Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science • Hacker News Board

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#41

Post by rodly » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 5:34 AM UTC

suresk wrote: post #26

I cringe a little bit in some of these education threads. On one hand, students who chose to major in something that isn't very marketable right now are lambasted for making a poor decision based on what sounds interesting to them, and they get blame heaped on them for being in debt and having nothing to show for it. On the other hand, when people choose CS - a field that has very good earning prospects right now - t…

I think people who are entering college with the mindset that a degree is simply an accolade to garner large sums of money are misunderstanding the principal of college and higher-education learning. You go to college because you're interested in something enough to pursue a greater understanding of it. The degree is simply a token that you're not full of shit. So whether you're complaining about student debt or validating your academic decisions with shallow dreams of making six-figures, you're in for a pretty boring 4+ years of passionless note-taking and test-taking (fine by me).

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#42

Post by newsoundwave » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 5:37 AM UTC

aphexairlines wrote: post #40

suresk wrote: post #26

I cringe a little bit in some of these education threads. On one hand, students who chose to major in something that isn't very marketable right now are lambasted for making a poor decision based on what sounds interesting to them, and they get blame heaped on them for being in debt and having nothing to show for it. On the other hand, when people choose CS - a field that has very good earning prospects right now - t…

What's wrong with people choosing CS for the money? The more people become literate in our field, the better off we are as a society, probably.

While that's true, I feel like there's going to be plenty of awful programmers in the group that's just in it for the money (although that's not to say there won't be passionate programmers who are also awful - they're just more likely to want to improve themselves).

With much of CS and programming being so collaborative, those that just don't have the talent or the heart for it generally cause more hassle and grief for the rest of us.

Of course, I'm also not assuming that I'm not an awful programmer myself, but I really do love CS and try to improve myself all the time.

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#43

Post by mukaiji » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 5:40 AM UTC

giardini wrote: post #37

capkutay wrote: post #18

Luckily, many people can major CS but only the competent can pass...given its a respectable program.

It's Stanford! Like medical school, once you're in, _nobody_ fails. If you need tutoring, money or a sympathetic shoulder, there's plenty available.

Oh, people do fail. They just withdraw, keep attending the course, and retake it for a grade the quarter after. As long as they get the subject eventually, it's all that matters, right?

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#44

Post by mukaiji » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 5:47 AM UTC

Mehan Sahami. Eric Roberts. Julie Zelenski. Jerry Cain. (bonus: keith schwarz). Look no further for explaining the rise in popularity and quality of the Stanford CS intro course. I had the privilege of sitting in the class of each of these guys and they were all respectively the best professor/teacher I ever had. Period.

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#45

Post by robyates » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 5:57 AM UTC

“A quarter of all undergraduates and more than 50% of graduate students [at Stanford] are engineering majors."

I can attest Stanford really feels like a tech school in disguise, especially at the graduate level.

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#46

Post by taskstrike » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 6:12 AM UTC

newsoundwave wrote: post #42

aphexairlines wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's wrong with people choosing CS for the money? The more people become literate in our field, the better off we are as a society, probably.

While that's true, I feel like there's going to be plenty of awful programmers in the group that's just in it for the money (although that's not to say there won't be passionate programmers who are also awful - they're just more likely to want to improve themselves). With much of CS and programming being so collaborative, those that just don't have the talent or the heart for it generally cause more hassle and grief…

CS weeds out the bad programmers so they never graduate. If you can pass Stanford's CS program you are probably pretty smart.

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#47

Post by mkramlich » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 6:29 AM UTC

rodly wrote: post #41

suresk wrote: post #26

I cringe a little bit in some of these education threads. On one hand, students who chose to major in something that isn't very marketable right now are lambasted for making a poor decision based on what sounds interesting to them, and they get blame heaped on them for being in debt and having nothing to show for it. On the other hand, when people choose CS - a field that has very good earning prospects right now - t…

I think people who are entering college with the mindset that a degree is simply an accolade to garner large sums of money are misunderstanding the principal of college and higher-education learning. You go to college because you're interested in something enough to pursue a greater understanding of it. The degree is simply a token that you're not full of shit. So whether you're complaining about student debt or vali…

> You go to college because you're interested in something enough to pursue a greater understanding of it.

