Thread: Good Programming schools are they out there???

If getting a degree is not important to you, then I don't believe there is much of a need to go to school. You can learn programming on your own just by going through online tutorials. Once you've spent a couple weeks going through tutorials, you can start on a project of your own. You will run into issues and problems as you go, but that's where Google and this message board can come to your aid.

I went to a well known engineering college, but 95% of my programming knowledge came outside of the classroom -- working on my own projects. The main thing a degree is good for is getting you interviews, since having a degree is usually a requirement for getting a programming position.

Just because you learn a programming language that doesnt make you a programmer. The ability to apply abstract problem solving techniques to impliment problem specific solutions isnt something that can be thought in school. Programming isnt like flipping burgers, its a skill that not everyone has, and it can't be learned. All the schools can teach you is syntax.

Originally Posted by laserlight

I think you meant to say that it cannot be taught as that would be consistent with the rest of your paragraph

yes, i coudl have phrased that better.

He made it clear that explicit Pointers make a language hard to learn...

yeah

Originally Posted by abachler

Just because you learn a programming language that doesnt make you a programmer. The ability to apply abstract problem solving techniques to impliment problem specific solutions isnt something that can be thought in school. Programming isnt like flipping burgers, its a skill that not everyone has, and it can't be learned. All the schools can teach you is syntax.

I disagree with that. I learned "abstract" problem solving techniques in school / university. I doubt anyone just dabbling in programming could come up with sophisticated data base structures (linked lists for example), or searching & sorting methods that span a variety of domains. One can be quite proficient in the syntax, but making a program that's semi efficient and usable for non-trivial problem solving takes more than random hobbying.

I doubt anyone just dabbling in programming could come up with sophisticated data base structures (linked lists for example)

I'm sorry, did you just use a linked list as an example of a "sophisticated data base structure"? Your example completely disproves the point you were trying to make

At any rate, all those "abstract problem solving techniques" that you learn in school can be learned elsewhere. Books for instance.

No, no. Books are good. The three or four volume Knuth ones come to mind immediately.

And no, linked lists aren't too sophisticated and probably are something anyone can conjure up themselves eventually. I guess that's too trivial an example. If someone had oodles of time, lots of incentive generating problems and lots of energy, they might come up with many of the already discovered techniques. But schools supposedly give you those faster.

Code:

I have been largely disappointed with the quality of courses offered at community colleges. I took a class in C# and say I didn't learn much. 13th week of a 16 week course and just getting to arrays which is pathetic.

Remember at CC you have may different people taking those programming...some with know clue or skills at all...it is not like at a University were in generally there are stricter admission standards...

I seen a few in your area I think this one looks the most promising.

Sacramento City College Computer Information Science

Los Rios Community College District - Summer and Fall Enrollment and Tuition Fees

Prices seem a bit high for a tech school at about 80$ more per credit hour than the tech school I went to. Probaly just the price of living in your state though.

k&r is really a book to just introduce the tools and some simple programming concepts. It's impossible to learn it all from just one book or class. Just as fast as some concepts are implemented they are also discarded. I dissagree with what our resident mensa member said (like the way the next post corrected the genius wording for him) If you stick with it and keep on studying the topics you want to learn you will pick it up. We all posses the ability to learn anything, Some just don't have to work as hard at it.