[nfbcs] bs is bs

Wed Feb 20 20:14:20 UTC 2013

dont agree at all.  he's all ready got a bachelors in another field.
they don't care what your degree is in as long as you can program.
and who needs to take courses on assembly language anyway?

80 billion apple apps sold and counting....
hook your iPhone to your mac and start learning how to program mobile
devices.  no cost to you for distribution and no cost for marketing...
hook your app to facebook and twitter.

don't waste all your time with this formal stuff.  just make some
mobile apps and if they dont make you money, then show them around on
your resume to consulting companies that might give you a job online
without having to move.

bill

On 2/20/13, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:
> Enough said.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of majolls at cox.net
> Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 10:27 AM
> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] (no subject)
>
> I couldn't agree more with your advice.  A 4 year B.S. degree is ABSOLUTELY
> a requirement.  There's a reason why a computer science major requires 36
> (or more) hours (10-12 classes) of study.  It takes awhile to get your head
> around how tothink about the computer, how they work, etc... And, there is
> really that much material to learn.  And not only do you learn the computer
> science topics in your degree program, but you also get the math and english
> background you'll need for solving problems and writing you'll need to
> communicate.  A college education is really a must.  There is no substitute.
>  Also, if you're on your own, you will probably not think to study a lot of
> the topics you will be exposed to ... computer topics that is.   You might
> think .. I can get a book on programming and learn this .. but there are a
> LOT of fine points that you wouldn't know to study because you don't know
> what needs to be learned.  Bottom line .. there's a lot to learn.  The
> degree is the way to go.
>
> And DO NOT listen to these technical schools that tell you ... "16 months ..
> get the education .. get the job".  I've seen family members try the quick
> fix and they got screwed - they were charged $25,000 for what amounted to a
> 2-year degree when they could have gotten that training for 1/4 the cost at
> a Junior College.  And, they didn't get the same level of education.  It's
> just not worth it and they're ripping people off.
>
> Also, as pointed out, businesses look at the B.S. degree as a rite of
> passage - as the proof that you're qualified.  That's sound advice.  Get the
> degree, then the business knows you're qualified.  Where I program, you
> can't even walk in the door unless you don't have a degree.
>
> ---- "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu> wrote:
>> Are you asking for advice on what kind of computer science program to
>> get into? Have you been offered the opportunity to get into one of
>> these programs many states have to teach blind people computer
>> programming?
>> Because I think you are going to have a very hard time getting a job
>> as a programmer without either a degree or a lot of experience.  I
>> wouldn't say its totally impossible but darn near it. Very few
>> companies would even let you pay them to work on their computers
>> unless you have proven skills. You wouldn't  let a self-taught doctor
>> operate on you, would you?
>>
>> There is a huge amount of competition even for the jobs that just
>> require an Associate Degree. Any job that doesn't even require an
>> Associate Degree is going to have bzillions of applicants. In fact, I
>> doubt there even are such jobs. I hate to be so negative but I don't
>> think you can get a job just by teaching yourself programming even if
>> you are really good. You have to have some way to document that you
>> know what you are doing or you are going to have a very, very hard
>> time finding a job.
>>
>> IMO, the major benefit of the state-run programs is that then you are
>> already in the system and they can find you a position at some place
>> as an affirmative action hire.  Don't knock it -- anything to get your
>> foot in the door works.
>>
>> But if you can swing it, I highly recommend a BS degree or better.
>> There will be a lot of people who tell you it doesn't matter but
>> they're wrong. First of all, it opens a lot of doors that would
>> otherwise be closed. Secondly, programming is a tough job in one
>> particular way -- every few years the paradigm changes completely and
>> you have to relearn everything you ever knew. But the basic
>> understanding of computers and how they work you get at a university makes
>> that much, much easier.
>> You'd think having to relearn everything every 5 to 10 years favors
>> the self-taught but it doesn't. Most self-taught people know how to
>> make something work but they don't necessarily know why.
>>
>> On 2/19/2013 6:19 PM, Zeeshan Khan wrote:
>> > Thanks Denise for that link.
>> >
>> >   Currently, my focus in on learning how to program and getting a
>> > general understanding of what computer science is. Are you a
>> > programmer? if so , what kind of programming do you do? How did you
>> > pick it up? and how long did it take you to become a good programmer to
>> > get a job.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Zeeshan
>> >
>> > On Tue, Feb 19, 2013 at 4:35 AM, Dr. Denise M Robinson
>> > <deniserob at gmail.com>wrote:
>> >
>> >> Zeeshan
>> >> Here is a start--just open link and read How can you program if
>> >> you're blind? Answered Here<
>> >> http://www.yourtechvision.com/content/how-can-you-program-if-youre-
>> >> blind-answered-here
>> >>>
>> >> Denise
>> >>
>> >> On Mon, Feb 18, 2013 at 11:08 PM, Zeeshan Khan <zeek786 at gmail.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Hi all,
>> >>>
>> >>> I am trying to learn programming and I am an absolute beginner. As
>> >>> a legally blind person I want to ask you all if anyone has learned
>> >>> programming and computer science as a blind person. The things is
>> >>> I have already gotten my  degree in economics about 3 years ago,
>> >>> so I am not
>> >> sure
>> >>> if I am too late to the field. So how did any of you learn
>> >>> computer science/  programming? What resources did you use? how
>> >>> long did it take
>> >> you
>> >>> to become a decent programmer, or at least good enough to land a
>> >>> job? I
>> >> am
>> >>> not trying to go back to school and get a Bachelors as it own't
>> >>> really
>> >> help
>> >>> me, plus I don't have the time as I am working. I really want to
>> >>> learn computer science as I am looking to make a career change,
>> >>> and the future
>> >> is
>> >>> in technology. I am aware of many online resources, like
>> >>> codecademy, coursera and other free things online, but not sure if
>> >>> I should get into these, as I lack a foundation in computer
>> >>> science. What is the job market like , in your opinion?
>> >>>
>> >>> I really look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences,
>> >>> Thanks,
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> --
>> >>>
>> >>> Zeeshan Khan
>> >>>
>> >>> ToiBooks
>> >>> www.toibooks.com
>> >>> http://www.facebook.com/ToiBooks
>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>> il.com
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> *Dr Denise*
>> >>
>> >> Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
>> >> CEO, TechVision, LLC
>> >> Specialist in Technology/Training/Teaching for blind/low vision
>> >> 423-573-6413
>> >>
>> >> Website with hundreds of informational articles & lessons on PC,
>> >> Office products, Mac, iPad/iTools and more, all done with
>> >> keystrokes: www.yourtechvision.com
>> >>
>> >> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one
>> >> who is doing it." --Chinese Proverb
>> >>
>> >> Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, and stupid: humans are
>> >> incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are
>> >> powerful beyond imagination.
>> >> --Albert Einstein
>> >>
>> >> It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
>> >> --Walt Disney
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>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
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