[NBLUG/talk] Universities

[matt]

Well let's see. I also took the CalPoly tour recently, and I wasn't too sure 
about their CS department. First off, the best thing CalPoly has regarding 
Linux is a user's group, and I don't know if it is in any way as active as 
ours (someone who goes to the campus could answer that question for you). 
However, I heard from one of the CS majors there that the curriculum is very 
tough and requires a lot of work, but still is a good program.

Also, in the working world, a degree from CalPoly is not a bad thing to have. 
From what I heard, business professionals (well, your first few jobs at 
least) look at it highly, in the sense that you are already trained in a 
career-oriented fashion.

Basically, CalPoly is more or less a rigorous trade school. It isn't the most 
broad or "liberal arts" per se, but it will prepare you very well for a 
future. UC Davis is, well, a UC. Broader, it probably would give you a little 
more of a rounded education, but I don't know if it is as focused as CalPoly.

If you are absolutely sure that you want to be a computer science major and go 
to work as a programmer (and don't look for all of the other "odd" courses), 
CalPoly would be good. Otherwise, if you still want some wiggle room in your 
future plans, UC Davis may be better.

On Sunday 23 April 2006 14:37, Nat W. wrote:
> I am currently signed up to go into Cal Poly's computer science program as
> a freshman next year. I just got back from tour and it seems like the sort
> of program I would like to go into. I got a tour of the department and met
> with the head of the department, which was nice. You can contact the dean,
> Mei-Ling Liu at mliu at csc.calpoly.edu, or 805-756-6460. I would suggest you
> also go though their open house, but that was Thursday :).
>
> Good luck to all,
> /Nat
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: talk-bounces at nblug.org [mailto:talk-bounces at nblug.org] On Behalf Of
> William Tracy
> Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 11:27 AM
> To: General NBLUG chatter about anything Linux, answers to questions,etc.
> Subject: [NBLUG/talk] Universities
>
> Hello,
>
> I'm sorry that this is a bit off-topic. :-)
>
> I'm a computer science major currently at the JC, planning to transfer
> next fall. I'm considering Cal Poly SLO, and UC Davis; both have
> accepted my applications.
>
> Davis and Cal Poly both have computer science programs, but Cal Poly
> also has a software engineering program, which looks like it is more
> geared toward someone wanting to get a job in programming. On the
> other hand, it looks like getting a degree there will take at least a
> year longer that at Davis.
>
> Eventually, I want to get a job computer programming. I was wondering
> if anyone here could offer any thoughts from the perspective of
> someone in the software industry. If there's any graduates from these
> schools here who can comment, that would be great, too.
>
> The impression I get is that the degree you get only really matters
> for the first job or two; after that, it's all about where you worked
> before. Does this mean that it really doesn't matter where I go? Could
> anyone offer any thoughts on whether a software engineering degree is
> really going to be more helpful than a computer science degree?
>
> Thanks a lot!
> William Tracy
>
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-- 
Valê,
Matt
matt at cfxnetworks.com