I didn't get into Comp-Sci :( *UPDATE*

[cyclistca]

Mucman your so close to the required GPA that I would try to fight it. I seems to me that you have a love for computers unlike alot of people in this industry. You need to go and visit the power brokers in the CS department and sell yourself. If you want something you've got to fight for it.

If that does not work you can come and get me in Discovery Park and I'll head up to SFU and kick some ass .

 

[b0mbrman]

<< I didn't get into CS at UCB, my 3.1 gpa didn't cut it. Oh well, guess CS wasn't meant for me anyways. >>



Was this L&S CS? Or did you not get into engineering?

 

[laFiera]

swwitch schools!

 

[Mucman]

cyclistca - Yeah, I am going to talk to and advisor about it... Know of any good tech companies in Discovery park that are hiring? btw, how did you like
the snow a couple weeks ago? I guess I sort of lied when I said we never get snow here

laFiera - I have thought about that, but the fact that I have spent 4 years at this school to get this far (without debt I might add). I find it hard to continue on with school when I just picked up this job that is paying me more than most graduates. I am learning far more with my job than I ever did at school. I might go to a tech institute and pick up a CCNA or something and go that route.

 

[Goldfish]

I got into CompSci at the University of Kentucky .

 

[TallBill]

<< Geez... That's going to stop you!?! Come on!! I've seen people with worse GPA's get into it easily. There is a demand for people like us. Definatly go see the dean! I know people at a local college who are head's of computer departments that don't even know how to use Linux!! Why else would they say it sucks!?! >>

roflmao... just cuz you know "linux" doesnt mean that yer an expert

 

[Mucman]

Goldfish - Congrats! Hope your education goes well!

bob970 - I don't know if your comment is being directed at me, but I thought I should respond anyways. I am not a Linux expert, I use FreeBSD. I am not an expert at that either, but at least I have some enthusiasm to learn it. Many of my classmates were grumpy at having to learn the tools of the trade (vi, unix shell commands) and the fact they had to learn how to program! I gladly assisted them get through some of their hurdles just because that is the way I am, it I don't understand why they are taking these courses when they don't enjoy the material.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

The "I'm there to learn, not to be graded" philosophy is a good one in theory, but you really do need to worry about your grades. Your GPA will make a difference in whether or not you get a good job coming out of college. Sure, once you have the experience it doesn't matter, but until then that's all they have to go on.

What's your GPA within the CS classes? If you've done well in those classes (which you should have if you understood the material, even if you didn't care about the grade), you should be able to get the department to make an exception for you.

My overall GPA is 3.75, but my GPA in the CS field is 4.0. There should be a similar difference for you; if CS is what you know and love, the tests will be easy.

 

[Mucman]

Sir Frederick - My overall GPA is 3.05, but CPGA (Computer related GPA) is 2.86. It is low because it ignores the Physics and Chem courses that I took (where I got A's in) and includes a couple arts courses (where I got C+'s in). I got B-,B, and B+'s in my computer classes. They say that they look at my overall transcript when deciding who gets in... The accpeptance GPA also changes every semester. I will probably apply again in the summer hoping for a lower acceptance GPA.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< Sir Frederick - My overall GPA is 3.05, but CPGA (Computer related GPA) is 2.86. It is low because it ignores the Physics and Chem courses that I took (where I got A's in) and includes a couple arts courses (where I got C+'s in). I got B-,B, and B+'s in my computer classes. They say that they look at my overall transcript when deciding who gets in... The accpeptance GPA also changes every semester. I will probably apply again in the summer hoping for a lower acceptance GPA. >>



If you have a lower GPA in computer related classes, that *might* be an indication that CS is not for you. It sounds like you're more of a math/physics guy, although I don't understand why they include arts classes in with the computer related classes.

They might be doing you a favor. I know a girl who got her BS in CS, but her grades in CS classes were worse than those for her other classes. Now that she's working she realizes that CS is not for her, so she's going into Biomechanical Engineering now.

