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Bail Hope of Belouve - Student  |
I've always had a love for computers, and I'm considering actually doing some kind of computer studies so I can open a computer-shop later on in my life, or something with computers in any case  Maybe even my own tech-support service. (SOMEONE has to have a good one  )I'm nearing my last year at highschool, which means I'll have to make a choice for my future, and I always like to know my options. I know a lot of you have done studies in a lot of different areas of computers (programming, hardware, whatever, ...) and I was wondering if you could say what you've studied (or are studying), to which prospect you are studying this course (what do you want to do with it later on?) and any recommendations you could make for me to do? I'm not talking only hardware stuff here, also programming, and whatever you like. I'd appreciate it a million Thanks everyone! Oh btw, it's not because you live in another country, that we don't have some kind of an equivalent for that course here, so don't be shy of posting _______________ Visit the Belouve Family Website! Quote: I try to have fun with my friends and try to make a difference as best I can. What does making a difference mean? Well, it can be as simple as saying hello, answering a question that seems obvious or heck, just talking. -- Vladarion
Want to know Vladarion? Read the Article about his life here. |
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Henkes - Student 
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I wasn't talking about theory in general, but the Analysing and Development they are teaching at my education is utterly out of date and utterly useless in nowadays system engineering _______________ Get on your feet and do the Funky Alfonzo! |
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(Jedi)Obi-JK - Student 
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Quote: Iand ofcourse some boring out of date subjects you prolly never use again, like Analysing and Design... -Henkes This is a joke right? EDIT: Basically if you are going to into software, and you already a reasonable amount of experience programming read this: Robert Sedgewick's Alogorithms in C http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0201314525/qid=1118767226/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_3/102-8265926-8232121?v=glance&n=507846 This book covers SO many important topics. _______________ Silent Bob (Kevin Smith): You know, there's a million fine looking women in the world, dude. But they don't all bring you lasagna at work. Most of 'em just cheat on you. -Steve (Obi) This comment was edited by (Jedi)Obi-JK on Jun 14 2005 05:45pm. |
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Henkes - Student
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I'm currently doing a bachelor degree study in IT, Seeing as I'm in the first year, I can't really tell you what you can expect of this study, as I myself don't really know what to expect. This first year is a basic year, and introduces a little bit of programming (delphi), a little bit of scripting (bash and awk) and ofcourse some boring out of date subjects you prolly never use again, like Analysing and Design... Seeing you speak dutch, i'd suggest you take a look here. I'm doing the 'differentiatie' -Henkes _______________ Get on your feet and do the Funky Alfonzo! This comment was edited by Henkes on Jun 14 2005 04:09pm. |
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tarpman - The Tarped Avenger 
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I agree with DJ - learn the theory if at all possible, and do it in a comprehensive environment. Most of Orion's stuff (java java java! ) I've picked up during my highschool life just by hanging out on the Internet a lot and reading lots of books. Then again, I do know more than most of the geeks who hook up school computers for the techs because they're too cool for class. Err... digression. Sorry. Anyway, what I haven't learned by hanging out and trial and error is the theory: calculus, algorithms, and stuff like that. Also most applications of computer degrees besides desktop apps are heavily Science based, e.g. forensics, biochem, and so on. From the point of view of someone who has been reading post-sec applications the last 4 months: Make sure your Math marks are through the roof, that you've passed Physics by a wide margin, and having Chemistry and/or Biology doesn't hurt either. Also, only consider going to a specialized program at a college or whatever if you know exactly what you want to do, be it games, graphics, or desktop apps coded in Java. And yes, I still love you, Orion. And no, Wednesday night is not cancelled. _______________ Saving the world, one kilobyte at a time. |
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Orion - Retired 
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I worked a full time job for almost a year before i left for college, though I had alot of responsibilities when I wasn't full time. I basically ran a PC Repair shop while the boss wasn't there. Answered the phone, handled walkin customers took care of deliveries, etc. Helped me alot so did my other part time job at a walgreens. I can kinda agree with DJ with the work ethic. But I had that hard work get stuff done thing even before working. But yeah if you don't have that work ethic initally get a job and get that work ethic! DJ: eh, Its part how I learn too. I'm a hands on kinda guy. So theory kinda goes in one ear and out the other with bits getting sucked in along the way. You show me how to do it or give an example with out theory crapped in every creavse, then I'll learn it and retain it better. I do care why x is better than y. But there are times when I care more, and don't give a crap. If I want to learn why I'll go learn it on my own. And plus they cram java down your throat...who wants to do java! _______________ When a Man lies he murder's some part of the world. These are the pale deaths which men misscall there lives. All this I cannot bear to witness any longer. Cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home? -Cliff Burton Owner of Smily's 1900th comment | <Lady_Catherine> i love your sexy white socks! | (Lady_Catherine) i adore u! | (Lady_Catherine) onion (Lady_Catherine) i lub u |
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DJ Sith - Jedi Council 
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That works too. If you can try to work at your college. They'll work like dogs to make sure your work shifts won't conflict with school. Work in their IT group as a lab proctor or tech support. You'll learn alot, generally have enough slack time at work to do homework, and may even get hooked up with cool accounts on cool college servers. _______________ My car is made of Nerf. |
