I transfered to UHD this past spring and I had a hard time adjusting. I was a little lost as to what classes I needed, so needless to say I pretty much lost a semester. Anyway this is my 4th year going to college and I was hoping only to need a year or two more but I just realized that I need over 50 hours. I want to major in Computer Science but the thought of spending another three years in college is freaking me out. Specially since I am 21 and still living at home. I have already taken a course on my career and all of the basics. So basically I have all my CS classes, minor classes and a few math classes left. I dont feel all that bad because if I had taken four classes per semester and started at UHD, I still would take 5 years. I dont know if I should keep pursuing this major or focus on an easier one. Or join an ITT tech program to accelarate the process. I like working with computers but im not great at math. I really enjoy the programming part though. Any advice would help...thanks
Do -not- go to ITT. I'm in IT and everyone I've met who did regrets it. If your CS degree is getting you down, switch to something easier and then get some tech certs to augment your resume. CS is really a catch-all IT degree, which is ironic because IT is a field of specialization.
NO ITT TECH! Live at home as long as you can. Keep going to school, no matter how poor you are you, no matter what you drive, or where you live it doesn't matter as long as you are still in school and striving to better yourself.
I agree with Xerobull. If you don't like math, don't major in CS. Because the upper level class is all intense mathematics. Switch to MIS and get certificates from Sun if you like java or Microsoft if you like .net.
Whoa thats actually really inspirational. I think I will keep going for CS and I'll take Xerobull's advice and get some type of certification during the summer (I dont even know how long one is, but im assuming its a few months) just to get a better job and have money for school. I know most of you UH undergraduates face higher prices, but 600 for a single class at UHD sounds waaay too steep. The real world sucks, I wish America didnt spend so much money on international affairs and did more to help people get through college, I mean that would help our economy a lot more than bombing and trying to establish a goverment in another country. A lot more lives would be saved as well.
I say just stick with CS at school. If you enjoy programming, then follow it through. You want to get the best education you can in the field you love working in. What's another 3 years in college compared to the 30+ years in the workforce. And you can forget about all that math. You won't need it after you graduate (unless you're programming game engines).
There is the Hope and Lifelong learning credits so you get some cash back at tax time for either the loans you took out or cash out of hand you spent for tution, books, etc. Don't give it up man it's one of the few things you will always have that no one can ever take away.
One more question. How important is calculus in the computer science classes. Is it a huge part of those programming classes or is it like one of those classes that they want you know about?
Are you concerned about living at home? I don't see what the deal is... if your parents don't mind, take advantage of it. It's what I did, and it gave me a massive headstart in my career. Thank them by doing well and getting a good job. If you're just worried about what others think of you "still" living at home, screw 'em. (and if you're Asian, I don't even know why you're worried... lol) Here's the irony of math in Comp Sci : you have to get through a lot of advanced math courses to get a job where you find out you probably won't use 90-99% of it.
I guess lately ive been finding the pressure of living at home at age 21 with two or more years of school left while every one else is already living their lives. I actually think its a good thing that I still have a lot to look forward to. But I agree, they dont mind so its not a problem.
If that fails, I would advise him to head for the red house over yonder, where I don't think he's been for at least 99 days or longer.
Why not just get yourself Microsoft certified while you find a job. That's better than a computer science degree anyway. I don't really see the advantage of a traditional degree that's out of date when you graduate anyway.
Unless you are working for 1% of the companies out there, you will never need the advanced math or operating system theory that you learn in CS. I actually went to DeVry, and they had a very good program that was VERY applicable to programming in the workplace. The most critical things that you need to learn are communication skills, data analysis and design (along with all SQL commands), programming, and markup languages. 90% of my work after 9 years in the field falls in one of the following categories or subcategories: .NET (HTML, javascript, CSS, web services, Microsoft Reporting Services) SQL (views, various joins, subqueries, triggers, temp tables, stored procedures and functions, database modeling and design) Talking to the customer and getting requirements. It's a lot of fun if you can put up with frustration and having to learn new skills continually. No career you go into will make you have to continually study and learn as much as IT. Good luck - you're going to need it to get that first job.
You're getting way ahead of yourself. Sit down and think of what you really want to do and right down on a peice of paper all the steps required to complete this goal. Make each step very achievable. Within each step create a timeline. Knowing the soonest that something can be complete takes a lot of pressure off. Know that you have it within yourself to finish this goal within that dates you have written. Do the best you can each day and you will get there. Stop trying to think of everything at once.
