Should I go into Computer Science?

	Should I go into Computer Science? PLEASE READ ALL, I tried to keep as short as possible. I've been learning C++ about 3 weeks and I can say I know all the basics. I dont know a lot of shortcuts yet though, for example if I wanted to make words come up one after another I would do: cout << "H"; Sleep(100); cout << "e"; Sleep(100); to spell out "Hello". I know theres a way to do it shorter instead of writing long code like that, but haven't learned those shortcuts yet. I know how to do if statements, if else, if else if, if else if do while, while, for loops, etc etc. I know arrays, float/double (basically same thing), int, char [all variables]. You get the point, I understand the beginner things. Here is my first ever program made if you wanna see where I'm at. Everything in this quiz game was made from my knowledge alone, no copy/paste or anything like that. Link here: http://pastebin.com/xew9txp4 So to my question.. basically I want to get a degree in Computer Science. I cant think of anything else in this world to do.. I'm a real hopeless type of guy. I don't want a normal job sitting in an office all day or emptying boxes at UPS or some * doing useless . I want a CAREER where I do something and never stop "leveling up" until like 30 years later, if you know what I mean. The problem is, I keep hearing about rigorous maths in Computer Science... Don't get me wrong, I'm not bad with numbers, I'm actually really good with numbers and math in general, its just that since geometry I've had bad grade in math because my teachers didn't teach, they just 'kinda did the problem and expected us to know what they were doing and be able to do it, so I just gave up in a way and since like 10th grade (senior now), I've told myself I suck at math.. which isn't really the case, just haven't been taught too well. So my math skills from like algerbra 2, trig, are very bad and I remember little to nothing.. 1.Is that going to affect me in a BIG way in college? 2.Will it be so hard that I would want to not do it anymore, or will it be decent enough that I can fight through it as long as I maybe learn on my own sometimes or something? 3.I don't necessarily want to be game developer because I know you need to be advanced in math for that, but is like a regular computer programmer job just as math involved? 4.Based on my learning rate (the program I made, in the link above, after just 2-3 weeks of learning from youtube vids), do you think the programming itself will be fairly easy for me, and I'll just focus on math more than actual programming, or will that be WAY more harder? If you read all of this, and answer all the questions, I really appreciate it, because this is my future right here. I take it really seriously and I don't which direction to go here so I need advice** Asked By: Devious Minds - 12/11/2012

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1) Yes. Typical colleges nowadays expect you to have taken and passed a pre-calculus level class, so that if you haven't already, you can start learning calculus. If your math skills in algebra 2 and trigonometry are as weak as you say, then you'll need to take remedial classes and spend more time getting your degree. Computer science, in particular, can involve some high-level theoretical math, and you'll need to have had an excellent mathematical foundation to understand it. 2) This can't really be answered without really knowing how good you are at really understanding mathematics. If what you said is true, that you're not actually bad at math but just had low grades, then I don't see why you couldn't catch up if you put the effort in. 3) There's no such thing as a "regular" computer programmer job. Each job has its own set of skills it requires, which may or may not involve math. To take the game developer example, if you were to work on graphics, you would probably need to know quite a bit about linear algebra and how to transform a curve in vector space to something else using matrices and linear transformation. If, however, you were working on managing a database, there wouldn't really be too much math involved. 4) Based on your program, your learning rate is average. Yes, you did only start C++ two/three weeks ago, but a college-level Intro to Programming course covers the same (or more) material in the same amount of time, and would expect its students to be able to do something of that level (or more, preferably using loops) for an assignment at the end of those two weeks. Thus, we can't make a definitive judgement on if programming will come easy to you; you'll just have to find out for yourself. As of now, your skills are still very, very basic - I would suggest continuing to become more familiar with the language so that you can actual program something decent. Math won't play too big of a part of learning the logic of programming until you get more advanced. Right now, you should focus on learning the basics well. Answered By: Empire539 - 12/11/2012

Additional Answers ()

>I know theres a way to do it shorter instead of writing long code like that, but haven't learned those shortcuts yet.

Don't worry so much about 'learning the shortcuts'. Generally speaking, these techniques are not learned through rote memorization. Rather, you figure them out on the fly by going over the program logic in your head. You look at what's going on in a logical sense and then, based on what you know about individual components of the language, you envision a way to build that logic out of those components in an elegant way.

>I want a CAREER where I do something and never stop "leveling up" until like 30 years later, if you know what I mean.

Actually, a lot of people with comsci backgrounds complain that they can't get work as programmers after about age 40. Supposedly the industry only wants young people familiar with the latest new tech and considers that those above 40 just don't have enough relevant expertise anymore. If you haven't made yourself a place in management, academia or entrepreneurship by that time, you're left either doing freelance work or fishing for an entirely different sort of job.

Now, bear in mind that it's the people who are 40+ right now complaining about this. By the time you're 40 (I'm guessing in about 20 years), the industry might be more open-minded, or circumstances may have changed so that older comsci people are able to be more productive. Still, bear this concern in mind.

>Is that going to affect me in a BIG way in college?

It could. On the one hand, the instructors at the university level are usually pretty good with their material, and you'll be surrounded by lots of smart students and TAs who can also help you. On the other hand, going into a comsci program they'll probably want you to be ready to take calculus (differential and integral) in the first year, and just about everything you did in high school is a walk in the park by comparison. And there are no more artificial safety nets in university; although the instructors want you to succeed and have good advice for you, you MUST pull your weight and stay on top of the course material or you're basically screwed. Any bright student who manages their time well can make it, but the system is not going to protect you from your own laziness anymore.

Occasionally you do get bad instructors even in university. Usually not in math, but it can happen. In that case, just try to focus on the material, do all your homework, and try not to let the instructor hold you back. Like I say, TAs and other students can sometimes help you too. Try not to fail any course (it is usually better to get 55?n two courses than 90?n one and 45?n the other), but if you do fail, try to learn as much as possible from it so as to be better prepared when you face that material again.

>Will it be so hard that I would want to not do it anymore, or will it be decent enough that I can fight through it as long as I maybe learn on my own sometimes or something?

It's hard to say for sure either way before you've actually given it a go. Like I say, calculus is not the easy stuff you did in high school. You might catch on and stay one step ahead of the material, or you might flounder around while it all flies over your head. All you can do is keep an open mind, put in the practice time, and never give up.

>I don't necessarily want to be game developer because I know you need to be advanced in math for that, but is like a regular computer programmer job just as math involved?

Not as often. But when it does come up, you'll still need to know it. In particular, large-scale systems like distributed database management software or routing algorithms make extensive use of algorithmic analysis and statistics, so you can't always get by with high school math.

>Based on my learning rate (the program I made, in the link above, after just 2-3 weeks of learning from youtube vids), do you think the programming itself will be fairly easy for me, and I'll just focus on math more than actual programming, or will that be WAY more harder?

I think for most people, the programming is easier than the math, and you're probably no different (neither am I). However, there are a lot of advanced programming concepts you haven't even touched yet, which WILL come up in the process of doing a comsci degree. Memory management, multithreading, socket programming, cross-platform compatibility, and the like. These things are not simple and you have to hold a lot of logic in your head at once. Be prepared for that.

Answered By: green meklar - 12/12/2012

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