Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
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Re: Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
#2People hit calculus, which is almost never needed in the job market, and they give up.
Lots of math and hard science is in the major. It's not an alternative to the humanities and liberal arts and languages. It's done in addition, which just isn't fair at all. Students take two or three semesters of calculus-based physics, three semesters of calculus, two semesters of discrete math, engineering statistics, linear algebra, differential equations, and often even more science.
A person majoring in education could skip all that, even if intending to be a math or science teacher.
Re: Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
#3A CS prof of mine said studying CS to later do programming is like studying architecture to later be a house builder. I find it an apt comparison.
Re: Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
#4Basically early Computer scientists were mathematicians, so CS would essentially be a math major if you really think about it. Since it's all about translating math into boolean functions a computer can understand usually.
Re: Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
#5Unsurprisingly, CS is a very popular major (if not the most popular major) at schools near Silicon Valley.
People major in it because they can get jobs. And sometimes due to it being well taught and/or fun.
Re: Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
#6A CS prof of mine said studying CS to later do programming is like studying architecture to later be a house builder. I find it an apt comparison.
except house builders aren't required to licensed architects to get a job as a house builder.
Re: Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
#7A CS prof of mine said studying CS to later do programming is like studying architecture to later be a house builder. I find it an apt comparison.
In part I agree, and of course I am biased since I studied CS but my goal is to be a house builder for a while and then have enough experience to be a proper architect. That's when the CS background should help again. So, study to be an architect, be a house builder for a couple of years and then be a properly educated and experienced architect from there on out?
Re: Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
#8A CS prof of mine said studying CS to later do programming is like studying architecture to later be a house builder. I find it an apt comparison.
Many (FAANG and other) companies interview with algorithm puzzles that are fairly well aligned with undergraduate algorithms courses. Perhaps one purpose of such interviews is to select people based on how recently they took an undergraduate algorithms course or equivalent.
Re: Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
#9A CS prof of mine said studying CS to later do programming is like studying architecture to later be a house builder. I find it an apt comparison.
This is extremely dismissive. You don't want to live in a world where none of the people building things have CS degrees.
Re: Why do so few people major in computer science? (2017)
#10A CS prof of mine said studying CS to later do programming is like studying architecture to later be a house builder. I find it an apt comparison.
Many (FAANG and other) companies interview with algorithm puzzles that are fairly well aligned with undergraduate algorithms courses. Perhaps one purpose of such interviews is to select people based on how recently they took an undergraduate algorithms course or equivalent.
This is the only reason I can think of for still using this interview technique.