Next year's schedule"

AdmiralAK

AdmiralAK

Simply Daemonic
well after much consideration I think I decided on what I will take next fall :p
I was going to take 3 computer science classes, but then decided it might be too much :p
so I decided to pursue some other requirements (stupid ones, but non-the less required by the unniversity to graduate).

so this is what I decided on

1) Theory of Computation (computer science)
2) Databases (computer science)
3) Language and culture (counts as a social requirement)
3) Directing (counts as an art requirement)


what'ya think ? :D


Admiral
 
I think I am glad I have already graduated... ;)

The Theory class may be kinda dull, or difficult, or both. But then again I seem to remember you saying you liked theory more than programming, so this might not matter.

I didn't find databases hard at all, but I haven't used any of my database knowledge, so it's pretty much gone. The hardest thing about that class was the professor making strange queries. Each time it would be something like "Say we have a table, let's call it FishTank, and there are lots of different kinds of Fish in there. So let's make a query that will get all the sharky fish (yes, that's a word the prof made up) which are blue and have two big green eyes..." Ugh. By the end of the quarter I was dying to find that FishTank and let all the water out...

By the way, since you only have three numbers (1,2,3,3) does that mean that you'll be directing language and culture? :)
 
well if it comes down to C programming and Theory, then Theory all teh way. If there is anotehr language involved, then that other language lol ;)

I was going to take theory of formal languages and UI design, but I will do that next semester.
 
Theory may be underrated, but the teaching of it has yet to be useful to me. All of my theory classes were so dry and uninteresting that I have forgotten 90% of what I learned. I have had plenty of other classes which could have been dry (logic, for example, or assembly programming, or geology, or circuit analysis, etc) that weren't. I still remember a lot from those classes...
 
A question a bit beside the point... :)

Is it a good "market" for programmers in the US? (What about foreign programmers?) How high degree do you need to get a good job?
- And I agree with you, dlookus, theory is underrated. But there has to be a certain balance. Too much it no good. But if you ask me, AdmirakAK, I'd say I think it sounds very interesting! :)


Kris
 
From what I can tell, the market changes almost daily. When I graduated, things were on the down swing, but I was able to find a good job (where I can post to MacOSX.com while waiting for tests to finish :D ). Current jobs prospects are not good form what I hear, unless you have a good selling point. (Students: look for internships! look for experience! They're good selling points)

Also, if you plan to relocate after graduation (which is what I did), do some research into the industry in the desired area. Tucson is big on Embedded Systems and Avionics, and I would have had a better choice of jobs if I had known and prepared for that market.
 
Thank you nkuvu. :)

But what is "internships"?
- And where in the US is most of the software-development situated (you if could put it like that)?
- And how's the (general) view on females and computers?


Kris
 
Originally posted by AdmiralAK

1) Theory of Computation (computer science)
2) Databases (computer science)
3) Language and culture (counts as a social requirement)
3) Directing (counts as an art requirement)

what'ya think ? :D
Click to expand...

You forgot

4) Decoding abstract Hervéian-strings
 
Internships are programs where a software company hires a student before they graduate. The majority of these positions are very short term -- usually provided during the summer months when most US universites have no classes. The company hires the student with the knowledge that the student may not know much about anything -- but they are willing to learn and gain experience. The jobs provided may not be glamorous, but the experience is invaluable. I have heard it said that students who went through an internship program make about US$10,000 more per year than students like myself. (I worked all summer, but doing very little computer related -- due to location)

The software hot spots depend on the type of software. For example, work on AI and robotics is big in Boston and surrounding areas, as well as some places in California. Seattle seems to have a lot of companies that work on multimedia applications. California is big for, well, just about everything. The price of living in California is a lot higher than I wanted to pay, though.

From what I have witnessed, as long as you can prove that you are competent, there isn't a whole lot of problems with females in the software industry. Keep in mind that software (as with a lot of technical industries) has been a predominantly male vocation for a long time. This may cause initial, stupid reactions. I don't remember who said it -- it was in another thread -- but someone mentioned that she got a lot of "So when does the guy who can actually fix this stuff show up?" in her line of work (networking). Just smack the guys around and you'll be fine. ;)
 
"Just smack the guys around and you'll be fine. ;) "

I will... :) And the person you quotet from; I recognize comments like that..
But thank you for your replies. They have cleared up a lot for me!


Kris
 
thank you for your replies
Click to expand...
Any time.

Two other things I thought of to mention to CS students:

Save your projects. All of them, but especially the large, complicated ones. Bring them to your interviews on CD if possible (Every computer that I know of has a CD-Rom at least, but floppies and Zip drives are more questionable) If your work was on a website, make a copy and bring that. Think of it like an artist's portfolio -- which is exactly what it is.

If you think you have lots of time to go before you graduate (so you can put off doing all that work during the summer), think again. Start getting experience (as professional as possible) as early as possible. I waited too long, and my careeer prospects were diminished accordingly.



Sheesh, do I sound like a lecturing geezer or what? :D
 
Originally posted by nkuvu

I don't think Admiral is going for graduate level classes yet... :)
Click to expand...

Actually I am almost a master at that so I am doing my doctoral thesis on it in a few years :p
 
Originally posted by nkuvu

Any time.

Two other things I thought of to mention to CS students:

Save your projects. All of them, but especially the large, complicated ones. Bring them to your interviews on CD if possible (Every computer that I know of has a CD-Rom at least, but floppies and Zip drives are more questionable) If your work was on a website, make a copy and bring that. Think of it like an artist's portfolio -- which is exactly what it is.

If you think you have lots of time to go before you graduate (so you can put off doing all that work during the summer), think again. Start getting experience (as professional as possible) as early as possible. I waited too long, and my careeer prospects were diminished accordingly.



Sheesh, do I sound like a lecturing geezer or what? :D
Click to expand...


lol, get one of those credit-card sized CD-Rs and put your stuff on there. You can attach business card labels on the non-recorded side too ;)
 
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