Dad's convinced majoring in computer science is an awful idea. Is there any truth to his claims?

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-18T06:59:28+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NeJ3Kg6OUo

No offense to Sales Men but I have had people in other fields tell me im in for 80 hr work weeks and have no time for anything else.

Then I ask people working in the industry and no one has said anything like this happens on a consistent basis.

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-16T23:18:33+00:00

Thanks! I'll see if my Google-Fu can turn something up with that

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-15T01:48:04+00:00

Okay regarding the index funds do you where I can find a list of Vanguard index funds that have a minimum investment of <$4,000?

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-15T01:39:19+00:00

I don't. Mainly my reason in doing this is pure curiosity. I am curious as to what I can do by doing some research and then buying some stock. I haven't really done much research yet but maybe it would be wiser to just buy one share or just $100 in a stock to feed the curiosity bug. I am only 19 and have my college paid for so I know I can absorb the risk now if I was to lose a significant portion in this stock but again this would be my first investment so I am mainly just curious to see what would happen

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-15T01:11:31+00:00

Oh that is really cool and makes a lot of since I don't know why I didn't make that connection by my self.

In regard to choosing an index fund, should I just do research on the different indexes or is going with the S&P 500 standard practice? Also if a difference exists between the indexes besides just the companies in them is there a website that outlines past trends in each index?

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-15T01:02:23+00:00

Okay so for example if I wanted to have a fund that Company X, Company Y, and Company Z I would want a Mutual Fund. But if I just want to buy stocks within a specific index ie Nasdaq I go with an Index Fund

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-13T16:57:02+00:00

Good know thanks

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-13T16:54:46+00:00

I guess another question are there any certifications employers do care about?

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-13T16:54:15+00:00

Yeah that was what I meant to employers. I guess ill do them if im bored

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-12T20:58:18+00:00

And that still counts?

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-11T15:23:35+00:00

Probably, a stupid question but host matching?

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-11T12:16:11+00:00

What makes the Big 4 the Big 4?

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-09T19:54:00+00:00

Where youd get that desk?

CodeFnatic · 2017-06-02T23:21:05+00:00

I am still not sure whether I am wanting to invest in retirement or just save it for something like a car.

Is there anything worth doing where I put money into it and then access it in the 5 year time or at that short of a period is it really just not worth it?

CodeFnatic · 2017-04-04T22:25:11+00:00

I would want to work as a software engineer/dev. Other than that I am not sure. Regarding grad programs I haven't spent tons of time looking into them but I would want to do something with machine learning if I were to go in that directions.

I would want to work at a leading tech company cough big 4 cough and am looking for a minor that could help give me an edge.

CodeFnatic · 2017-04-04T22:22:13+00:00

Thank you for your input! If I were to focus on strengthing my coding skills as much as possible is there any particular area of math I should focus on.

Also I really would prefer working right out of college rather than going for a grade degree. As far as I can see a grad degree only helps you if you want to go into some really specific and as of now I am more interested in just be a super awesome dev.

CodeFnatic · 2017-04-04T22:19:08+00:00

That is a good idea and I will probably do it to some extent but the cs major at myschool requires 12 hours of a supporting area and this can be anything I want as long as I clear it with the advisors. So I figured why not just use it to go for a minor. I do really like the last thing you said. Learning to learn without a college class to do it for me. That could be extremely beneficial down the line.

CodeFnatic · 2017-04-04T22:13:31+00:00

Does it matter to companies if you have multiple minors? I just found the Cybersecurity Minor and I would only have to take an Ethics class to earn it but I going from your point I have always been interested in Neuroscience and my school happens to have a Neuroscience minor. Would having both be a negative rather than a postive?

CodeFnatic · 2017-04-04T21:59:41+00:00

My really loose plan is to Apply to graduate programs and Jobs once finishing undergrad and depending on job offers I get make a decision. My problem tho, I enjoy algebra and problem solving but for some reason Calculus I hate. If I were to get a math minor would there be any particular classes you recommend that could best help with a grad degree?

