Some of this might seem a bit strong, but... Michael Robinson wrote: > I've been quiet so far, but I'm trying to get a CS bachelors degree > myself and the following are my thoughts and experiences: > > 1) Getting the degree completely on line, even from University of > Phoenix, is not possible. I talked to University of Phoenix and > was told to attend courses on a campus.
How to do this effectively for a Bachelors level degree is probably still being worked out. > 2) The requirements are changing even at PSU, and frankly the degree is > valuable because it is hard to get it. There is a ridiculous > amount of math and statistics that you have to take for example. > I still have hard courses ahead of me even though I'm technically > beyond what the fussers guide says I need to pass to be a CS major. There is a good reason for the math - it's the foundation of CS. If you want to be a technician go to a tech school. > > 3) A bachelor's degree will in all likelihood not teach you what you > need to know depending on what you are going to do, but it puts > you in a different category compared to a person who doesn't have > one. This is true. I've seen pin-headed bosses try and fire excellent systems programmers simply because they didn't have a bachelors. > 4) Computer science is a lonely field, seriously consider social work > or something else before you commit potentially 10 years or more to > getting through engineering school. If you want to meet and work > with people, this may be the wrong field for you. I've never found it to be lonely, even when I was working from home as a contractor. Then again, one of the things I learn while getting my bachelors was how to deal with and respect people I found personally distasteful. > 8) Don't expect to get through in 4 years. Different people have different paces. And different circumstances. A good friend of mine got his degree in 4 years, I was on the 7 year plan. There is more to school than studying, taking tests, and working on project. Even underwater basket weaving can teach important lessons. _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
