Sorry, I dont know of any relative of mine that is a freshmen at XUCS. But I think basically the advice/s given in the past generations are still feasible today. Both the traditional ones and the naughty ones(sleeping with a teacher, acquiring leakage, etc) :D
So here goes.. basically mao ra pud ang ang gina ingon sa uban, but the phrasing and wording will be mine. (Ang mga medyo "fuzzy" na advice are the ones prefixed with "II" and they are the ones at the bottom.. This is actually the 2nd time Im composing a response; the first time was aroudn 1PM when my not so-SMART SMART-BRO caused an error and YM's faulty error handler for ajax messed up my email) 1. Dont underestimate math and other science subjects. Back when we were still in college (ex:mungkey, matt, brent, etc), Math and Physics were the hurdles. And students should watch out for the moody teachers, they are the hurdle-makers :D Some teachers are very biased against CS studes.. Those subjects are needed if the student is planning to focus on algorithms and the application of computer science in quantum physics, but rarely needed for a system's engineer with today's tools. And regardless of the plans for the future, those subjects are pre-requisites for graduation. 2. He/she should try to code or try out for one's self everything taught in a computer class the moment one arrives at home(or in a internet cafe or in a friend's home for that matter). Teachers would only teach the basics, and that's the maximum you can basically get. students should NOT expect they are to be spoon-fed or to be taught at all for that matter :D During that time there were no majors or specializations. CS studes were just going to end up as "Bachelors Major in CS", no sub specialty. But studes were already trying out to become web developers, db administrators, network programmers, 3D animators, jack-of-all-trades, etc. The student shouldn't worry. CS studes have a high passing rate in becoming a tech supprt or call center agent. Despite everything said against that path, it's a good starting point. Not everyone has the time, aptitude and heart to be a an IT freelancer or corporate sheep programmer. It's not the end if CS is not your calling. Basically, this is the "go the extra-mile" advice. And if the student's imagination is on-average, he can code in paper. Sa una ga code ra sa intermediate/yellow/bond paper si mungkey :D wala pa mi power na computer sa una na pwede makarun ug apps like the Java Dev Kit. Sa papel lang mag code and mag hulat sa pag open sa lab... 3. Enjoy college life. The student should make friends within and outside CS, and even beyod the bounds of XU. Build network of friends, friends will be extremely helpful regardless if the student is planning to be a freelancer or has plans on setting up his own business. 4. To be or not to be a.. graduate... Some people measure college achievement with a diploma, some with the number of friends, and some with other modes of measurements(including the naughty ones) :D Diploma isnt everything. We all know that, but a diploma is a good starting point especially when the majority of businesses are still diploma-oriented and not really workskill-based. I have one, but I have seen better programmers who didnt graduate. So the advice is: "while in school, study hard. Worry or focus later on the no-diploma approach when you have exhausted everything in the diploma-path." 5. While in school, work. Students should get a feeling what's it's like working as a professional or an active practicioner of his course. Dont wait for the on-the-job-training season to get a feel on things. CS studes can and should get projects from the internet. Students can basically start their career by using the free (free beer) stuff on the web.. free frameworks and applications and browser for clients in sites likes getafreelancer.com But they should remember to be responsible IT people, they shouldnt bid in system-critical projects where life or money is at stake IF they dont know enough about processes, threading, data integrity and security. There are enough govt and non-govt systems out there that are making problems for citizens. Lost sss information, loan balances, insurance payments, etc. They should also remember most foreigners remember and sort memories by country. So they shouldnt be cheating or giving non-working systems to unsuspecting foreigners, these foreign nationals might realize it and discriminate other would-be freelancers from our nation. ------------------------- Naa pa diay pakapin II.1 Unless if they are working students working in 4 different jobs, students shouldnt get an AF in easy subjects like Religiuos Studies. Read the bible, d*mmit! Dont get an AF. IF students cant cope up with drinking tanduay during the afternoon and still be able to come to a history class and pass whatever recitations and exams there are, then they have no right to be drinking. Yes, experimentation is common in college, labi na kanang wala pa katilaw sa high school. But SDH(sex, drugs and alcohol) are no reasons to get an AF.. financial problems may be, but SDH, NO. II.2 Memory recall is the cheapest thing. People have been called "bright" just because they have good memory. When in fact, almost anyone (except those with memory loss) have it. Acquire and maintain that IIlussion... Advise is "Speak-up and say something smart in class, teachers usually grade by memory-recall and sometimes it pays to be cute. And since not everyone can be cute, it pays to speak up and utter something smart(or something that may sound smart... or blurt something obvious, chances are people would still appreciate it and remember you for it)" III.3 Study the constitution and all the rizal-stuff. Read Article 14, section 3. It might help in future blogging plans and during college election campaign season. Plus, it would create the ilussion that you are an intellectual or a "concerned" citizen. II.4 It pays to be spiritual... pray to whoever or to whatever you consider to be the ONE, the MANY, the FORCE or WHATHAVEYOU. People are also moved by such stuff. II.5 And here are the extra advice If you are going to cheat, cheat smart. Dont get caught, copy from the right person. If you are going to download code from the internet, know enough about it so you can defend it. Group-cheating is bad. One squells, everyone goes down. Stick with a closed "unsuspicious" group, if you have to. Wear glasses, it makes you appear smart or unsuspicious for suspicious acts :D Beware of zealot teachers, they will think you have cheated anyway, even if you didnt. Damn idiots! Dont smoke marijuana out in the soccer field, get inside a closed heavily tinted car if you have to. If you are going to have an affair with someone in position, dont brag about it, people talk. If you are going to make out with your lover (2nd base and up), dont do it in the upper floors or in the library, XU will kick you out or at least humiliate you if you are caught doing something 3rd base. On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 12:04 PM, Marvin Pascual<[email protected]> wrote: > Hello all, > > If you are the parent, brother/sister, friend, mentor, etc. of a BSCS > freshman at XU, what are the advices that you can share to him/her? > > Regards, > > --- > MARVIN T. PASCUAL > PGP Key: 0x6573944F > E-Mail and SIP: [email protected] > +63 2 7386514 (Philippines) > +65 64049250 (Singapore) > +44 844 4841732 (UK) > +1 206 3095289 (USA) > _________________________________________________ > Kagay-Anon Linux Users' Group (KLUG) Mailing List > [email protected] (http://lists.linux.org.ph/mailman/listinfo/klug) > Searchable Archives: http://archives.free.net.ph > -- Robert Brent P. Lipke Red Hat Certified Engineer _________________________________________________ Kagay-Anon Linux Users' Group (KLUG) Mailing List [email protected] (http://lists.linux.org.ph/mailman/listinfo/klug) Searchable Archives: http://archives.free.net.ph _________________________________________________ Kagay-Anon Linux Users' Group (KLUG) Mailing List [email protected] (http://lists.linux.org.ph/mailman/listinfo/klug) Searchable Archives: http://archives.free.net.ph
