Editors Note: This computer science student story was selected from entries to BrainTrack's Computer Science Schools Scholarship for Spring 2010. At the time of submittal this entrant was studying for a Bachelor in Computer Science at Miami University of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio.
Wishes Had Known | Program Likes/Dislikes | Choosing Computer Science
What do you wish you had known about selecting and entering your computer science school that would be helpful to others going into computer science?
If I had known to get started with a professor earlier in research I believe I would have been benefited greatly. While I am getting into research in an area that interests me right now, I always felt anxious about when I would finally get to explore my interests in the computer science area. If I had known to contact a professor and develop a relationship early on, I believe I could have relieved that anxiety and felt more fulfilled with what I was doing.
Other than that, I believe that students should not come into these programs expecting to type on a keyboard all day or sit in front of a computer screen. This major involves a lot of problem solving strategies, which will appear in the natural sciences and mathematics. This means that the entrants into this program must also enjoy these other aspects of problem solving. For instance, I was put into chemistry classes by the Honor's program and was unable to choose the science which interests me: physics. Students need to learn how to mold the programs requirements into a comprehensive learning strategy that interests them, so they can feel fulfilled with their choice to be a Computer Science major. Also, students should generally learn to enjoy their work and do it leisurely. Make every assignment a personal challenge because in college one should no longer be doing assignments out of monotony; one should be excited about doing something that he or she loves.
What have you enjoyed most and least during your computer science degree program so far?
The Computer Science program at Miami University is not the biggest program, however, this size has really helped me to learn directly from my professors. When we have questions, the office hours are usually convenient and lenient allowing me to get personalized instruction and critique of my code. I am currently in my second semester of my freshman year in this program and have learned Java quite extensively along with a lot of chemistry and mathematics—two integral parts of problem solving are understanding these concepts.
Also, the undergraduate research opportunities are allowing me to explore my interests specifically. I am currently speaking to one of the professors in the Computer Science program about his research in virtual reality, re-directive walking and inertial sensors. This area encompasses many of my interests—three: dimensional environments, virtual reality, and the science behind making virtual reality work. The program is allowing me more real-world experience early-on in my career, while I am still learning.
As far as aspects of the program I do not like, there are very few. Professors are usually understandable, open to suggestion, and helpful in many different ways. But if I had to choose an aspect of the program I like least, it would be the limitation on freshman as far as course work goes. In order to get started in the higher-up classes, one must first take the necessary core curriculum. However, I am excited to learn more and cannot wait to get past the elementary parts of Computer Science.
What led you to choose computer science as a career path?
Ever since I was young, I have been surrounded by computers, videogames and new technologies. My father was fascinated with these, as they each pertained to his own business. He was a computer engineer with a business specializing in computer repair, design and networking. While my father’s fascination exposed me to computers, it could not define how I wanted to know about computers. The hardware was interesting and mysterious to me, but I always wondered how the games I played were made both digitally and mechanically. I always examined the logic behind my video games and simple programs such as Microsoft Word.
I never understood these concepts until I took a course that focused on Visual Basic—my first programming language. In this course, I not only excelled, but I did extra assignments beyond the classroom starting with games. Never before had I looked forward to a class in my high school. The logic part of programming has always kept me interested but when combined with a whole other language, and the interpretation of that language, I am fascinated. I have also looked into many careers in this area such as code analysis, but I will soon do more exploration within the gaming world as well, as my interests are coming to fruition at Miami. Instead of imagining making digital worlds and all the programming behind them, I will soon be learning how to implement such possibilities through research in virtual worlds and virtual reality devices.
I have also always felt that in a team sometimes the programmer is the most important person because they must make the whole project come alive. Overall, this seems like the best possible career path for me. I have always been told to “find something [I] love.” Well, I suppose that logic and problem solving coupled with the ability to see my work graphically is exactly what I “love,” and I cannot wait to further my career.
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