Except you can already learn as much as you want, for free, on your own time, without limit, forever, without having to spend the money & extra time costs of college. It's like we live in a world with bodies and gravity and yet folks need to drive to a gym where they buy an expensive membership just so they can exercise their muscles and lungs. It's ludicrous from a certain point of view.

Pro-tip to all 18-somethings that are considering going to college: you can buy all those college textbooks, or equivalent, directly, without going to university. Even better, you can get the same instructional material and references cheaper or even free. But then you would already know that IF you truly had a thirst for knowledge and greater understanding. You already would have been self-educating long before reaching 18. (Unless your parents held you back, horrible family life, locked in a box, etc. all the reasonable exceptional cases -- but even then there is almost always a way to learn and gain greater understanding, without spending the big bucks.)

And I love college in many ways. But, "Death to college!" Let's keep the best parts and then trash or fix the rest.

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#48

Post by Wilya » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 6:35 AM UTC

rodly wrote: post #41

suresk wrote: post #26

I cringe a little bit in some of these education threads. On one hand, students who chose to major in something that isn't very marketable right now are lambasted for making a poor decision based on what sounds interesting to them, and they get blame heaped on them for being in debt and having nothing to show for it. On the other hand, when people choose CS - a field that has very good earning prospects right now - t…

I think people who are entering college with the mindset that a degree is simply an accolade to garner large sums of money are misunderstanding the principal of college and higher-education learning. You go to college because you're interested in something enough to pursue a greater understanding of it. The degree is simply a token that you're not full of shit. So whether you're complaining about student debt or vali…

That's one of the things to do in college. Gaining a shiny degree that will help you get a better job is another. Meeting people who will help you in your career is yet another.

There are many reasons to go to college. Learning interesting stuff is just one of them.

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#49

Post by zura » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 6:43 AM UTC

aphexairlines wrote: post #40

suresk wrote: post #26

I cringe a little bit in some of these education threads. On one hand, students who chose to major in something that isn't very marketable right now are lambasted for making a poor decision based on what sounds interesting to them, and they get blame heaped on them for being in debt and having nothing to show for it. On the other hand, when people choose CS - a field that has very good earning prospects right now - t…

What's wrong with people choosing CS for the money? The more people become literate in our field, the better off we are as a society, probably.

I guess it depends on the person, but I think, many of such people will become bored and unhappy after some time.

Re: Stanford's Most Popular Major Is Now Computer Science

#50

Post by mkramlich » Wed, Jul 04, 2012, 6:45 AM UTC

I think the rise in CS at Stanford is due to a confluence of several factors, not any single one thing:

* The Social Network & The Death of Steve Jobs (capitalized for a reason) & The Rise of Elon Musk, Mr. PayPal-Tesla-SpaceX & the other software billionaires doing exciting things getting media coverage

* the software/startup "bubble" -- the perception of it anyway; the crazy big acquisitions of young one soft-product companies with low/no revenue and only 1-3 years old, etc.

* crappy job market right now for 18 year olds, or even a twenty-something graduate with a non-STEM degree

* iOS & Android app development, the tutorials, how easy it appears you can make money at it. iPhones as a gateway drug leading in that direction for some percentage of it's more ambitious users. Rise of Apple in general and the Mac, an additional vector leading in this direction.

* the recent rise in online "courses" by Stanford, etc.

* the high pay and perceived higher job security of this field, at least right now

* more serious people (or those with smart advisors) who sense the future trend of greater software automation, mobile apps, robots, drones, embedded logic, etc.

It's probably a mix of the above, different for each person. All adds up.