College advice

[Gamingphreek]

Well obviously since i post at AT forums i want to major in something computer related.

I was hoping for some guidance for those who have already gone through college or know a lot about them.

I am thinking of double Majoring in Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Mainly im doing this to gain a more complete understanding of PC and PC micro-architecture. If there are majors that are better for this purpose im all ears.

As for colleges im looking at Penn State, NC State, and Virginia Tech. The big Technology school MIT is out of question as my grades are not goo enough for that. As you guys know what i want to do i suppose youll need some achievement info.

GPA: ~3.4
Am currently taking 2 AP (College Courses).
Am (unless i just stop working) graduating in 2006 (Yeah im a lowly junior) with honors, community service seals, governors seal all that good stuff.
I have never been suspended or "detentioned".
Hopefully going to be inducted in the National Honor Societ
Hopefully going to be my schools starting or relief Varsity Pitcher (Baseball)

Thanks,
-Kevin

 

[SurgicalShark]

Heard report on NPR (National Public Radio) about AP and now students taking AP are having difficulties in math and calculus. So I would first take algebra/calculus.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well obviously since i post at AT forums i want to major in something computer related.

I post here and you couldn't pay me enough to major in something computer related.

 

[MacBaine]

Dual major in 2 engineerings, plus baseball? Enjoy your social life while you have one...

 

[Chaotic42]

Everyone that I've talked to that has majored in EE and CompE has said that they are very difficult. It's not just basic layouts and sound cards and whatnot. It's hardcore physics, math, and engineering. I'm a math/physics major, so I'm not sure exactly what you'll be doing, but everyone I've talked to said that those are the hardest majors.

 

[George P Burdell]

you might want to check out the courses for EE and CMPE in the schools you plan to apply to. at Georgia Tech, they won't let people double major in EE and CMPE, coz both majors differ by only 4-5 courses.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well obviously since i post at AT forums i want to major in something computer related.

I was hoping for some guidance for those who have already gone through college or know a lot about them.

I am thinking of double Majoring in Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Mainly im doing this to gain a more complete understanding of PC and PC micro-architecture. If there are majors that are better for this purpose im all ears.

As for colleges im looking at Penn State, NC State, and Virginia Tech. The big Technology school MIT is out of question as my grades are not goo enough for that. As you guys know what i want to do i suppose youll need some achievement info.

GPA: ~3.4
Am currently taking 2 AP (College Courses).
Am (unless i just stop working) graduating in 2006 (Yeah im a lowly junior) with honors, community service seals, governors seal all that good stuff.
I have never been suspended or "detentioned".
Hopefully going to be inducted in the National Honor Societ
Hopefully going to be my schools starting or relief Varsity Pitcher (Baseball)

Thanks,
-Kevin

Dont say AP's are "college classes"

I took plenty of AP's and they were nothing compared to what i face now in college. I bet they were less than 1/4 of the amount of work, if even that.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Double majoring in EE and CE is virtually worthless for 2 reasons.

There is a lot of overlap. 75% of EE jobs can be done by a CE and vice versa.

In the extra time that it takes to get the dual degrees, you could almost get a masters degree in either area, and you will know more and get paid a lot better.

 

[PoPPeR]

i post on AT and i'm not majoring in a computer related field

 

[MercenaryForHire]

1) Booze
2) Rubbers
3) Video camera
4) ...
5) Profit!

- M4H

 

[beer]

most schools won't let you double major in EE or CompE or for that matter, two engineering majors. it's a conflict of interest amongst the degree programs and most can't handle it - you're not going ot be any smarter than your peers, unlike high school where the top 10% make everything seem so easy. When everyone in your degree program is in the top 10% of their HS...it's a tad different...

 

[Gamingphreek]

Ok well maybe i should say what the AP's are in and what not.

I am in AP English and AP Latin.

I plan on taking (in all my free time lol) AP Caclulus over the summer and AP Statistics next year (Im in Math Analysis right now). And i will hopefully still have time for baseball friends and a job lol.

Also next year i am planning on taking AP Latin (This year is Vegil, next year is Catullus so AP 4 and AP 5), and AP English 12. Are there any courses that i should take in high school? I am already taking C++ and an (INCREDIBLY BORING) Computer Apps class.

That should clear a bit up

Which should i major in. If im looking to deal with PC's on the HW and software (mainly HW, but ill learn what is necessary for MCSE), and microarchitectural level?

-Kevin

 

[PoPPeR]

psh, calculus over the summer isn't too bad. I did it without ever having taken precalc, and with a C in algebra 2 right before it. Also only took the first half of trig. Calculus concepts = easy. Algebra = fvcking hard.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Get into an apprenticeship program to become an electrician or plumber. You will earn far more money, be steadily employed and not have to fight with a million others who are trying to get into the same field.

As a plumber you only have to remember two things, shyt flows downhill and payday is on Friday.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well obviously since i post at AT forums i want to major in something computer related.

