Thread: College

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    College

    Hi, im a Junior in highschool and looking at colleges, im really into programming I have been teaching myself c++ for 4 years now, and I am interested in game programming (who isn't?) but i was wondering do i want to go for computer science? to a C++ tech. college? or a game programming college i kow there are pro's and cons to each and i know the prerequisits for computer science are like calculus and trigonomotry, i dunno anyone have any ideas?
    If a mime dies in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

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    Registered User rogue's Avatar
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    Computer Science

    You should go to a 4year college where computer science is a big ordeal. Jobs start @ 60k. Then look at a gaming development institute where u can put what you have learned to work.



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    yes, but its the math im worried about i mean im good at math actually very good, but not good at english so i had to retake an english class and ect. so i dont think ill be able to get the math credits i need to get into a computer science college
    edit: and i also type too fast frequent typos so bear with me
    If a mime dies in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

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    I've seen Computer Science professors who aren't very good at English, so I wouldn't let that stop you.
    The crows maintain that a single crow could destroy the heavens. Doubtless this is so. But it proves nothing against the heavens, for the heavens signify simply: the impossibility of crows.

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    I think you missunderstood, i meant that since i needed to retake an english calss it took a spot on my scedual i could have used for math
    If a mime dies in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

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    Thumbs up Reach for the sky!

    It will depend on the college, but you can probably get in even if you're a little behind in math. You are not generally doomed just because you didn't take exactly the "right" classes in high-school. Your grades and SAT are probably more important.

    How much math have you had? When I went to "engineering school", I was a year behind. I haden't taken pre-calculus, and it made calculus rather difficult my first semester.

    Your math ability is more important to success than the actual math classes you've taken. The fact that you have a head-start with C++ will help too. And, you're self-motivated... so your computer science classes should be a breeze. ...Well, not really... "This is college, and we're not going to allow anything to be easy or fun!"

    You would want to delay any math, computer, science, or engineering classes that require prerequisites you don't yet have. It would be a bummer to be assigned a programming assignment that you don't understand, 'cause you don't have the math.

    If you're really motivated, you could make-up a year of math by taking a summer school math class this year and next.

    Another option is to go to a community college for a couple of years. I went to a state college and they were very transfer-friendly. Some schools are not, and some classes won't transfer, so you have to do your research... Lots of transfer students have to "start over" at the 4-year school.

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    i havent even been able to take geometry yet, i ahe been asking and asking but they gave me art.... sorry im just really ........ed at my school
    If a mime dies in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

  8. #8
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    If you go to a four year colledge, they'll probably have a math class to. When you first start diving into programming, you're not going to be doing anything to mathmaticaly intense. Probably by the time you actualy get to the math portions, you'll be all caught up. And if your not, use google XD.

    If you're going for programming, you definantly want some type of programming course, computer science is how computers are built. (Mine was anyways -,-)
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    hmmm, i dont think im any closer to an answer than i was when i first posted.....
    If a mime dies in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

  10. #10
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    If you're worried about not getting into a four year college and are considering a programming institution that offers a certificate of recognition upon completion, then I'd say that's not your best choice.

    Those schools don't offer official college degrees and are primarily for educational purposes only. In today's world, the degree is very important to getting a head start on a successful career. Apply to any 4 year school you want to go to and if you can't get in, take a safety school or apply with a 2 year community college then transfer. Most 2 year colleges offer excellent transfer programs to help you get a bachelors degree.
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  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Blackroot
    If you're going for programming, you definantly want some type of programming course, computer science is how computers are built. (Mine was anyways -,-)
    You had a strange computer science program.

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    Quote Originally Posted by sreetvert83
    hmmm, i dont think im any closer to an answer than i was when i first posted.....
    Its simple. If you don't think you can handle the calculus (although, where I live calculus can be substituted for a second science) or the highest math, before the end of highschool, then go to a community college to upgrade and transfer to a university later. Since you're only a junior though, you still have time. Where I live many people have spare blocks in grade 11/12 (I've had 4 out of 16), which you could use towards math. If that fails through then theres summer school (which costs some-odd $150 for the course thats 6 weeks), which btw might offer it online. Then theres also the internet for extra resources. If you're on a semester system, or your school allows you to take say grade 10 and 11 at the same time (mine does), then I find it incredibly hard to not get the highest math if you are determined (and thats without factoring summer school). On top of that, maybe your school (or another close school) offers calculus off the time table (mine does). I personally slacked off my entire life and am trying to avoid community college, so obviously I wouldn't recommend that route.
    Warning: Have doubt in anything I post.

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    carry on JaWiB's Avatar
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    If you haven't even taken Geometry yet it sounds like you're way behind (although your school might do things completely differently than mine). It seems to me that most 4-year universities want you do have up to pre-calculus, and a few even require calculus.

    I personally think a 4-year college is the best route; it seems like going to a technical college or a game design school (like DigiPen) would be pretty restrictive. I also know a lot of people who plan to go or have gone to the local community college for two years before transferring, so if you find you aren't ready for university right away, that could be a good option.
    "Think not but that I know these things; or think
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    Registered User rogue's Avatar
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    Computer Science

    shh my computer science 1 was c++ recap ; )
    cs2 we implemented class's through inheritance and my final lab was a bank account ; )


    im 70+ hours deep, a little over 60%

    my cs major doesnt require a minor, but i picked math since we had to take some courses like calculus 1, calculus 2, discrete mathematical structures, differential equations, linear algebra, and some statistics classes ~ 20 hours for the minor.

    the classes are easier since they are taught towards computer science.. for instance, in cal 2 i made a program ( cant remember what it did ), but i got an A and didnt have to turn in 3 pages of proofs... simply the source code..

    there are always hard courses for each major & minor... it is what you make of it. I took a course called "Artificial Intelligence" where we /cough/ learned "clisp". Our final project we could either use that or java. I used java and got a B for the course... i didnt know squat about java but it was a breeze since its object oriented just like c++...

    besides, where i go to school, we submit our homework from the internet which is always a plus especially of the crazy nights where u see the sun coming up and you're just falling asleep...

    -rogue
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    well right now im enrolled in a class Computational Science and engeneering using Java, and maybe when im done with that ill know where i want to go
    If a mime dies in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

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