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  3. What's a degree anyway?

What's a degree anyway?

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  • G gavindon

    I went to a well known but highly maligned school. They deserve the reputation in a lot of ways but what I found interesting in comparison was this. Looking through the course list MIT has posted there, I see relatively few actual language specific programming classes compared to what I did in my school. However I do see MANY more programming classes in regards to structure, algorithms etc.. the core of programming that you must use in any language.. Huge difference. And I think I would have liked it better doing it MIT's way. hell you can learn a language easily enough if you actually know how to program. Looks like I'm "going back to school" for the next few months. I've already picked out a handful of those courses I'm going to work through for my own benefit.

    Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. Be careful which toes you step on today, they might be connected to the foot that kicks your butt tomorrow. You can't scare me, I have children.

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    Maximilien
    wrote on last edited by
    #16

    At Université de Montreal (not the engineering school) , the CS bachelor is mostly oriented towards theory and not proper language teaching; so much that a lot of students who got in expecting to do a lot of programming ended up quitting after 1 year; and rest of us who survived did not really know any real languages (other than specialised languages like prolog, simula, miranda, VHDL, ... )when we graduated.

    Watched code never compiles.

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    • W wizardzz

      http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm[^] MIT offers all class materials online, for free. You just don't get a degree. I say awesome. [Probably a repost]

      "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.

      Mike HankeyM Offline
      Mike HankeyM Offline
      Mike Hankey
      wrote on last edited by
      #17

      Outstanding thanks.

      A girl phoned me and said, 'Come on over. There's nobody home.' I went over. Nobody was home! Rodney Dangerfield

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      • W wizardzz

        http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm[^] MIT offers all class materials online, for free. You just don't get a degree. I say awesome. [Probably a repost]

        "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.

        R Offline
        R Offline
        rnbergren
        wrote on last edited by
        #18

        Not sure I Want to watch the programming theory stuff but some of that other stuff looks amazing. Of course I do the programming theory stuff all day long.

        To err is human to really mess up you need a computer

        OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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        • D David1987

          Logarithms? :)

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          gavindon
          wrote on last edited by
          #19

          sigh... algorithms.. I also did not take typing classes... :laugh:

          Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. Be careful which toes you step on today, they might be connected to the foot that kicks your butt tomorrow. You can't scare me, I have children.

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          • W wizardzz

            http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm[^] MIT offers all class materials online, for free. You just don't get a degree. I say awesome. [Probably a repost]

            "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.

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            R Offline
            Reiss
            wrote on last edited by
            #20

            My tripos was in natural science rather than computing, which is difficult to learn outside of a university setting. A degree doesn't make you intelligent (I believe that intelligence is a matter of nature), but it does give you an opportunity to gain knowledge in a structured way - people learn in different ways, but here in the UK so many people now go to university, that without a degree you will struggle to get a good job without nepotism. :sigh:

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            • R Reiss

              My tripos was in natural science rather than computing, which is difficult to learn outside of a university setting. A degree doesn't make you intelligent (I believe that intelligence is a matter of nature), but it does give you an opportunity to gain knowledge in a structured way - people learn in different ways, but here in the UK so many people now go to university, that without a degree you will struggle to get a good job without nepotism. :sigh:

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              wizardzz
              wrote on last edited by
              #21

              Even more sad, in the U.S. I find this to be the case:

              Reiss wrote:

              but here in the UK so many people now go to university, that without a Masters degree you will struggle to get a good job without nepotism

              "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.

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              • W wizardzz

                http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm[^] MIT offers all class materials online, for free. You just don't get a degree. I say awesome. [Probably a repost]

                "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.

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                J Offline
                Jason Hooper
                wrote on last edited by
                #22

                I can't wait to do the AI course offered here[^]. Also, I highly recommend taking a look through this site: http://www.khanacademy.org/[^]

                Jason

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                • N Nagy Vilmos

                  I think you'll find it's while getting wasted :-D


                  Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

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                  K Offline
                  Kyle Sponable
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #23

                  I flew drunk once and never again that was the worst headache The turbulence was not very well appreciated either.

                  OriginalGriffO N 2 Replies Last reply
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                  • G gavindon

                    sigh... algorithms.. I also did not take typing classes... :laugh:

                    Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. Be careful which toes you step on today, they might be connected to the foot that kicks your butt tomorrow. You can't scare me, I have children.

