Advice from Upperclassmen
Andres J. Tack, Sameer Sundresh
Goals!
Keeping You Awake. Keeping Me Awake. Getting you to ask the “I’m clueless” questions. Filling in the gaps, covering the things you haven’t thought about yet.
Disclaimer!
You might fall asleep. I might draw on you. These are my opinions, not those of the UI or of the DCS. Take them as no more than that. Not following my advice does not mean you fail out and live alone.
Tack; One Year Ago.
Asleep in CS 100 Asleep in CS 225 Bored in CS 173 Doing Homework (maybe) Taking some forgettable GenEds
This lecture, from someone else.
Spoke in CS 100 (like me now) No-Nonsense Curriculum Advice Emphasized importance of doing Projects Took us out to a bar.
Classes: Which to take?
Math Classes
Math and CS are related, but definitely different. If you are in Math/CS: Consider Switching Math/CS will do more math and is a good major, but your degree reads LAS. ENGR/CS is more engineering-focused. CS 173 is a different thing... hang on.
Math Options
Take the ones in Red Calculus III: 241 or 380 (at least 1st-yr) DiffEQ: 385 or 441 Linear Algebra: 225 or 415 Probability: 461 or 463* Others: Ask someone who took them!
GenEds
Two philosophies: Get them out of the way, take CS later Hold on to GenEds to make 400-level CS load lighter Your larger goal should be progress in CS. GenEds virtually don’t matter for careers. Take the classes you will enjoy!
Most Important CS Classes
CS 173 CS 225 CS 232 CS 241 CS 273
In Over Your Head?
Don’t be afraid to DROP IT LIKE IT’S GOING OUT OF FASHION AND YOUR GIRLFRIEND WILL LEAVE YOU.
What do I think is important?
Projects. Do projects. Get involved in projects. Take some classes, especially the ones that are really “cool” and “useful.” Do some more projects, do them well too.
Why?
Tack at his First Job Fair
“Wow, you really are a freshman.” --Cisco “We’ll put it in the system.” --VMWare “So... What have you done?” --Riverglass “*apologetic look*” --Microsoft
The Hunt for a Project Group
Easy, good resources: ACM SIG (whatever) Independent Groups: All you really need is a firm goal and people who are excited about it.
Goldielocks and the T’ree Bearss
Gamebuilders: Too Hot MacWarriors: Too Cold WCS: Too Female SIGSoft: Good!
A Word on Independent groups
The Big Issue: No backbone to guide you Think about how you are going to manage the project!
Graduate school
Outline: I. What is graduate school? II. Is graduate school for me? III. Ok, you've suckered me in. Now what?
I. What is graduate school?
What is graduate school?
●
MS (master's degree)
– more
classes + a small research project apprenticeship training for a particular line of
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PhD (doctorate)
– research
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JD/MBA/MD (professional degree)
– immersive
work
II. Is graduate school for you?
What do you want to do in life?
●
What are your goals?
– Are
they really your goals, or just what other people have told you? it work? are your backup plans?
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What is your strategy?
– Will – What
Why graduate school?
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Better preparation for work at a company
–
MS, MBA
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Essential for a career in research (professor, industrial lab) or college teaching
–
PhD
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Opportunity to focus on studying the specific areas which interest you
–
MS, PhD
Why not graduate school?
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My family says I have to
–
They're trying to help you, but you should make your own decisions if you want to succeed.
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I think research is boring
–
Then don't try to do a PhD. That depends on you. Grad school can be part of your strategy, but is not a packaged solution.
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I want to get rich
–
Why maybe graduate school?
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I want more time to learn, reflect on my options in life, and develop my skills.
–
Don't get carried away, do graduate eventually.
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I'm already working and want to change my career path.
– –
Make sure it's what you want to do. Grad school sets you up for the next step after it.
Money
●
Graduate Teaching Assistants & Research Assistants make $15,000-$20,000 a year. Amazon offers $80,000+/year for a BS in CS. Is a little more money going to make you much happier or give you more influence?
–
●
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It might help you get by, but it won't fix your life.
Three ways to fight the system
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Make a lot of money, do whatever you want
– –
startups finance research startups social life (not as difficult as you might think!) good work environment (responsible employer)
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Change the world through innovation
– –
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Ignore the power struggle and enjoy life
– –
III. Ok, you've suckered me in. Now what?
Established areas of CS research
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Algorithms & complexity Computer architecture Databases & data mining Graphics Human-computer interaction Numerical methods Programming languages & formal methods Systems & networking
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So you want to be a researcher...
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Figure out what areas interest you Start reading
– –
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wikipedia.org citeseer.ist.psu.edu
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Get a research job or independent study. Sufficient prerequisites:
–
CS 273, CS 225, and one class in that area
●
Do an internship so you know the alternative. Hit the ground running in grad school.
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Getting into grad school
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Undergrad research (previous slide)
– experience – recommendations
● ●
Good grades Cogent statement of purpose
Succeeding in grad school
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Stay focused, always 2 steps ahead Publish papers regularly (1-2 per year) Enmesh yourself in the relevant research communities. Act like you're qualified, back it up with knowing what you're doing.
–
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We're always bluffing to some degree. The question is how erroneous are your bluffs, and how critical will peoples' responses be?
Action items reiterated
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Figure out what areas interest you Start reading
– –
●
wikipedia.org citeseer.ist.psu.edu
●
Get a research job or independent study. Sufficient prerequisites:
–
CS 273, CS 225, and one class in that area
●
Do an internship so you know the alternative. Hit the ground running in grad school
●