Picking A Major

Schmids5.3l · September 9, 2008

If I'm not in Iraq next year ( ) I'm transferring to an actual university. Right now I'm in CC getting BS classes out of the way. A plus here is my mom works at this university, so my tuition will be cheaper than my beer consumption. I'm thinking about taking a bachelor arts in computer science. Computers are the place to be besides health care, and I like computers more than other people's health. My only concern is mathematics - I have to take a "calculus for social sciences". I'm not sure wtf that is honestly. Math is my only weak area, I'll dominate any English, History, Sociology & Psychology classes, but idk what my deal with math is, it's just extremely uninteresting & unrealistic to me. Regular math is cake, but imaginary numbers and crazy shit like that, gtfo. What are your opinions? I'm pretty decent with computers, I've used them daily for 8+ years now, and I think I'd like to work with them.

Good field? (yes). Is being a math buff mandatory? I know some of you are good with computers and some work with them too (those who do describe your job). I better get some feed back dammit.

Edit: There is also a bachelors of science in computer science offered, but that requires calculus 1,2, &3, and matrix algebra (gtfo). the bachelors of art in computer science only requires the calculus for social sciences.

stadt11 · September 9, 2008

I was right there with ya man. When I started college in 2000, I was going in as a Computer Science major. After a few horrible calculus classes (sh!t was waaaaay over my head) & a terrible professor, I switched my major to Information Systems (some colleges call it Management Information Services).

This best thing about IS/MIS is that it was in the business school, therefore I got a lot of business classes: Accounting, Insurance, & Management (I even got an Insurance minor out of it). You also get exposure to networking, basic programming, etc.

IMO, IS/MIS is better than CS because you get a better understanding about how a business operates.

My question to you, what part about computers/technology interests you the most?

Schmids5.3l · September 9, 2008

Computers in general are very interesting, which is good because its a growing industry. I'm not sure what part exactly is the most interesting, anything that involves graphics/arts is out of the window. And like you said, anything involving in depth math. The good thing about the major in arts of comp science and not science of comp science is there was only 1 calc class. Here's a link

http://www.wright.edu/majors/cs_more.html

and a list of everything they offer

http://www.wright.edu/majors/

When I transfer I'll more than likely skip all the electives and bull. After this quarter I only need an Algebra class and maybe a few more elective credits. Might take another history class or a business writing class. Hell they offer some computer classes I might take them for fun.

I'm still in the research stage of this, but the field is growing and..I like computers In the last few months I've taken a large interest in them, but I've had interest since I was in middle school, I use mine daily, maybe too much

The computer class I'm in now is kind of comical, I took it because I needed 1 more credit to be considered full time, because if I'm full time I get a nice increase in my GI Bill. Well anyways it's an introductory class for computers. I basically sit online for 2 hours while everyone else wonders how to log in.

svensk · September 9, 2008

Computers in general are very interesting, which is good because its a growing industry. I'm not sure what part exactly is the most interesting, anything that involves graphics/arts is out of the window. And like you said, anything involving in depth math. The good thing about the major in arts of comp science and not science of comp science is there was only 1 calc class. Here's a link

http://www.wright.edu/majors/cs_more.html

and a list of everything they offer

http://www.wright.edu/majors/

When I transfer I'll more than likely skip all the electives and bull. After this quarter I only need an Algebra class and maybe a few more elective credits. Might take another history class or a business writing class. Hell they offer some computer classes I might take them for fun.

I'm still in the research stage of this, but the field is growing and..I like computers In the last few months I've taken a large interest in them, but I've had interest since I was in middle school, I use mine daily, maybe too much

The computer class I'm in now is kind of comical, I took it because I needed 1 more credit to be considered full time, because if I'm full time I get a nice increase in my GI Bill. Well anyways it's an introductory class for computers. I basically sit online for 2 hours while everyone else wonders how to log in.

Excellent my padawan...I will turn you to the darkside of Hax0ring!

Schmids5.3l · September 9, 2008

Excellent my padawan...I will turn you to the darkside of Hax0ring!

I didn't know there was a light side to hax0ring.

Wingnut · September 9, 2008

As somebody who works in the IT field...And I'm usually not one to tell somebody this...You don't need college unless you're looking to go into management (which in the IT field is a NIGHTMARE).

A good IT shop will only glance at a resume. There are paper tigers all over the field. Dude next to me has a masters in Computer Science and about 4 times the certs I do...And he's about as worthless as those little rubber flaps covering that bolt on your cowl that's always flopping about getting on your nerves. He's always a half inch away from being fired. Guy on the other side of me almost has his MCSE/A (I think he lacks two tests), and never finished HS. He's a freakin' -nix GENIUS, makes more than all of us, and could punch out the boss and not get fired. He's the total "go-to" guy for everybody around.

If you are going to finish college (you really should, even though I said you don't have to), don't sweat what the degree is in. Every single person in my building -except for the cleaning staff- is an IT person. It's our entire organization's mission...And I can tell you first hand that BS-Comp-sci or BS-MIS/IT doesn't make a whit of difference to HR. They're more concerned about whether or not you'll be able to fix that crap at 4 am BEFORE the customers need the server/mainframe/node/network/pipe/tunnel/what the hell ever and not need to wake up 14 other people to make it happen.

In short...College degree simply shows tenacity and the ability to finish large projects. It's great to have on there, but not required if you're damn good at what you do (of course, I'm ONLY speaking for my little microcosm of the IT world).

Schmids5.3l · September 9, 2008

As somebody who works in the IT field...And I'm usually not one to tell somebody this...You don't need college unless you're looking to go into management (which in the IT field is a NIGHTMARE).

