If you’re thinking about becoming a computer science major, that’s very good news for you! Technology is one of the most well-paid, fastest-growing fields around, so you’re looking at a bright future. That said, it can be a daunting four years of study, so check out some of the following advice and make sure that you seriously think it through.
Make Sure This is What You Want
Computer science is difficult. There’s reason engineering and programming jobs tend to be high-paying. Not everyone can do them. Before you start on this journey, think about what you might like to do with it. Perhaps even talk to some recent graduates to see what their plans are. It could be that you want to do something in tech that doesn’t require this much difficulty, and you wouldn’t want to waste time and money studying the wrong thing. You could be a graphic designer, a business manager or even a publicist. There are many other doors open to people interested in tech, so make sure computer science is the one you want to walk through.
Math Is Vital
We wish we had better news for you if you’re not amazing at math, but there’s no way around it. You’ll use it all the time in your career as a programmer or an engineer. If this is an area you need to improve upon, do it as soon and as rigorously as you can. Seek out tutors, study groups and make friends with your professors. Your work will be considerably slowed down if you’re held up on the mounds of necessary mathematics you’ll need to tackle each project. You’ll probably start falling behind sooner rather than later, so do whatever you can in order to succeed.
Don’t JUST Depend on Your Professors for Help
If you feel like you’re falling behind, by all means, hit up your professor first. That’s what their office hours are for. That said, they probably have a lot of students to deal with, and they won’t always be there, so cultivate some other sources of help. If you’re at Hofstra University, odds are there are upperclassmen that are willing to give you some assistance. There’s also a big internet out there full of people who’ve probably had the same problem. Now, if you’re feeling stuck on a personal matter, like wanting to learn more about Maryville’s doctorate in education online, this would be a problem for a guidance counselor.
Keep Abreast of Current Trends
If you’re going to be in the tech world, you need to stay on top of what’s hot and what’s not. Follow tech blogs, dive into appropriate subreddits and keep up with figures in the field you admire. The more of this type of knowledge you carry about your own field, the more prepared you’ll be to enter the competitive workforce. This way you won’t only graduate with a major in computer science, you’ll also have an education in what’s happening in your industry.