 

[db]

If you can learn to take care of priorities first rather than sacrifice yourself for others, then your 4 years were not wasted.
Besides, lots of people are only book smart, but can't apply things in the real world.
Keep on being a nice, guy--just not to your own detriment.

Edit: You'd be surprised how well people do in the work world who simply pass MS certified exams. It's "not fair" but the money is real.
You can eventually get to where you want by working your way around in the work world.

See how the system works, then use those
"rules" to get where you want.
Employers in the CS/IS world want *experience*. Sometimes an MS cert means more to an employer than a 4 yr degree!
Use their ignorance and stupid rules to your advantage. Or do it the hard way, and regret it 30 years from now when you see what you
could have done had you only known.

 

[Mucman]

Sir Fredrick - I actually intended to be a bio-chem major during my first year. I kicked arse and had a GPA of 3.5. I then took COMP-101 which was intro to C++ programming. I loved it! Never did I enjoy a course so much. I have always loved computers since I was 10, but it never occured to me to work with computers for some odd reason . I did really well in the digital logic and circuit design courses. I always had 90% or greater in all computer assignments but the final exams always hurt me. I had to take 2 arts courses as part of the 'breadth' requirment. I took a philosophy course and a Canadian studies course. Both if which I really enjoyed, but I can't write a paper.

db - I know I said it felt like I wasted my time in one of my above posts, but that was just an emotional rant . Those four years taught me many things about myself, how I deal with stress, time management, eating on a budget , and many cool computer and math skills. I certainly wouldn't say it is a waste upon reflection.

 

[db]

Mucman - I too do not think you wasted your 4 years. You have learned much outside the classroom--how to deal with things is extremely valuable.
You sound like someone who cares about doing something right, and about integrity.

Again, if you simply watch how the system works (flawed as it is) and apply that knowledge, you will make more progress and have more peace of mind.
I'm not saying the way things are is fair; that's simply the way it is. You can swim upstream or you can use the current to your advantage.

 

[Mucman]

<< You sound like someone who cares about doing something right, >>



That describes me to a tee Just ask my boss... When I re-wired our network room I was all about standards. When you do things right you don't stress about potential problems that can occur because of short-cuts taken. If you do it right and it still fails, then you can usually shrug the problem off to bad luck, faulty equipment, but you can't blame yourself because you did it RIGHT!

OK, that's enough lecturing out of me

 

[udonoogen]

<<

<< I didn't get into CS at UCB, my 3.1 gpa didn't cut it. Oh well, guess CS wasn't meant for me anyways. >>

Was this L&S CS? Or did you not get into engineering? >>



L&S cs is the only one that you have to apply into. the only CS in engineering is EECS ... and most people get into that right after hs. and the # of people trying to get into the major is ridiculous. you learn a lot trying to get into the major tho. =)

for everyone else that doesnt make it in @ ucb ... theres always cognitive science. =P bwahaha

 

[Mucman]

********************** UPDATE ************************

I talked to an advisor today and found out and have 0% chance of getting in and that the best I can do is get a certificate.

Now I have a question for you employers out there. What do you think when
you see a resume that says "certificate in Comp-Sci"? Do you presume the person was not smart enough to get a degre, or didn't have the work ethic? I am almost thinking that it would be better not not get the certificate because of that.

Oh well, I guess I don't have to deal with the messed up school system anymore.. The degree was more for personal satisfaction than anything else. I am still going to see what it would take for a math degree though... even though it will take another 3 years

 

[AU Tiger]

Do they have MIS in your Business school. I was in my second year trying to decide majors when I found out about the MIS program. Instead of going the science route you can go the business route.

 

[Mucman]

LOL! Mucman and business to not mix , I prefer binary vs. numbers with dollar signs attached .