A good IT shop will only glance at a resume. There are paper tigers all over the field. Dude next to me has a masters in Computer Science and about 4 times the certs I do...And he's about as worthless as those little rubber flaps covering that bolt on your cowl that's always flopping about getting on your nerves. He's always a half inch away from being fired. Guy on the other side of me almost has his MCSE/A (I think he lacks two tests), and never finished HS. He's a freakin' -nix GENIUS, makes more than all of us, and could punch out the boss and not get fired. He's the total "go-to" guy for everybody around.

If you are going to finish college (you really should, even though I said you don't have to), don't sweat what the degree is in. Every single person in my building -except for the cleaning staff- is an IT person. It's our entire organization's mission...And I can tell you first hand that BS-Comp-sci or BS-MIS/IT doesn't make a whit of difference to HR. They're more concerned about whether or not you'll be able to fix that crap at 4 am BEFORE the customers need the server/mainframe/node/network/pipe/tunnel/what the hell ever and not need to wake up 14 other people to make it happen.

In short...College degree simply shows tenacity and the ability to finish large projects. It's great to have on there, but not required if you're damn good at what you do (of course, I'm ONLY speaking for my little microcosm of the IT world).

Thank you for the reply Mike. I completely LOL'ed at the rubber flap on the cowl lol. Finishing college is a must for me, with my basically free tuition(20%), and benefits from the Army, there isn't any reason I shouldn't. I think I'm going to go thru with it, and it might as well be something I find interesting like this. I had an absolute BS degree picked out, (organizational leadership), but it seemed so dull and pointless I decided to research.

The late night thing isn't a problem, if I have nothing to do the next day I'm awake all night, usually on the PS3. Hell I have to wake up at 8am and its 2:42 and I'm opening more beer....BTW a 30 pack of Stroh's is $12 after tax!

Wingnut · September 9, 2008

BTW a 30 pack of Stroh's is $12 after tax!

That's because it's Stroh's.

12 pack of Smithwick's is $18 and worth 10 times a 30 pack of Stroh's.

Schmids5.3l · September 9, 2008

BTW a 30 pack of Stroh's is $12 after tax!

That's because it's Stroh's.

12 pack of Smithwick's is $18 and worth 10 times a 30 pack of Stroh's.

lol, Haven't had it..yet. However, Sam Adams Summer Ale is like crack, can't get enough!! I'll have to stop by the air force bases class 6 and see if their packing this "Smithwicks".

pennzoil29 · September 9, 2008

Good luck to whatever you decide to do Sam. I hope you don't have to go to Iraq.

peteking · September 9, 2008

If I'm not in Iraq next year ( ) I'm transferring to an actual university. Right now I'm in CC getting BS classes out of the way. A plus here is my mom works at this university, so my tuition will be cheaper than my beer consumption. I'm thinking about taking a bachelor arts in computer science. Computers are the place to be besides health care, and I like computers more than other people's health. My only concern is mathematics - I have to take a "calculus for social sciences". I'm not sure wtf that is honestly. Math is my only weak area, I'll dominate any English, History, Sociology & Psychology classes, but idk what my deal with math is, it's just extremely uninteresting & unrealistic to me. Regular math is cake, but imaginary numbers and crazy shit like that, gtfo. What are your opinions? I'm pretty decent with computers, I've used them daily for 8+ years now, and I think I'd like to work with them.

Good field? (yes). Is being a math buff mandatory? I know some of you are good with computers and some work with them too (those who do describe your job). I better get some feed back dammit.

Edit: There is also a bachelors of science in computer science offered, but that requires calculus 1,2, &3, and matrix algebra (gtfo). the bachelors of art in computer science only requires the calculus for social sciences.

Addressing your question of the 'Calculus for Social Sciences': That's likely going to be a combination of Calculus 1 and Calculus 2....but not as in depth as each course. You'll learn derivatives, integrals, trig, limits, etc etc. You won't use the majority of the actual math on the job....but it teaches you to think in a logical, clockwork fashion. That'll come in handy for your programming classes like Visual Basic and Web Design. The math course will take a lot of work, but it should be geared towards people who take non-technical majors.....so I wouldn't be too scared of it. Good Luck!

D&SYukonDenali · September 9, 2008

Forget the potential money and classes needed for a minute and choose a career (via major) that you will enjoy and you'll never have to work a day in your life (and the money can come in any field you choose if you are a hard worker). Any major you select will have initial "BS" courses. Once you get through those, you'll start taking classes that you will use on a daily basis in your career.

When I was in my undergrad, I had to take statistics. Have no idea how I got through that course but I did. Never thought I'd use it in the "real world". 10 years later in my career and I use it on a weekly basis and understand it enough to be dangerous and utilize it to a justify large financial investments, make key business decisions, and manage personal investments. My point, though a class my seem like BS now, it may serve to be useful in the future.

Just my $0.02.

Wingnut · September 9, 2008

Yup. The most useful class I ever took was Greek & Roman Mythology and a History of Western Religion.

Both of those classes at the same time will damn near turn you into an Atheist!

D&SYukonDenali · September 9, 2008

Conversation piece at a bar to impress the women.

mkelly · September 9, 2008

Heres my $.02. Get a degree. In IT experience is king but a degree will open up doors. If you have a degree you can move into management.... You can work for a university (cushy IT job with lots of perks). A lot of state and government jobs require a degree. Personally I would not recommend IT as a career path for anyone unless you really really love computers. The money is ok but not that great. The IT industry is full of incompetence. I would imagine that the IT industry has more unqualified workers then any other industry in this country. Plumbers, electricians, mechanics, etc all have certification bodies that at least assure a certain level of competence. IT has no certifications or standards. It can get very frustrating.