...
I am thinking of double Majoring in Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Mainly im doing this to gain a more complete understanding of PC and PC micro-architecture. If there are majors that are better for this purpose im all ears.

...


Thanks,
-Kevin

Firstly, I post here and I am Chemical Engineering

In any case, you double majoring is probably not something you will end up doing. My university (Northeastern in boston) offers a Dual Major. This is a specific major where you have no free electives and you basically do an B.S.E.E and Glorified minor in C.E. (4-5 extra classes, rather than the 9-13 extra for B.S.C.E.) In other words, grabbing 2 engineering B.S. is "impossible" for most people within 4 years. 5-6 years - maybe, but with that extra 2 years, might as well have gotten an M.S.

Electrical engineering is nothing short of difficult. It ranks up there with Chemical Engineering. After Freshman year you will have no free time - sleep will be a commodity.

PC Micro-architecture is not something that my friends hit until end of junior year and senior year advanced courses. So you will have to wade through a lot of other very intensive semi-related material.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Jpark]

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well obviously since i post at AT forums i want to major in something computer related.

I post here and you couldn't pay me enough to major in something computer related.

i couldn't have said it better

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: jpark932

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well obviously since i post at AT forums i want to major in something computer related.

I post here and you couldn't pay me enough to major in something computer related.

i couldn't have said it better

:beer:

 

[FleshLight]

How do you take Calc AP over the summer?

 

[flawlssdistortn]

Look, before you do decide to chose this major you should understand some things. Many people start out in electrical or engineering cause they like computers, video games, and electronics. Of course, who doesn't? It's cool. Even learning how they work is fun and exciting.

But let me say this to you - math is one of the most IMPORTANT things related to engineering. If you don't like working with equations and performing calculations, I definitely think twice. For most of your undergrad, you will be doing mainly "bookwork" and learning "theory". You're not gonna get to build robots or blow stuff up, or any other things that most people first think of. You'll need 3 semesters of calc and one of diff eq. 2 semesters of physics and 2 of chem. I guarantee that you will be bored at one point or another. Not many people find it fun, working out equations that take entire pages to solve. The whole point of it is to develop your skills in math and studying. Mathematics is like learning a foreign language and for engineering, you need a certain level of understanding and finesse with handling equations. This is what separates the tech guy at Best Buy from the real engineers who design the stuff.

And study is another skill you need. You've gotta learn to take any book, no matter how hard a read, get information from it, and apply it.

Engineering is about 85% research and planning, 15% tinkering around with stuff in the basement.

 

[Chaotic42]

Here is what you need for a CompE degree at Miss State.
This is for EE.

 

[Merlyn3D]

Here at UC Davis, CE and EE are so close to each other that they don't allow you to double major in both. Then again, being a EE major, I don't see why you'd want to do that, it's soooooo much work. While your friends will be out partying, often you'll have to stay home and study. It sucks.

 

[faenix]

Originally posted by: MacBaine
Dual major in 2 engineerings, plus baseball? Enjoy your social life while you have one...

True.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: FleshLight
How do you take Calc AP over the summer?

Local Community College with schools permission.

Well good because MAth is probably one of my best subjects, dont even have to study it... show it to me and i know it.

I want to focus mainly on Computer Michroarchitecure, and all that. All the stuff about Video Cards and processes and what not. I am toying with the idea of going 6years ROTC, serving my time gaining 2Lt. and using that as an advantage to future jobs. Eventually i would like to work for CIA or NSA.

However, everything i want is more on a HW level hence engineering majors. The mainreason i picked those 2 is because the editors and what not on Anandtech (ie Anand, Wesley Fink and them) all have something similiar to that, so i thought that is what i would like to focus on.

-Kevin

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Which should i major in. If im looking to deal with PC's on the HW and software (mainly HW,but ill learn what is necessary for MCSE), and microarchitectural level?

-Kevin

HOLY CRAP WARNING WARNING WARNING
how did NO ONE ELSE already comment on this?!?!

EE or CompE is *NOT* MSCE
MCSE, you learn to utilize what has already been engineered. in CompE, you will do the engineering. IF you are compE...you will probably never even look at an Intel platform in undergrad. Why? Way too complex. The 'simplified' 486 bus model occupies an entire chaper in my digital systems book!

There's a huge, huge difference between a cert and a BSEE. You will do the mathematical theory behind the engineering. If you are doing CompE (which you will still probably graduate with a BSEE) you will probably take semiconductor physics courses and you will take electronics courses so you can understand why a device that holds a single bit of information requires tenish transistors to do so and you will learn, extremely well, how each one of those works

MSCE has its place. Not in a college classroom tho.

 

[simms]

Chemical Engineer here too. 2nd year. UT (Toronto) will not let you double major in any two engineerings. Or anything else for that matter.
I had straight A's, a 4.0 average, 90.3% average. And I am getting killed in 2nd year. It's not as easy as you think.
I have 9-5 school days followed by 6 hours of homework at least daily. I am lucky if I get 6 hours of sleep.
Commutes are 3 hours total.

Enjoy.