Ask HN: About to start CS degree, any tips?

1 points by jlt 12 years ago | 6 comments

Hi guys!

So I'm about to start my CS degree in September, and I'm wondering if there was anything I should know?

I've been writing software for about 6 years already, and am pretty competent.

Thanks,

Josh

bsmartt 12 years ago |

Take public speaking. And don't slide by, ace it.

Use your elective credits to soak up business, finance, marketing, etc. classes.

Start working with web frameworks (django, rails, node) before you graduate.

Hit up those conferences while you can, most offer student discounts. This is a good way to explore the different sectors of the software development world. You can walk around the vendors areas and talk to recruiters at most companies this way, and you can often find engineers who will be happy to kill a few minutes talking about their company culture, etc.

Google Summer of code.

Get involved in open source communities, who always need volunteers. This can be a good segway into getting your hands dirty and contributing.

erbdex 12 years ago |

"Here are Joel's Seven Pieces of Free Advice for Computer Science College Students:

    1. Learn how to write before graduating.
    2. Learn C before graduating.
    3. Learn microeconomics before graduating.
    4. Don't blow off non-CS classes just because they're boring.
    5. Take programming-intensive courses.
    6. Stop worrying about all the jobs going to India.
    7. No matter what you do, get a good summer internship."

Src- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/CollegeAdvice.html

arh68 12 years ago |

Find the best professors and take all of their classes. Set your sights on the 400-levels.

It's not a race to the end.

The CS courses cross-listed as SOC, ECON, etc will tend to be interesting. There will be Linguistics majors in NLP.

Keep reading RFCs.

Keep all your code private, on a remote server, and version-controlled.

iends 12 years ago |

Double major in a non-CS degree.

bsmartt 12 years ago | |

Do you really think this is universally good advice?

iends 12 years ago | | |

Almost always.

If you're CS program that was like mine you were in a program that is full of guys who largely wanted to build computer games. Diversity of relationships is very important, especially in college. Adding a second major (math, econ, history, etc) will give you this diversity and will also give you a different perspective on certain industries.

If the OP has been programming for 6 years, then a CS degree will not be challenging at his average state school.