I think the big difference is that to take CS classes you acctually teach yourself lots of other skills that are neccessary for a computer based job along the way. In compairing a CS degree to just about any other i'm going to say that in usefulness its fairly high up there. I have friends graduatin with art degree which will get them nowhere and they complain about it and i also have friends with english, history which are just slightly better and buisness degrees which will get you a job but you don't acctually learn anything more than some common sense.
I had an econ teacher who I thought put it well"90% of what you learn in your classes is never going to be used after college. If you're an econ major, you're going to get hired because companies know that you've been trained to think like an economist, not because of all the stuff you learned. If you're a philosophy major, then you think like a philosopher....." So no matter how much stuff you self teach, the university is there to give you the proper mindset that companies are looking for.
@nickerj1: I went to UCF for undergrad and our computer science program was fairly tough. I don't know what your talking about with the math and physics thing, because I had to take 2 semesters of physics for scientists and engineers and had enough math that I got my minor in it by just taking one extra class. I guess it just depends on the college. It also wouldn't be possible to get a CE degree at our school that took all of our required courses but 2 in addition to taking EE classes, because we didn't get enough electives for that to be possible. I know that at other schools (UF, for example), their CS is a dumbed down degree and their CE is close to our CS program but with fewer required upper level electives. What I said about CE majors was based on what I've experienced in the real world, not from college btw.
"Sure, a physicist can build a bridge, but... "I have a BS in physics, work with real physicists, and study civil engineering. Physicists have very little knowledge about structural analysis, and would not have the faintest idea of how to build a bridge. Nor do they have a professional engineering license which qualifies them for such a task. So I would say the physicist/civil engineer analogy isn't quite accurate.
I'm taking sides with the "no degree, no problem" side. With a 3.7 GPA and a year and a half into school I've taken all the advanced classes already (working on general classes) and thought "why am I paying these people to play solitaire and throw worksheets at me?". It's true, I haven't learned a single thing in college. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a genius but I am a quick learner. From Netware to JavaScript to A+ I've learned everything from getting my hands dirty in code, packets, and dust. The internet is a great source to find anything you're looking for whether it be eBooks or practice tests for certifications. The majority of my professors say they'd hire experienced and certified individuals over those with generic "Computer Science" degrees. College is definitely bulls**t to begin with. You can't get a job anywhere without at least enrolling in college it seems like. It's destroying the purpose of higher education. Soon you'll need a PhD in burger flipping to get a job ad McDonald's! If colleges really wanted you to enrich your life they wouldn't cost you an arm and still put you in debt. Wise up, college is a business not a training facility otherwise it would be free or atleast cheap enough to give everyone a chance instead of determining your path in life. Don't any of you kids feel bad for putting such a heavy burden on your parents like I do? Experience and personal motivation to learn and adapt will always be far more advanced than any university. If you're going to be an autodidact then push yourself to be equal or greater than those with degrees and able to back it up with a portfolio or work experience. The paradox of this entire subject ultimately relies on the old saying; "It's not what you know, but who you know!"
I finished a Computer Science/Electrical Engineering degree 3 years. I got a 6 figure job out of college and do little to no computer programming (a little access, or VBA). My job consists mostly of writing (non technical) and instilling common sense into various other employees (with law degress, MBA's, etc.). Yes,....all the stuff learned is pointless, but that is trivial, because I learned how to use common sense to grasp difficult topics....and that in itself is more valuable than any single topic you can learn in college.
I'm in the exact same position and couldn't agree more.I mean, I'd like to make it a personal goal for myself to get a degree, but by no means is it required for my professional career.
