<p>Hello! I am currently a freshman in high school. I am taking all advanced classes including Accelerated Math II Analytic Geometry (sophomore and junior math, sped up) and AP Human Geography. My only classes that are not advanced are Biology, Information Technology Essentials, and Spanish II. I have A's in every class except for Math (77), AP Human Geography (83, but counts as a 3.5 in GPA because it is AP), and Tech (86). </p>
<p>I enjoy working with computers and I know HTML very well. I think computer science would be a good major for me but I have some questions.</p>
<p>First, I am planning on getting the Zell Miller scholarship so I get a full scholarship to any Georgia School if accepted. My plan is to go to North Georgia. Is North Georgia a good school for CS? Will I regret going there rather than working 24/7 to get into GA Tech? </p>
<p>Second, are my grades based on the level of my classes any good? Math will be a B once I take the midterm and tech will be an A. That would mean I have all As, an AP B (3.5 in GPA), and a normal B. Is that any good? Do I have a chance at succeeding in CS?</p>
<p>Finally, what should I do now to prepare for CS (if you recommend I take it)? Should I take any specific classes next year, like software (InfoTechEssentials, what I'm in now, is hardware) or networking? Are there online lessons I should take? And what topics?</p>
<p>I'm always stressing about the future but if someone can be kind enough to answer my questions I'll be more at ease and have a clear goal. Thanks in advance for any replies. :)</p>
<p>Congrats on being aware of what your career goals are and thinking ahead about what you need to do to succeed.</p>
<p>I don’t have specific advice for you about CS in Georgia Public colleges, but wanted to encourage you to research all the possible colleges in Georgia that have computer science majors. Visit as many as you can, and speak with the professors in computer science. Ask these same kinds of questions to them. </p>
<p>Every college has a different feel/fit. So even if a college has a great CS dept, it might not be the best environment for you. Ga Tech is a larger, urban campus with high academic rigor and tremendous pressure on incoming freshmen. A lot of classes will be taught by TAs, not professors. North Georgia is out in the countryside, more laid back feel, smaller campus, with an additional military component. Academics at N Ga will be less rigorous, and the pressure on freshmen will not be as intense. You’ll probably get more interaction with professors at N Ga. </p>
<p>It is helpful to understand what kind of student you are, what kind of learning environment would best help you to succeed, and spend time visiting colleges to find the right fit for you. </p>
<p>My daughter wanted to go to GaTech, but after research, visits, talking with current GaTech students, and lots of thinking it over, decided a liberal arts education was a better fit for her. She didn’t want the intense pressure of GaTech, and is very happy after her first semester at the smaller liberal arts school. The professors know her in the science department, she gets to work in the labs already, and is enjoying all the extracurricular activities as well.</p>
<p>Just the fact that you are paying attention as a freshman lets me know you are capable of making a good choice for your future education. Keep reading on CC, prep for your SAT/ACT tests, study and find some time for joy in your life. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Things to prepare would be doing some of the online CS/Programming lessons/courses, like codeschool, treehouse, Khan Academy, or [Anybody</a> can learn | Code.org](<a href=“http://code.org/]Anybody”>http://code.org/) - there’s dozens more too!</p>
<p>Anyone who comments just to say HTML isn’t a programming language is a dick. Stay strong noahj499 and learn CSS, JS, and PHP or Ruby (get WampServer or OSX comes w/a server) if you want to have some beginner web dev fun.</p>