Bachelor in Computer Science - North Carolina State University (Winner)
Editors Note: This computer science student story essay was selected as the winner of BrainTrack's Computer Science Schools Scholarship for fall 2009. At the time of submittal the winner, Matthew Alexander Poulos, was studying for a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Wishes Had Known | Program Likes/Dislikes | Choosing Computer ScienceWhat do you wish you had known about selecting and entering your computer science school that would be helpful to others going into computer science?
I think emphasizing interpersonal skills would be helpful for those seeking to do computer science. Computer science is frequently thought of as a solitary discipline, however the reality is that you will always be interacting with people. The better you can communicate to other people, the more valuable you are. Good communication skills will take you much farther than where good coding skills alone will. This includes knowing the right method of communicating. Sometimes, an e-mail is appropriate. Other times, an instant message or phone call is better suited for your purpose. Learning to navigate in the world of digital communication is something of which I wish I had a better grasp.
I would also emphasize getting a broad foundation. Your university may only require you to learn one or two programming languages, but experimenting with other languages, paradigms, and technologies is amazingly useful. I have my current internship largely because of extracurricular exploration with Linux and Java in high school. Nurture your curiosity! Well trained curiosity could prepare you for your next job, without you even knowing it. This was certainly the case for me. There are a plethora of technologies out there to be tapped and explored. At my internship, we're encouraged often to explore new technologies. The more you are familiar with, the more likely you are to choose the right tool for the job. Also, having broad experience will usually make landing a job easier, and make you more valuable once you're there.
What have you enjoyed most and least during your computer science degree program so far?
Without a doubt, what I've enjoyed the most during my schooling thus far was the Undergraduate Research I took part in. It was an interdepartmental effort which brought together all sorts of engineering disciplines, everyone from environmental engineering, to civil engineering, to computer science. Basically, we created a “smart bridge,” for an exposition day at the State of North Carolina Legislature. As the computer science team, we were responsible for placing sensors on the bridge and collecting data. We hooked various kinds of sensors to small devices which had wireless radios. This allowed us great flexibility in types of data we could gather. Once gathered, we used wireless modem to upload the data and displayed it on a website. It was an amazing opportunity to take part in such a multifaceted project.
The thing that I've enjoyed the least has been my theoretical courses, notably Discrete Math and Data Structures. Some of this had to do with instructors and other circumstances, but a lot of it was that it was often difficult to see the application of what we were studying. This was more a problem in Discrete Math. These studies are undoubtedly important to computer science, and have contributed loads to the discipline. My interests generally with lie with programming and software however, and this showed in my experience with these courses.
What led you to choose computer science as a career path?
My love of computer science began with my father. He has always been fascinated with technology, and he passed on that love to me. I've been programming various electronic devices on and off since middle school, beginning with the TI-83+ calculator. In High School, despite a troublesome technology program, I began experimenting with C++ and Java. One of the most appealing things about Computer Science is the impact technology is having all around the world. Computers have revolutionized everything from health care in the developing world to bible study. Many opportunities present themselves. One can go the way of the large corporation and work for some of the most successful businesses of all time, like Google or IBM. One can go the way of the small startup, with the daring idea that may change everything. One can even go the way of the humanitarian, using the powerful means of technology to ease human suffering. The One Laptop Per Child Initiative certainly comes to mind. I eventually hope to contribute to the humanitarian with my technological know-how. Our technological advancements are in vain if they can't in some way draw us closer as people and help us ease the suffering of those around the world. I'm not quite sure what form this will take yet, but I am excited because I know that I'm learning skills right now that will shape the way I approach problems for the rest of my life.