[nfbcs] Computer science major college question

Taylor Arndt taylorarndt99 at gmail.com
Tue Jul 5 03:56:50 UTC 2016 

So what would you do

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 4, 2016, at 9:51 PM, Greg Kearney via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Well I am not you of course but if it were me I wold go with the IS/IT route with a good deal of work in modern computer programming languages (C++, Python, Swift, Perl) unless your dream job is to be college professor or to work in the more abstract areas of computer science. But that's just me.
> 
> Greg
> 
>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 7:56 PM, Taylor Arndt via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Yo, what do you recommend I do. I started learning programming, but I really would like to have a programming job. So are you saying that I should get a degree in computer information systems and then do internships?
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 8:13 PM, Greg Kearney via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> One of the issue that I have with Computer Science degree programs is that of timing. Computer Science is a field which is changing very rapidly. Universities and colleges are notable for not being able to modify their academic programs very fast. This leads, as I have found in the process of interviewing people, to a situation where the person is literally four years behind the current state of industry by the time they emerge form a CS program.
>>> 
>>> It is for this reason that certificate programs offered by community colleges are sometimes more valuable. While traditional CS undergraduate programs give the student a sound understanding of the theory of computer programming; certificate programs give one the practical application of theory. Many a CS major I have encountered can write out an algorithm on paper but are hard pressed to implement the same algorithm in Python when asked to do so.
>>> 
>>> The reason is that Professor X has been teaching his algorithms class for the last 20 years the same way from the same text. This in a field in which everything changes every few month. It does you little good to learn algorithms in Fortran or Cobol when employers need it in Python or Swift.
>>> 
>>> Greg  
>>>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 6:59 PM, Andy B. via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> There are those who choose to open their own business for purposes that an
>>>> established company cannot provide. For an example, my company will provide
>>>> a valuable resource for soon to be graduates.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nicole Torcolini
>>>> via nfbcs
>>>> Sent: Monday, July 4, 2016 6:46 PM
>>>> To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: Nicole Torcolini <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question
>>>> 
>>>> Some companies will not hire people who do not have a Computer Science
>>>> degree. However, that does not necessarily mean that you have to get one.
>>>> Either way, be sure to get your hands on some real life work through an
>>>> internship or something before trying to get a job.
>>>> The DRC at my college was very helpful. It just depends on the school. Some
>>>> DRC's can provide a lot of help in some areas but not others, so make sure
>>>> that you talk to the DRC before you apply or accept.
>>>> Many colleges require a foreign language. Most have a wide enough selection
>>>> that you should be able to choose the one that you want. What specifically
>>>> are you concerned about with foreign languages?
>>>> College is similar to high school in that you are still required to take
>>>> certain subjects; you just have more options for the specifics in those
>>>> subjects.
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aaron Cannon via
>>>> nfbcs
>>>> Sent: Monday, July 04, 2016 9:33 AM
>>>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
>>>> Cc: Aaron Cannon
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question
>>>> 
>>>> If you really want to program, don't wait until college to learn. If you
>>>> want to learn it, then learn it. There are tons of free resources online,
>>>> and even more on BookShare.
>>>> 
>>>> If you'd like some pointers on getting started, ask on this group.
>>>> 
>>>> Best of luck.
>>>> Aaron
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> This message was sent from a mobile device
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 08:58, Taylor Arndt via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Well, I want to be able to program.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 8:58 AM, Greg Kearney via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> You will definitely need calculus for a computer science degree. Most
>>>> schools will also require a language. That said I have heard of a few school
>>>> that accept computer languages (C, Fortran, Python, etc.) for this
>>>> requirement but such schools are, I suspect, very, very rare.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> As a dyslexic I was told to steer well clear of formal foreign 
>>>>>> language
>>>> instruction and so ended up taking American Sign Language to fill my
>>>> university's language requirement. The advantage was that ASL has no written
>>>> form and as such I was never required to learn to read, write or spell in
>>>> it.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> When I went to school the disabled student's office provided far less
>>>> support than many of them do today. What support they gave was welcome
>>>> however, they could, for example, insure that once I had signed up for a
>>>> class and the recorded book were ordered that the class would be offered no
>>>> matter what.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I would also point out here that there are many paths to a career in
>>>> technology and no all of them lead through a computer science degree. Today
>>>> I hold the professional title of engineer at a major silicon valley company,
>>>> yet my degree is in fine arts with graduate work in American Studies. I
>>>> never once had any formal computer science or engineering training but I did
>>>> avail myself of some programming classes that filled the math requirements
>>>> in college.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Many of the people I work with directly have degrees in music and 
>>>>>> others
>>>> in fields as wide ranging as philosophy and history and came to computer
>>>> science after the fact. Indeed my company often tells people they should
>>>> ignore the education requirements section of job posting and apply if they
>>>> feel they can do the work. My supervisor never set foot on a college campus
>>>> but came out of the military.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Greg Kearney
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Jul 3, 2016, at 11:40 PM, Taylor Arndt via nfbcs 
>>>>>>> <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Really? I thought if you went into the sciences you didn't have to 
>>>>>>> have
>>>> one wow that stinks
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Jul 3, 2016, at 10:18 PM, Andy B. via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 1. I had to take calculus. Why? When you start getting into 
>>>>>>>> database
>>>> cross products, intersections, and unions/set theory, having an
>>>> understanding of these from a math point of view helps. Finally, during week
>>>> 1 of one of my programming classes starting tomorrow, we have to write a
>>>> program that solves a 4-line algebra problem.
>>>>>>>> 2. The DS offices did not do much for me in my undergrad degree.
>>>>>>>> 3. Almost all schools require a foreign language credit(s). Mine 
>>>>>>>> did
>>>> not because I took classes online.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert
>>>> Guyette via nfbcs
>>>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, July 3, 2016 9:34 PM
>>>>>>>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>> Cc: Robert Guyette <rags215 at comcast.net>
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Yes you have to take calculus bedside you will use it in computer
>>>> science classes.  The more the math the better.  I did  not rely on the
>>>> disabled students services.  
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Get Outlook for iOS
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 at 6:27 PM -0700, "Taylor Arndt via nfbcs"
>>>> <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hi, so I am doing some research for colleges. I know that I want to
>>>> major in computer science but I have few questions One. Do you have to take
>>>> calculus in college?
>>>>>>>> If so why is this?
>>>>>>>> Two. Did the disability services at your college help you in anyway 
>>>>>>>> for
>>>> your computer science major?
>>>>>>>> Three. Did you have to take a foreign language class in order to
>>>> graduate?
>>>>>>>> Thanks, and I'd appreciate any input
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
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>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
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>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
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