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Ash - Eats Babies 
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Quote: Oh yeah. Dont' go to college right out of high school. Get a job at a local shop or ISP doing support or something small. Trust me. Learning work ethic will help you 10000000000000% more then "losing" a year before going to college. JA members excluded, but most college students I've seen are the stupidest bunch of morons I've ever seen. They act more like dumb teenagers than dumb teenagers. Go get a job. Learn how to complete assignments for money. It'll be SO much easier to do your school work.  Actually I think the very best thing to do is go to college AND get yourself a good job, if you can pull it off that is. It builds character. Or something... DJ is right though. If you wanna open up a shop or run your own finances then go with a Business degree. You can learn the computer crap on the side. _______________ "We keep odd hours...." ----------------------- They Live, We Sleep |
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DJ Sith - Jedi Council
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Orion: it's that attitude that is making computer science a lost art. Your modern CS cirriculum is all java java java ide ide ide ide. If all you want to do is write desktop apps the rest of your life I guess that's cool, but if you can you should learn algorithms and what makes x .001% faster than y. Think of it like being a mechanic versuses the guy who designs cars. Be a guy who designs, not a mechanic. Theres way too little math in CS cirriculums too. Look at what you did. I could talk all day about how crappy CS is nowadays. But we're here for Bail! If you want to open a computer shop then you should major in business. You'll need those skills much more than programming or computer related stuff if you plan on running a business. If you want to stick with a computer major do something low level. Learn EE and CS (real CS). Stay away from crap degrees like computer networking. Typically your college will be 1-2 years behind the industry, and the industry changes so much that all your hard work (java java java java!) will be worthless in a few years. Learn how computers work, learn programming vitals, learn how signals are transmitted, learn math. In addition to this take at least one business ethics class and a technical writing class. You can be a genius and write up the next killer app, but if you can't communicate you're useless. Likewise if you don't know why a PHB shoots down your killer app. That all being said if you want to be a mechanic, not a designer that's cool. Go for an MIS degree, but expect CS majors to make fun of you. Oh yeah. Dont' go to college right out of high school. Get a job at a local shop or ISP doing support or something small. Trust me. Learning work ethic will help you 10000000000000% more then "losing" a year before going to college. JA members excluded, but most college students I've seen are the stupidest bunch of morons I've ever seen. They act more like dumb teenagers than dumb teenagers. Go get a job. Learn how to complete assignments for money. It'll be SO much easier to do your school work. Gah another DJ college rant. Bye! _______________ My car is made of Nerf. |
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Orion - Retired
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I 'studied' hardware and software troubleshooting/general knowledge back in HS, in my own time.. My school tried to teach it but the teacher was not knowledgeable in the subject matters. Though it really wasn't studying. As I learned alot on my own, reading websites, and learning from my boss. College Studied Programming, in the context of Game Development. All programming is the same, but this focused on API's used for graphical development techniques, and the inners of how the Gaming Industry as a whole works, as well as teaches the C/C++ Programming languages. This way of eduction avoids the "Normal" university route. Where you take classes that are not even remotely part of your Major, like taking German in a Comp Sci major, utterly pointless IMO. This education path focused on the how, and not so much the why. Yeah you have to know WHY things work but you don't need the dull and mind numing theory involed in why this alogrithm is .0001% faster than this algorithm. IF it works who cares the minute details. I enjoyed my course work, and now am where I want to be at my age. Mission Accomplished _______________ When a Man lies he murder's some part of the world. These are the pale deaths which men misscall there lives. All this I cannot bear to witness any longer. Cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home? -Cliff Burton Owner of Smily's 1900th comment | <Lady_Catherine> i love your sexy white socks! | (Lady_Catherine) i adore u! | (Lady_Catherine) onion (Lady_Catherine) i lub u |
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Fate - Student 
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Currently I am studying computer sciences and I'm looking at picking up a minor in "Forensics Computing" that they recently added here. Also, I work in the Networking department of my school. I'll probably either end up being a network administrator or working for the state police pulling files off formatted hard drives. If you want to run a computer store, I recommend that you consider either majoring/minoring in Accounting, Business and/or Computer Science. You basically not only have to understand how to build/repair/service computers, but you'll need to know how to run a business. Edit: Working in the networking department has taught me most of the skills that are valuable for servicing computers. I frequently ghost harddrives, clean out viruses (without formatting!), format (when absolutely necessary), configure firewalls, install printers, blah blah blah. If I had enough free time I'd put an add in the paper and start my own business fixing computers but I don't. That and I feel like scum going to someone's house where they have an old Windows 98 machine that they don't know how to use and charging them $40/hour to do something that comes so easily for me. _______________ I must not fear . Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear . I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. Gom gom gom gom gom! This comment was edited by Fate on Jun 13 2005 09:42pm. |
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