
No toys in higher education.
>>5 If you study CS in an university and end up as a programmer then you did something horribly wrong
Actually, it's the only job you're going to get, because there's only so much demand for "maths stuff" people, as you so eloquently put it. Much less demand than universities produce graduates. In fact, chances are people won't give a damn about the maths at all and if you're a really bad programmer, you might end up writing PHP for shitty websites while some other guys who flunked the maths but rock at programming take the interesting jobs away from you.
There's little demand for the "maths stuff" because most of the maths taught at university for programming is rubbish. When the math heads in charge of faculties get with the program instead of playing the politico job-saving game, we'll some some relevence in the math taught.
That and change the course to stop people from simply fucking memorizing answers and steps for exams. It's ridiculous with the number of people who ace exams but have no bloody idea how to solve problems out of them.
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Anonymous2007-09-30 18:14 ID:X6jJPCRW
Read SICP
-The Suss
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Anonymous2007-09-30 18:31 ID:X6jJPCRW
Is it possible to get into AI and robotics from a CS major?
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Anonymous2007-09-30 18:58 ID:dfgbbbtC
>>15
You might have better luck with mechatronics.
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Anonymous2007-09-30 19:00 ID:PeuByXw+
CS is "maths stuff" and "abstract bullshite", but it's the real deal. If you do CS and read SICP, you can do anything, and you have access to the far more interesting non-enterprise stuff.
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Anonymous2009-03-06 13:19
Physics C 33 years including FORTRAN IV being the better designs I do with the output of the version before Mr Hydeious switched to his Java Reference And at the end of running this JavaScript code fragment.