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Closed AccountMay 31, 2007
I think the big difference is that to take CS classes you acctually teach yourself lots of other skills that are neccessary for a computer based job along the way. In compairing a CS degree to just about any other i'm going to say that in usefulness its fairly high up there. I have friends graduatin with art degree which will get them nowhere and they complain about it and i also have friends with english, history which are just slightly better and buisness degrees which will get you a job but you don't acctually learn anything more than some common sense.
hertzsaeMay 31, 2007
I had an econ teacher who I thought put it well"90% of what you learn in your classes is never going to be used after college. If you're an econ major, you're going to get hired because companies know that you've been trained to think like an economist, not because of all the stuff you learned. If you're a philosophy major, then you think like a philosopher....." So no matter how much stuff you self teach, the university is there to give you the proper mindset that companies are looking for.
awadeMay 31, 2007
@nickerj1: I went to UCF for undergrad and our computer science program was fairly tough. I don't know what your talking about with the math and physics thing, because I had to take 2 semesters of physics for scientists and engineers and had enough math that I got my minor in it by just taking one extra class. I guess it just depends on the college. It also wouldn't be possible to get a CE degree at our school that took all of our required courses but 2 in addition to taking EE classes, because we didn't get enough electives for that to be possible. I know that at other schools (UF, for example), their CS is a dumbed down degree and their CE is close to our CS program but with fewer required upper level electives. What I said about CE majors was based on what I've experienced in the real world, not from college btw.
kineticarlMay 31, 2007
"Sure, a physicist can build a bridge, but... "I have a BS in physics, work with real physicists, and study civil engineering. Physicists have very little knowledge about structural analysis, and would not have the faintest idea of how to build a bridge. Nor do they have a professional engineering license which qualifies them for such a task. So I would say the physicist/civil engineer analogy isn't quite accurate.
m0d3s7m1k3May 31, 2007
I'm taking sides with the "no degree, no problem" side. With a 3.7 GPA and a year and a half into school I've taken all the advanced classes already (working on general classes) and thought "why am I paying these people to play solitaire and throw worksheets at me?". It's true, I haven't learned a single thing in college. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a genius but I am a quick learner. From Netware to JavaScript to A+ I've learned everything from getting my hands dirty in code, packets, and dust. The internet is a great source to find anything you're looking for whether it be eBooks or practice tests for certifications. The majority of my professors say they'd hire experienced and certified individuals over those with generic "Computer Science" degrees. College is definitely bulls**t to begin with. You can't get a job anywhere without at least enrolling in college it seems like. It's destroying the purpose of higher education. Soon you'll need a PhD in burger flipping to get a job ad McDonald's! If colleges really wanted you to enrich your life they wouldn't cost you an arm and still put you in debt. Wise up, college is a business not a training facility otherwise it would be free or atleast cheap enough to give everyone a chance instead of determining your path in life. Don't any of you kids feel bad for putting such a heavy burden on your parents like I do? Experience and personal motivation to learn and adapt will always be far more advanced than any university. If you're going to be an autodidact then push yourself to be equal or greater than those with degrees and able to back it up with a portfolio or work experience. The paradox of this entire subject ultimately relies on the old saying; "It's not what you know, but who you know!"
ellasiskingMay 31, 2007
I finished a Computer Science/Electrical Engineering degree 3 years. I got a 6 figure job out of college and do little to no computer programming (a little access, or VBA). My job consists mostly of writing (non technical) and instilling common sense into various other employees (with law degress, MBA's, etc.). Yes,....all the stuff learned is pointless, but that is trivial, because I learned how to use common sense to grasp difficult topics....and that in itself is more valuable than any single topic you can learn in college.
vincent023May 31, 2007
"Grats on your salary inflation via boobage, don't worry it will come back to earth after your first kid.""imLissy" looks quite homely to me. Go to <a class="user" href="http://www.silvercpu.com/blog/">http://www.silvercpu.com/blog/</a> and judge for yourself.
slythfoxJun 1, 2007
There's a reason why Software Engineering Technology and Hardware Engineering Technology degrees exist.
volatileacidJun 1, 2007
Unfortunately, looks like you got buried! At least you'll have learnt a lesson for the future !
Closed AccountJul 19, 2007
I'm in the exact same position and couldn't agree more.I mean, I'd like to make it a personal goal for myself to get a degree, but by no means is it required for my professional career.
catintheboxNov 22, 2008
What kind of salary are you looking at right now, 7 years after gradding- Prospective CS student
alamzeb123Feb 1, 2011
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If you believe it is a good informative blog then Kindly become a follower of this blog .Thankyou