Author Topic: Just didn't get my Associates Degree.  (Read 6993 times)

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Offline Pixel_Outlaw

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Just didn't get my Associates Degree.
« on: May 07, 2008 »
Well I've pounded out two hard years of college tonight. I now have an associates in art and science.  :updance: :cheers:

My question dear fellows is what to take now regarding computer sciences. My bachelors degree will be in computer sciences.

I would like to be a successful programmer not counting programming courses (which will be mandatory and obvious) what kinds of mathematics should I be looking into?
« Last Edit: May 10, 2008 by Pixel_Outlaw »
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Offline hellfire

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2008 »
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I now have an associates in art and science.
I'm not quite sure what that actually is, but congratulations nevertheless :)

Quote
I would like to be a successful programmer
"Computer science"  and "programming" aren't as much related as most people think.
So don't expect to learn programming at university, usually people don't care about actual implementations - being able to write some pseudo-code is enough most of the time.
At the end all algorithms have been implemented already anyways, so they usually need to be "combined".
You are not studying mathematics to become good in mental arithmetic either ;)

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what kinds of mathematics should I be looking into?
Basically all :)
I did mathematics as a subsidiary subject which is probably the most deadpan field available. If you're lucky there are special math-courses for computer-science, dealing with imaginatable things in three dimensions - otherwise you'll be proving why cofinite subsets of x form boolean rings and other amazing pointlessness ;)

edit: that's the case in germany.
« Last Edit: May 07, 2008 by hellfire »
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Offline combatking0

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2008 »
If you are given the opportunity to take a minor with your bachelors degree, I reccomend taking up programming, maths or engineering as the minor subject.

Programming will give you the main bearing you're looking for, but you'll probably have to pick a language, such as the latest version of C or Java.

Maths will teach you how to do insanely powerful mathematical functions, and may involve some programming, but might not be very hands on.

Engineering will show you how to apply the maths, but again you'll have to choose a subject, such as mechanical, electrical, etc... You'll probably get to do some computer aided simulations and programming.

That was the case when I did my degree anyway.
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Offline Jim

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2008 »
I did Maths for Computer Scientists (complex numbers, function analysis, induction, etc), Discrete Maths (algorithmic maths, graphs, logic, matrices) and Analysis (numerical analysis, induction).  The first two I use every single day in my job.

Jim
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Offline rain_storm

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2008 »
Congratulations PO

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Offline benny!

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2008 »
Congratz, PO.

With the rest, I agree with Hellfire!
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Offline zawran

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2008 »
Congratulations on getting your Associates Degree. Unfortunately I do not really have the knowledge to advise you on your further education, but whereever it takes you, I wish you continued good luck with it.

Offline Shockwave

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2008 »
 :cheers: Congratulations on your degree, since I am a van driver it would be folly of me to advise you what mathematics to study in the future.. You have had advice off some good people though that should help you.
Shockwave ^ Codigos
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Offline Clyde

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2008 »
Congratulations Pixel Outlaw :)
Still Putting The IT Into Gravy
If Only I Knew Then What I Know Now.

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Offline Pixel_Outlaw

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2008 »
Thanks guys. I'm really happy and have put much work into this.

As it stands to get this computer science degree there are two programming courses beginning programming and advanced programming. They both are C++ which is fine I guess.

My last math teacher suggested I go into discrete mathematics since I kept throwing problems her way that were really out of her understanding. They don't teach the math I normally need for programming in most math courses.
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Offline hellfire

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2008 »
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My last math teacher suggested I go into discrete mathematics
Well, most of that is covered by computer-science anyways, like
logic, graph theory, algorithmics, information theory, computability and complexity.

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They don't teach the math I normally need for programming
So what are you programming then?
In my job I usually do well with some linear algebra (for computer graphics), analysis (for signal processing) and numerical methods (for everything else)...
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Offline Voltage

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2008 »
Congrats PO, and best of luck with your next educational endeavour.
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Offline Hotshot

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #12 on: May 09, 2008 »
Welldone and Good for next level :)


Offline Pixel_Outlaw

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Re: Just got my Associates Degree!
« Reply #13 on: May 10, 2008 »
OK now for some Damage Control

I thought I was going to graduate but it turns out that my degree is a 3 year plan and I had been lied to by my adviser. The whole day was ruined yesterday when I found out that I had not completed all of the requirements. One more frickin year. My mom was really upset and both of my parents had taken the day off also I had bought the stupid graduation outfit.


So one more year of living with mommy and daddy, living in much the same way I did when I was 6 years old.
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Offline Jim

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Re: Just didn't get my Associates Degree.
« Reply #14 on: May 11, 2008 »
That's really not fair.  How could you be misled that badly :(

Jim
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Offline Shockwave

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Re: Just didn't get my Associates Degree.
« Reply #15 on: May 11, 2008 »
Sorry to hear that P_O :( A year will soon go by though, try not to feel to upset and carry on working hard.
Shockwave ^ Codigos
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Offline Jim

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Re: Just didn't get my Associates Degree.
« Reply #16 on: May 11, 2008 »
I know this is a massive blow, but don't let it get you down too badly.  Some of my friends at university dropped out and I couldn't understand why - just 1 or 2 years would have got them a degree and that's not really that long in terms of how long it will last when you go to get a job.  There's nothing worse for an employer to see than you dropped out.  Stick with it, use the extra time to do the extra maths and programming courses you want to do...perhaps see if you can transfer to a course with a better qualification at the end.

Jim
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Offline rain_storm

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Re: Just didn't get my Associates Degree.
« Reply #17 on: May 12, 2008 »
Really bad news but at least you get to spend some more time in college which aint such a bad thing, At least its only a year.

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Offline nkk_kan

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Re: Just didn't get my Associates Degree.
« Reply #18 on: May 14, 2008 »
go kill your adviser first :P

don't worry...one year will go away soon..
and you'll be missing these college years when you grow old..