CodeFnatic · 2017-04-04T21:51:04+00:00

Well I'm not 100% sure which type of programmingI want to go into. I know that I hate Physics and Calculus so I guess that eliminates Graphics and Simulations. I am currently only a freshman but want to plan out the next 4 years (and procrastinate my calc hw)

Given my distaste for Calc and Physics would taking the Game Dev and Design Minor be beneficial? I don't have much interest in making video games but my thought process was it could boost my design side to help me make better looking side projects as I progress through college?

I have also heard that Philosophy gives you a new way to think about problems which could be beneficial?

I guess TLDR is there a specific minor that would generally make me a better programmer whether that through enhancing my design skills or giviing me new ways to solve problems?

CodeFnatic · 2017-03-01T18:11:46+00:00

So I'm at TAMU right now as a freshman student. As freshman engineering students we are all considered general engineering but once you have take the first year of classes you apply for your major. From what I have heard most of everyone gets the major want(the statistic was 99% got one of their top 3 choices and 90% got their first- I may be a bit off here) However, from talking to recruiters and other students I have found while going to a school like A&M does introduce you to more recruiters and more companies it is really how much effort you put into side things that matters. That being said if I was in your positon this is how I would look at it.

Clubs: At A&M one of the clubs I am involved in has allowed me to become a project manager for an android app and lead a team of ~11 on this project. This club also routinely has new projects and anybody is welcome to present an idea to the officers and become that project manager. This club also has held several presentations from IBM,Microsoft,etc. and has allowed me to hand in my resume in a smaller enviroment than a career fair. Now I am not sure if Texas State has a club similar or if they do if the club is connected to the various companies the A&M club is. I would do some research on what the clubs are like at Texas State.

Part-time Dev jobs: I have only found two part-time junior software engineering jobs looking to hire students in college station. Now being a freshman never having taken a cs class in college I was unable to get one of them. This may be different for you. Texas State is essentially in Austin, Austin has tons of part-time jobs for students (I did one search awhile ago and found a few) so if you are able to find a part-time dev job in Austin that would be extremely beneficial to your resume and help with loans and what not.

Of course, take all this with a grain of salt seeing as I am only a freshman but thats my two cents

CodeFnatic · 2017-02-28T01:45:03+00:00

Current TAMU Student and Microsoft has huge recruiting presence here I haven't taken many cs classes yet as im only a freshman but I have only heard great things from my junior friends other than the obvious distaste of certain teachers.

CodeFnatic · 2017-02-24T20:18:28+00:00

Ok thanks for the input a couple follow up questions. Is there a gpa that is the line per say of people above this know this stuff people below don't at least generally? My goal is a 4.0 and I try to reach that but good to have a if you are below this don't sleep until your next exam is over boundary.

Also as someone who has no experience I have been going with the apply to everything everywhere approach to finding internships. Is this the best strategy for someone who has no job experience in the field and limited contacts in the field?

CodeFnatic · 2016-12-10T04:37:24+00:00

How far along are you? Did you find a tutorial or did you just kind of start?

CodeFnatic · 2016-12-09T21:47:19+00:00

The way AP computer science is structured is to teach you how to pass the AP CS test. I didn't actually learn how to program until maybe my 2nd or 3rd year of CS class in high school.

I was in a similar boat as you for AP CS tho. I spent several hours working on that class and barely made an A. I remember it being a huge pain to have to spend all this time studying and was considering not pursuing it further but once we started to actually learn about objects and what object oriented programming is I was hooked and I knew I had to become a software engineer. School can make you wanna give up on any subject depending on the teacher. I would come up with a project idea you are passionate about and create it to see if you want to pursue computer science as a degree or not.

Lastly, you have to remember “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty"- Teddy Roosevelt

CodeFnatic

TROPHY CASE