Hey everyone, i am pretty new to the Tek Syndicate, i am a college student looking at a Computer Science Major, and i was wondering at what exactly i will be looking at in the near future refering to content within the classes i will be taking in the future!
Headaches
Computers( No duh)
Sorry. Just having a little fun. I haven't taken CS( yet....) so I can't help you on that
Depends on your school's curriculum...ask your CS department professors.
I'm guessing you'll get the standard Algorithmics course, perhaps one on interpreters or compilers, perhaps some design...maybe Language Theory? Maybe architecture? Probably not straight code-monkey stuff and more theory. But definitely ask your professors.
Maths, logic and super basic stuff first year, more advanced algorythms and data structures and maybe some network and analysis secod year, ai, machine learning, graphics, and more advanced versions of second year courses
but yeah, you should be able to find the base requirements online, then you just need to pick your courses to meet those requirements
Is it more beneficial to start learning code now( freshy-sophmore year)
Its always beneficial to know anything before you're going to learn it.
I would say especially for compsci.
It's never bad to start learning early. Except if it's for a contest and the rules say that you can't study beforehand
You will have an intro to computer hardware and software history... learn about what others posted above...
The most important aspects for software: LOGIC, PROBLEM SOLVING. bugs bugs and more bugs.
Make sure to learn the basics and fundamental principles well.
Lynda.com has 2 very good series for learning Programming Fundamentals and Programming Concepts.
Learn the difference between languages, scripting etc.
Another aspect is electrical engineering, the hardware side and how this relates to software implimentaled to manipuate and use the hardware.
My advice: learn learn learn everything you can. A little bit from everything and eventually the puzzle will come together. There really isn't one specific area to start in or a linear path to take in learning it all. It is literally like working on a giant fucking horse beast orgy puzzle, with tweezers and often blind-folded while high on acid and drunk off of old pickle juice. But. Eventually parts of the puzzle start to come together at quicker and more effeciant rates. By the time you understand it all, you will be deep in your own alzheimers and retirement funds. If a brain tumor doesn't get you before that.
Seriously, start anywhere. Just fucking start. There is no right area to start. I would avoid hello world bullshit though, it's boring and kills motivation. Start on a tutorial for something random. Check out Bucky's tutorials on YouTube or his homepage. They are great for beginners but often slow. Just start, don't stop. Go back and repeat stuff when needed, but start. Anywhere. I started with C, then C++, then ActionScipt, then html, then CSS, then JAvaScript, shit never ends. Invest in a cat, you will be at the computer for a very long time. Cats are good against depression. Girlfriends are too needy, lol. Sleep and Coffee... well one is your best friend and the other... well just remember one is your best friend.
From my own experience I have to warn you there will be lots of theory at the start. You will most likely start with Computer Architecture, Probability theory, Logics (as in cicuit logics), Operating Systems, Programming Languages. The last one is not even a practical course, It teaches about theoretical principles behind any programming language including necessary basics for Compilers course that you will most probably take later on. Plus more general courses such as Calculus/Mathematics, Physics etc..
Only after that you will be allowed to take more practical course: one or more courses teaching specific programming languages, Computer Networks, Computer Graphics (not the fancy 3d stuff but more about working with picture and short movie clips), Introduction to WWW, Compilers, Algorithms.
Every semester it will be more and more psecific depending on your own interests.
Lastly, as Squirrel said, stock up on a coffee.
This is actually very informative. I mean my advisor at school is a Psych Major and knows nothing about Comp Sci. But i am glad you guys gave me some ideas of what is coming up ahead!
At least at my school the teachers are very patient, I am already an Amateur programmer from having an Internship, but so far I have never seen the teachers throw anything at you that is too difficult to understand.
Try to learn whatever you can before entering class on the first day, If you have learned anything at all during that time, you will be fine. Grasping concepts is the most difficult, so focus on that.
I have seen so many people sit down the first day in class, then just end up leaving once a few lines of code are written on the white board... guy's, it's not that difficult once you grasp the concepts!
Don't Panic.
I'm a college graduate in Computer Science, now working as a System Engineer dealing with security related stuff and I would say, you will probably have a taste of everything about computers, you see computer science is a broad career with tons of sub career from robotics, networking programming, hardware, security, math, data structure, operating systems, and so on, just pick 1 or 2 that is intersting for you, so whenever you got bored with one you'll have another field to play with. Unless you're very sure about what you want to do.
NOTE: this if from my personal experience, I didnt focus on unrelated subjects like music or sports, family ethics or cultural thing etc. but just to the point that I will not fail on it and drag my grades down to get me remove the the accepted grades to be a computer science student back then. AND GUESS WHAT, after I got my first job I really didn't got use those subjects.