 

[quantide]

<<

<<

<< I didn't get into CS at UCB, my 3.1 gpa didn't cut it. Oh well, guess CS wasn't meant for me anyways. >>

Was this L&S CS? Or did you not get into engineering? >>



L&S cs is the only one that you have to apply into. the only CS in engineering is EECS ... and most people get into that right after hs. and the # of people trying to get into the major is ridiculous. you learn a lot trying to get into the major tho. =)

for everyone else that doesnt make it in @ ucb ... theres always cognitive science. =P bwahaha >>



lol, cognitive science. I have a 3.4 overall and technical gpa and am fearing that I wont get into computer science, but i decided that if i dont, id transfer to sjstate or cal poly SLO. there is no way im wasting my time with cognitive science major.. what jobs can u actually get with that major anyway?!??!

 

[sitka]

Hey Mucman, Go Clan.

 

[cyclistca]

<< LOL! Mucman and business to not mix , I prefer binary vs. numbers with dollar signs attached . >>




As a business programmer let me tell you that those numbers with dollar signs lead to big pay cheques with dollar signs .

Well at least you tried Mucman.

If it will make you feel better ask the head of the CS deparment to met you out in front of SFU and I'll run over them with my 4 X 4 .

If your into the hardware aspect you would be better off to get out of there as fast as you can and take a one of those one year tech courses.

 

[Mucman]

sitka - You an SFU grad?

cyclistca - I am not interested in being rich , I want a job where I get to learn the nitty gritty on how things work.

I wonder if there is a demand for low voltage data wiring in homes? I enjoyed wiring my house and the server room at work... I think the era of the smart home is coming and I should jump in

 

[DaveSimmons]

<< Now I have a question for you employers out there. What do you think when >>

I've been involved with hiring developers as a lead developer at a small software company, including reading resumes and being part of job interviews. For application development a certificate would have to be backed up with some significant job-related experience to come any where near someone with a "real" degree. Even a 2-year associate degree would put you at the bottom of the hiring stack at a small company since they / we need people with a solid background who won't need much supervision.

Larger companies or public sector may be a different story since then you get to be a tiny cog in big programming projects (what fun!) or work on simple stuff.

 

"Now that I have wasted 4 years and lots of money I feel very gipped."

Huh? Four years? Should not you be graduating instead of applying to a school of <insert major>. It would seem to me you would have some major you would qualify for a degree in. What were you doing all that while? Or am I missing something?

Or do you mean an MS degree? Can you please clarify/elaborate?

"I am considering Mathematics now. I love math and it will increase my problem solving and analytic skills. Don't know what kind of GPA is required to get in though."

Hehehe! You're giving math majors a bad name. I recall one of my CS professors once said that it was before perceived as a not so intelligent person's resort to switch to CS when he was not doing well in mathematics major. However, now it is the reverse: if you're a CS major but don't do well, then you switch to mathematics.

I'm not sure I fully subscribe to that, though. :/

 

[Mucman]

luvly - The reason for the slow process is because I spent my first year undecided on what I wanted to do... I went from arachnology to bio-chem and nuclear physics... After my 2nd semester I knew I wanted to go into computers. I have also worked part time during most of my semester and have always worked 4 months full time in the summer. I am debt free and have have not received any help from my parents (my choice). I don't think a couple years is too much of a sacrifice... better than being clueless like some 4 year graduates I have seen who have never had a job or lived on their own. Where I go to school acceptance GPA is determined by demand. the CS program here is so crowded that the GPA has been going up every semester, while not as many people are going to math, because they are switching to CS. Also, I thought I was doing pretty good. I understood the course concepts a lot better than my classmates, but final exams always killed me because I don't memorize all that stuff well (I usually went into the finals with over 80%).

DaveSimmons - That is why I am asking whether I should even bother with a cert. I only need two more courses to get it, and it would be in courses where I already know the material because of work related experience.

Maybe I should contact Russ and see if I can get an NCNE!