5 answers
kashif
Student
Baltimore, Maryland
1
Question
Asked
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how do things work?
how do things work in a professional computer science workspace and in a college
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5 answers
Thomas Boyd
AI and Machine Learning Research Assistant
1
Answer
North Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
In my experience, college has been helpful for understanding concepts and topics that will be implemented throughout your career and future workspace. You will of course receive course work and assignments that gauge your understanding of these concepts, but, like any other major, the work you do outside of class will help you understand even more.
In a professional workspace, most people think that you're expected to constantly put out new features and build thousand page code. While this may be true for some companies, chances are they want you to succeed since you are also working for them. There will be many chances to grow and exceed expectations as long as you ask questions!
Some things to keep in mind when pursuing this field below:
What kind of worker are you? (Do you prefer working during the day, during the night, do you like to complete your task in one session, will you spread the task out over smaller sessions during your hours, etc)
Try and find out what your professor, employer, etc. is asking of you before jumping into making it. This will help you build a road map.
Keep at it! There are going to be times when you fail or mess up. That does not make you bad at what you do as long as you are willing to try again.
In a professional workspace, most people think that you're expected to constantly put out new features and build thousand page code. While this may be true for some companies, chances are they want you to succeed since you are also working for them. There will be many chances to grow and exceed expectations as long as you ask questions!
Some things to keep in mind when pursuing this field below:
Thomas recommends the following next steps:
Eric Lee
Software Engineer
6
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Eric’s Answer
You don't use anything you learned in college. The only useful courses you will take are java, python and c++ related. Once you start working, you will have to learn once again. They teach you algorithms that you will never use but will need for every job interview. On the job, you are allowed to google everything.
Nicholas Miller
Business Intelligence Developer
2
Answers
Boca Raton
Updated
Nicholas’s Answer
Well, here is some general information that could help you.
Computer scientists are in high demand. If you get good at CS and have degree, you will have a relatively easy time finding work and getting solid pay. It looks like it's going to stay this way going into the foreseeable future. Lots of people are fine even without the degree (this is an industry known for having lots of people who did not go to college or major in CS).
If you can get good at using google, you can learn CS. In a lot of college classes in CS, even in good schools like UF (where I went), professors will often tell you to just google how to do things.
For CS, most of the practical skills you would learn in college, you could probably learn on your own. This is partially because one of the best skill builders in CS is just doing projects. Even if you go to college, a lot of people will tell you to do projects to really learn and show your skills. Granted, college can still be a good place to learn more advanced concepts (which you may or may not use).
The main advantages of going to college for CS are as follows:
You might attend a few classes that are truly special (usually because of a really good professor). I have had this happen 3 times. Even then a lot of the skills you learn in these classes you will not use.
You can build up your other STEM skills while you are there, mathematics probably being the most important (good on your resume).
You can surround yourself with other people learning CS. If you go to a good school, this might be a group of very smart people.
You get a degree.
Whichever way you do it, CS is a great field to get into. If you want to know if it's for you, try doing some beginner projects/tutorials online. If you enjoy them, then CS would probably be good for you.
Computer scientists are in high demand. If you get good at CS and have degree, you will have a relatively easy time finding work and getting solid pay. It looks like it's going to stay this way going into the foreseeable future. Lots of people are fine even without the degree (this is an industry known for having lots of people who did not go to college or major in CS).
If you can get good at using google, you can learn CS. In a lot of college classes in CS, even in good schools like UF (where I went), professors will often tell you to just google how to do things.
For CS, most of the practical skills you would learn in college, you could probably learn on your own. This is partially because one of the best skill builders in CS is just doing projects. Even if you go to college, a lot of people will tell you to do projects to really learn and show your skills. Granted, college can still be a good place to learn more advanced concepts (which you may or may not use).
The main advantages of going to college for CS are as follows:
You might attend a few classes that are truly special (usually because of a really good professor). I have had this happen 3 times. Even then a lot of the skills you learn in these classes you will not use.
You can build up your other STEM skills while you are there, mathematics probably being the most important (good on your resume).
You can surround yourself with other people learning CS. If you go to a good school, this might be a group of very smart people.
You get a degree.
Whichever way you do it, CS is a great field to get into. If you want to know if it's for you, try doing some beginner projects/tutorials online. If you enjoy them, then CS would probably be good for you.
Melody Tharpe
Education - Teacher
169
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Melody’s Answer
Hi Kashif,
Given the wide openness of your questions, I thought a place to direct your thoughts and perhaps define your question would be helpful.
https://www.computerscience.org/computer-engineering/careers/computer-engineer/
The scope of computer science careers is broad and the area or place CSEs work is broad as well. Take the time to look at the types and places CSEs work to get an idea of where you may want to focus your attempts.
Happy searching for your future steps.
Given the wide openness of your questions, I thought a place to direct your thoughts and perhaps define your question would be helpful.
https://www.computerscience.org/computer-engineering/careers/computer-engineer/
The scope of computer science careers is broad and the area or place CSEs work is broad as well. Take the time to look at the types and places CSEs work to get an idea of where you may want to focus your attempts.
Happy searching for your future steps.
Fred Rosenberger
Data Analyst
481
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Fred’s Answer
I'm not sure what you mean by "how do things work".
College is much like high school, in that you take classes, you do homework, have exams. It's different in that you have more freedom in what you take, you focus in your area of interest, and manage your own time. If you live on campus, you really control your own life. College is not about loading your brain with information...it's about learning how to manage your time, learning how to learn, and how to work with others. Much of what you do is more about the process than the result.
Once you start working full time...things vary depending on your employer's requirements. Generally, I work in the office two days a week, and work from home three. I used to work in the office five days a week. The specific days I come in are usually the same, but I can flex them if I need to do so. I have worked other places where I pair-program everything, and where I am responsible for the project from start to finish, as opposed to just a piece of it.
I am generally given a project, and left to my self to work through it. I have peers I can ask for help/advice/assistance, and a boss who can help navigate some of the B.S. we have deal with. I work with 4-5 other teams, each of whom control or manage different parts of the environment.
College is much like high school, in that you take classes, you do homework, have exams. It's different in that you have more freedom in what you take, you focus in your area of interest, and manage your own time. If you live on campus, you really control your own life. College is not about loading your brain with information...it's about learning how to manage your time, learning how to learn, and how to work with others. Much of what you do is more about the process than the result.
Once you start working full time...things vary depending on your employer's requirements. Generally, I work in the office two days a week, and work from home three. I used to work in the office five days a week. The specific days I come in are usually the same, but I can flex them if I need to do so. I have worked other places where I pair-program everything, and where I am responsible for the project from start to finish, as opposed to just a piece of it.
I am generally given a project, and left to my self to work through it. I have peers I can ask for help/advice/assistance, and a boss who can help navigate some of the B.S. we have deal with. I work with 4-5 other teams, each of whom control or manage different parts of the environment.