Ask A Scientist© Computer Science Archive

Index Key:   COM014
Author:      alex a cain
Subject:     Computer Science as a career.
I am an 18 year old freshman beginning a major in computer science here at
Valdosta State university.  Speaking as someone who has "done it all" for
classes and such, can  you offer me any advice on what  I should look for
when taking classes?  And where would I begin to look for a job after I
graduate?

Response #:  1 of 3
Author:      jeffrey p fergin
Do not wait until you graduate to start looking for a job.  You need to try
to obtain some sort of internship somewhere.  Many companies offer such
positions to college undergraduates.  If I had it to do all over again, I
would start looking for a job as soon as I started as a freshman.  Check
out the "career development center" (or whatever it is called) at your
college.  Also, check out the library and do some research on your own. 
Start looking at different companies and find out what your major interests
are.  

Response #:  2 of 3
Author:      asmith
Well, I did not take any computer science courses in college - my advice
would be to take as many interesting courses in other areas and take the
minimum in computer science, since what they teach in college usually does
not have anything to do with the real world.  Lisp, however, should be fun.
And operating system design.



Response #:  3 of 3
Author:      harry j przekop
I will try to shed a bit of light but please this is my general feelings.
first I wish you the best in your schooling, study hard now is the time to
lay a good foundation.  I am a physicist that is very involved in computer
graphics and imaging, I deal with everything from very hard core visualiza-
tion work to using intense graphics for merging art & science.  So if your
path might lead into graphics, keep in mind the intense stuff will require a
good math background, further I would look in to course in Visual Basic,
C/C++, base knowledge of Unix, Windows NT, and relationship to multimedia as
well.  At the same time I would try to assimilate as much as possible in the
hardware and design area. It is moving so fast, but here are a few choice
topics, DSPs, Multi Processing, CISC & RISC concepts, RAID, MPP.  I be happy
to elaborate if I can help in anyway.