A Kid, Looking for a computer Science Future. (HELP)

[HardcoreRobot]

 

[JadedMaple]

"also, knowing html, how to build a computer and set up a network is not the same. hell, even knowing a real programming language is not the same as a TRUE computer science degree. companies know this too."


What do you mean by that? My dad works for the goverment and he knows 2 computer scientists. I may go in and talk to them over the summer.

And to make you guys jelous.. My dad has two, 2005fp's and so do they kekeke.

 

[mugs]

You don't need to run PHP/Apache/MySQL on your personal computer. I can set you up with web hosting so you can tinker around all you want (but if you write any infinite loops, I'll have your head)

 

[JadedMaple]

Mugs, don't worry about that. Its just easier because I don't need to upload anything.


My dad also thinks FTP's cause Viruses kekeek. I'm fine, thanks.

 

[stnicralisk]

Originally posted by: JadedMaple
Hi, I am a 14 year old Freshman in Highschool (Grade 9). I just started my second semester last week, I had course selection for next year toda. I live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada so I job with the goverment requires me to be bi-lingual, no worries I have that cased.

I first took the "plunge" into scripting in Grade 6.

I failed all the computer classes from Kindergarten to Grade 5 becasue my teacher was a honest to God I'm now lieing Jerk, then I switched schools.

It was a lunch hour to be remembered in December., I had just got my new Dell Dimension 8100 that past Augest and man was it exciting! I was play Neopets when I stubbled upon Mevams shop, she had a link to her HTML Help site and examples. I wrote out a WHOLE piece of loose leaf in HTML and typed it into my Neopets shop, with no luck I threw out the paper so my Dad wouldn't chew me out for trying HTML cause I wasn't sure if he liked that stuff. When he got home I gathered my guts to ask him how can I make this easier, he showed me the cut/copy/paste features. I stumbled upon Lissaexplains.com and learnt HTML. My Grade 7 teacher who I still know today, I play on his volleyball team introduced me to Netscape Composer, I went nuts! Wow HTML In a program this is so easy. Then I relized it was crap and my dad got frontpage. I kept writing the HTML Myself but Frontpage made it easier because of the preview features. I moved into tinkering with PHP/mySQL but I could not install Apache because my dad is a tight ass, he doesn't let me install anything or even touch programming. He does support my goals etc, they are giving me $1300 plus my $1300 I saved since last Christmas to buy a Dell Dimension 8400. I will have this in March. The Minute I get this machine PHP/mySQL, Python and my copies of Visual Studios.net are going on the machine


So theres my background info.



For my course selection I chose, French10, Math20, Biology20 and Musical Theatre10. I would have put Computer Science20 in there but I would like a job with the governent because it is a stable job.

Anyway, I was wondering if you Computer Scientists out there could tell me what High School Classes you took, what university classes you took, how much you make, who you work for, and what you do.


Thank you! I really apperciate this!!

What they offer at my local university. http://www.cs.usask.ca/classes/coursedescriptions.jsp

At a local erm, Insitution.

http://www.siast.sk.ca/siast/educationt...ams/7266/7771/5852/index.shtml#courses

With your poor grammar and spelling I would really hate to debug your code.

EDIT: also anyone who knows anything about computers doesnt buy a dell.

 

[Dragnov]

You're 14. You're interests will change and develop, especially in college. Enjoy life, stop worrying about the future.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot

also, knowing html, how to build a computer and set up a network is not the same. hell, even knowing a real programming language is not the same as a TRUE computer science degree. companies know this too.

Companies do know that, and they know that a few years of *real* experience is as good as or better than a degree in most cases.

 

[JadedMaple]

I'm only buying a Dell because it will deliver me a solution for 3 years allowing me to invest the money I make over those years in other projects instead of always upgrading.


Don't worry, I'm getting DIIIIRRRTTAY With AMD pretty soon.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot

also, knowing html, how to build a computer and set up a network is not the same. hell, even knowing a real programming language is not the same as a TRUE computer science degree. companies know this too.

