Hi all. This is my first post

I recently transferred schools and my previous school (GVSU) taught me Java, and the school I'm transferring to, is teaching C++. Unfortunately for me, my credits didn't go through. So, I have to study up C++ and all its details so I can take a placement test and get through the basic Programming course. My question is, why are they teaching 2 different, albeit very similar, languages? Is there an advantage to one or the other? Which do you think would be better for a CS major to begin learning?