Question Regarding College Major

[Gamingphreek]

I am a Sophomore in College and was studying to become a Computer Engineer. Recently after taking Second Semester Physics and seeing the classes heavy in Circuitry, I realized that though it sounds interesting form the outside, looking in there it isn't.

I am instead going the Computer Science route. I have never found programming that hard, and though I have only taken entry level classes, I have found that I prefer being in front of a computer rather than bent over a circuit board for hours.

I hope to do Security/Counter-Security for the CIA or NSA.

Despite this I do have one problem. I am in Multi Variable Calculus right now. I have a decent grasp on most of the concepts throughout the year; however the professor's partial credit system is seriously flawed (If I miss the first part of the problem, regardless if the rest of the concepts are right I can not get any credit on the rest of the problems).

Our class average on the first test was a 35--> I got a 38. On the second test the class average was a 15--> I got a 7. We retook the second test and I class average was a 40 --> I got a 25.

Over Thanksgiving break we were given 50 sequence/series problems to do (Not complaining but it took over 14 hours to do all of them). We have 2 tests (1 this week, 1 next week)- and then we have the 2 part Final Exam (The week following). Right now even if I get a 100 on both of the tests, the best I can get is an 80 something in the class.

I have 3 questions regarding this:
* Does a College require a teacher to curve grades up so the class average is passing?
* We have 6 withdraw credits for our undergraduate degree where we can withdraw from a class without grade penalty. Would you think this is a good case to use 3 of mine and wait until summer and take this at the community College?
* Does Computer Science depend heavily on Multi Variable Calculus?

This has been killing me for some time because my parents pay for my college provided I do well, and in my mind a 2.51 GPA for my Freshman year is not doing well enough to thank them-- not only that withdrawing from a course requires that I take the course again and pay more money.

Thanks,
-Kevin

 

[nonameo]

I didn't read the thread, but you have to major in whatever will make you an investment banker. You'll have to work 80-100 hours a week, but you'll make bank like crazy. It's the ATOT way.

You will also magically find the time to date the hottest of women(who also just happen to have all of the other right qualities), game, lift weights, post on ATOT all day, and bicker about politics.

 

[magomago]

It depends where you go in ICS. I can most definitely see stuff like laplace transforms being use all over the place in image processing along with your multivar calc....although as far as math is concerned mult var calc is pretty straight foreward. Things will most defnitely get more complicated when you hit vector calculus or have to deal with heaviside functions so keep that in mind....

And as for a professor - usually its tough luck. There is another professor where I go that typically fails over half the class...of those who choose not to drop it by week 6. You have enrollment around 120 when it starts, and by week six maybe its like 35 kids? And then most who pass get through with Cs. And when you make ONE mistake on the HW or the Tests...he stops reading and puts a zero for the problem. Of course all kids cheat on the HW, so last I heard it was worth only 5% of the grade.

Cliffs:
A) math is gonna get harder, and some areas of ICS use it a lot and others don't...I have no idea if algorithms employ heavy use of it, but I would guess no
B) Even if you suck the Dean's wee-wee its almost certain nothing will change when it comes to how the professor do things.

 

[Gamingphreek]

We haven't done Laplace Transforms. I have already taken and gotten a B in Vector Calculus.

Next semester I am scheduled to take Differential Equations and, as soon as I get around to adding and dropping classes, Discrete Math.

Right now, I just don't understand how any of this will be used in Computer Programming-- More specifically Networking. I'm not saying I'm the authority on this, I just don't understand how it can be used again.

The main problem is when I put in 10 hours of studying and I fail the test because of crappy grading. I then put in 6 hours on HW and it comes back with a 63 written on it. Like it killed any confidence I had going for me at the beginning of the course.

-Kevin

 

[spidey07]

Security and network security in general relies HEAVILY on math. Intelligent pattern matching, state tracking/matching, etc. So if you don't really like math it might not be a good fit for you.

 

[frostedflakes]

Where are you going to school? That grading is seriously F'ed up in my opinion. Surely the grades will be curved, because going by the averages you posted nobody will pass the class if they aren't!

I wouldn't let it get you down too much as long as you feel you have a good grasp on the material. It sounds like you're getting low marks because your teacher's an ass, not because you don't know what you're doing. GPA will help you get in the door when you go to interview, but what's really going to matter is what you know. Just make sure you understand the material and get a passing grade and I would dwell on it too much.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
We haven't done Laplace Transforms. I have already taken and gotten a B in Vector Calculus.

Next semester I am scheduled to take Differential Equations and, as soon as I get around to adding and dropping classes, Discrete Math.

Right now, I just don't understand how any of this will be used in Computer Programming-- More specifically Networking. I'm not saying I'm the authority on this, I just don't understand how it can be used again.

The main problem is when I put in 10 hours of studying and I fail the test because of crappy grading. I then put in 6 hours on HW and it comes back with a 63 written on it. Like it killed any confidence I had going for me at the beginning of the course.

-Kevin

Actual programming is a small part of a computer science degree. You may take 2-3 courses that focus specifically on programming and learning the language, the rest will mainly focus on the theory behind computer science. It's not so much about being able to program, but being able to use programming to solve problems. And this means a lot of reliance on math, not necessarily calculus though. Most computer science problems use different fields of math like discrete mathematics, but there are plenty of applications where you will need to know calculus.

 

[Gibson486]

Don't worry. It gets better. What you are gonna get pissed about is after you graduate. It just gets worse...no matter what. For engineering, it goes downhill until you have the guts to step into the business side of things.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Don't get me wrong. I have definitely not mastered the material and I definitely have not outside of lately been putting as much time into this class as I should have been. MY test grades definitely SHOULD be higher than they are but, it is up to me to overcome bad grading schemes by leaving no room for error.

I talked to him after class and he gave the class a pool of like 80 problems on sequences and series that will be on the test. Furthermore, he said he doesn't have to curve the grades (In fact they are higher than Blackboard indicates he said-- but I doubt many are passing). So right now I am just going to slave over studying for this class and put the other classes on the back burner in some respects.

I'm more concerned about my major. I know I want to work with DoD, or CIA, or NSA or something-- if Security is heavy on this stuff (Not saying I can't do it) would you think there are other jobs in the intelligence field that focus more on programming?

-Kevin

 

[razor2025]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Don't worry. It gets better. What you are gonna get pissed about is after you graduate. It just gets worse...no matter what. For engineering, it goes downhill until you have the guts to step into the business side of things.

Which means you should've went for business degree to begin with... oh why didn't I take the easy route.

<- CS undergrad, doing management certificate on side, and considering business degree after graduation.

 

[razor2025]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

I'm more concerned about my major. I know I want to work with DoD, or CIA, or NSA or something-- if Security is heavy on this stuff (Not saying I can't do it) would you think there are other jobs in the intelligence field that focus more on programming?

-Kevin

If you're really interested in working for government, your best bets are;

Sign up and get a internship/co-op with one of the departments. You'll get the experience, contact, and maybe a minor-level security clearance. That should help you get your foot into the door.

Sign up for military service. Hope to avoid getting shot. Get trained in computer/network skills and get degree (have the services pay for it). That should give you a red carpet into one of those government job you're seeking.

I know a friend at my college who's doing a co-op with NSA, she commented that the work wasn't great and it was below her expectation. Don't get me wrong, her future looks super-bright with that co-op under her belt.