Companies do know that, and they know that a few years of *real* experience is as good as or better than a degree in most cases.

No argument there. Having the degree makes it so much easier to get the experience though. Esp right out of college. If he is trying to put himself in the best position to be in the industry though, he needs to follow that path.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: JadedMaple
"also, knowing html, how to build a computer and set up a network is not the same. hell, even knowing a real programming language is not the same as a TRUE computer science degree. companies know this too."


What do you mean by that? My dad works for the goverment and he knows 2 computer scientists. I may go in and talk to them over the summer.

And to make you guys jelous.. My dad has two, 2005fp's and so do they kekeke.

It means, its easier to get a job if you have formal computer science education - not self taught skills and knowledge.

 

[screw3d]

You are just 14.. although it's good to know what you wanna do later in life, you still have plenty of time to think about what you REALLY want to do for the rest of your life

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: Chraticn

Originally posted by: jst0ney
there is no future in computers. The fad is almost over.

This is sad, but mostly true.

To people who can't keep with it in any competitive industry, this might be true.

Concentrate on logic-heavy courses. Algebra first and foremost, calculus, chemistry. Don't worry about not finding a job when that time comes. If you're good at what you do, there will be room for you.

exactly. plenty of jobs out there, you just have to be good.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: yllus
Concentrate on logic-heavy courses. Algebra first and foremost, calculus, chemistry. Don't worry about not finding a job when that time comes. If you're good at what you do, there will be room for you.

Yes! Take all of the math courses you can in high school and be sure you understand it perfectly. Chemistry and Physics courses would be excellent, too, as far as HS classes go. Any computer related class you can take would be great, join in whatever related extra-curicular activities you can find. However, don't assume that your other courses are unimportant!

Pick up some programming books when you get your new computer and work through them. The best way to get above the competition is to get your experience early so you can get the most out of your education. When you go to college, everyone who hasn't done any programming will be busy learning the basics, while you will be learning the fine details that they will miss for lack of understanding.

As for programming now, you don't need to be running php on your server to learn php (and etc.), really. It's a pain in the butt to constantly upload scripts to a server to check them, but if you really want to learn, it can't hurt to try it that way.

Also, do as much job shadowing as you can. While it won't really help you learn to program, it's great information to pass on at an interview.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: JadedMaple
And to make you guys jelous.. My dad has two, 2005fp's and so do they kekeke.

And I get to play with an Allen & Heath GL3300 series several times a week... yeah, whatever. :roll:

Want to talk about lust? I know a guy who has a Hasselblad H1 with Phase One P25 digital back. Mmm...

Originally posted by: JadedMaple
Mugs, don't worry about that. Its just easier because I don't need to upload anything.

My dad also thinks FTP's cause Viruses kekeek. I'm fine, thanks.

Ignorant people who think they know everything are far more dangerous than people who know nothing and are humble enough to admit it! I wouldn't dare touch my acquaintance's US$30K H1+P25 setup, and I would hope that he would have the same respect to keep his fingers off the 700+ knobs of my A&H GL3300.

With that said, I hope your parents come around and let you gain experience in working with more applications and programming languages (somehow I don't think CS grads to a lot of HTML work most of the time)... I'm lucky to have parents who are supportive of my hobbies (though I pay for the gear myself), and they patiently [most of the time] bear with me as I reconfigure the network setup, etc.

As others have mentioned, I'd recommend avoiding getting too deep into what you think you want to do now, because that's probably going to change. I've been set on some kind of technology all along, but over time have changed my sights from CS to EE, to computer engineering, and now to optical engineering (with a brief flirtation around nuclear eng. at one point). This will probably change by the time I get to college this fall, too.

On learning programming languages: yeah, it's a good thing to do, but I find that I get bored easily if I don't have some other motivation to do it than just because it "would be good to know." If you're still thinking CS, and have some idea of what colleges you'd be interested in, then you could check to see what language they use primarily in their courses. Where I'm wanting to go, the language of choice is Java; by the time you're ready for college, the college you want may have switched from Java to C#.NET or something else that may come along in the future.