                    K Offline
                    K Offline
                    Kyle Sponable
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #24

                    I agree oh well I guess paper does not automatically mean a degree is worth anything. Market Saturation for the fail

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                    • J Jason Hooper

                      I can't wait to do the AI course offered here[^]. Also, I highly recommend taking a look through this site: http://www.khanacademy.org/[^]

                      Jason

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                      lewax00
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #25

                      I'm taking AI starting next week. (Not the online one you linked to, although our textbook is the one mentioned in the article) AI is the primary reason I'm enrolling in the combined BS+MS program here, all the cool AI courses are graduate level (the AI course itself being the only exception, although it can also be taken for grad level credit).

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                      • K Kyle Sponable

                        I flew drunk once and never again that was the worst headache The turbulence was not very well appreciated either.

                        OriginalGriffO Offline
                        OriginalGriffO Offline
                        OriginalGriff
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #26

                        The problems I always had with flying drunk was that when you arrived, you either had to deal with Customs and Immigration with a hangover, or while still drunk. Neither works very well... :laugh:

                        Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."

                        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                        "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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                        • K Kyle Sponable

                          I flew drunk once and never again that was the worst headache The turbulence was not very well appreciated either.

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                          Nagy Vilmos
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #27

                          I flew sober once...


                          Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

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                          • R rnbergren

                            Not sure I Want to watch the programming theory stuff but some of that other stuff looks amazing. Of course I do the programming theory stuff all day long.

                            To err is human to really mess up you need a computer

                            OriginalGriffO Offline
                            OriginalGriffO Offline
                            OriginalGriff
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #28

                            Doesn't mean it isn't worth a quick scan - it is surprisingly easy to forget something interesting / important if you just don't use it...

                            Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."

                            "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                            "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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                            • J Jim Crafton

                              Interesting. Have you watched any of it? If so what did you think of it?

                              ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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                              wizardzz
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #29

                              No, just had it sent my way while at work. I'll have to look at it more over the weekend.

                              "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.

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                              • D David1987

                                A license to get a job.

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                                wizardzz
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #30

                                Shouldn't be though: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/01/18/study_finds_large_numbers_of_college_students_don_t_learn_much[^]

                                "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.

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                                • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                  The problems I always had with flying drunk was that when you arrived, you either had to deal with Customs and Immigration with a hangover, or while still drunk. Neither works very well... :laugh:

                                  Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."

                                  S Offline
                                  S Offline
                                  Smithers Jones
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #31

                                  Been there, done that. Several times. Last time in the States I nearly missed my connecting flight cause I thought, after having a few beer to much during a transpacific flight, that it might be a good idea to be "funny" with the Homeland Security guy. Next time I will just shut up and put my head down. :)

                                  "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." (DNA)

                                  OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • S Smithers Jones

                                    Been there, done that. Several times. Last time in the States I nearly missed my connecting flight cause I thought, after having a few beer to much during a transpacific flight, that it might be a good idea to be "funny" with the Homeland Security guy. Next time I will just shut up and put my head down. :)

                                    "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." (DNA)

                                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                                    OriginalGriff
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #32

                                    Ooo! Bad choice! Fortunately I was on a dry airline when I flew to Malaysia via Pakistan, or the the stop over in Karachi might have been a few years longer than planned... :omg:

                                    Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."

                                    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                                    "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • D David1987

                                      A license to get a job.

                                      J Offline
                                      J Offline
                                      jschell
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #33

                                      David1987 wrote:

                                      A license to get a job.

                                      Kind of like a drivers license. Doesn't mean one can actually drive the car. Certainly doesn't mean one knows how the car works. Most assuredly doesn't mean that one will ever be able to win a professional car race. At least some possibility that the only car ever driven was a go kart. And no guarantee that one won't drive drunk, kill an entire family and then end up in a high speed chase.

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                                      • N Nagy Vilmos

                                        I flew sober once...


                                        Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

                                        K Offline
                                        K Offline
                                        Kyle Sponable
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #34

                                        Yeah after flying drunk I think I will just sleep through the flight

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                                        • W wizardzz

                                          http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm[^] MIT offers all class materials online, for free. You just don't get a degree. I say awesome. [Probably a repost]

                                          "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.

                                          0 Offline
                                          0 Offline
                                          0bx
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #35

                                          There is are growing amount of lectures from other universities available online. You may also want to check out Khan academy. That guy has been busy building an enormous database of short 10 minute lessons on Youtube, using nothing but microphone and microsoft paint. He started doing this as a hobby, then he quit his job as a hedge-fund analyst and started doing it full-time. He won an award by Google and received a huge donation from Bill Gates to give him the freedom to expand his project to a genuine online college, complete with lesson plans and online training... everything completely free. His video's are literally building up from "1+1=2", to calculus and advanced linear algebra. His series span from mathematics, physics, chemistry, a broad selection of finance and some other topics like history, biology etc...

                                          Giraffes are not real.

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