<p>Hi,
For all the CS majors out there, if you could redo all your choices regarding academics, which path would you take to becoming a software engineer ( or any other specialization in CS). Would you take a gap year after HS to attend a community college and take courses that you can opt out of in a university, in order to minimize the money and time spent a a university? Which college would you attend for undergrad? ( a prestigious school or just your local state flagship) Would you go apply directly to a masters program after receiving an undergrad or would you rather have an employer provide the paid opportunity for a masters degree. I am determining (at least attempting) to make a plan for my life as a CS major and would greatly appreciate the help from experienced CS majors. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>There are a lot of “it depends” here.</p>
<p>For the CC route, you need to know whether the CC offers CS courses that your transfer target schools (probably state universities) accept as equivalent to their own (see their transfer credit web pages). Due to differences in the frosh/soph level CS courses at different schools, this may be less common than you think, even with good CCs in your area.</p>
<p>Prestigious schools do not necessarily have better CS departments and majors than less prestigious schools. Indeed, some generally prestigious schools have relatively small and weak CS departments and majors. You need to take a look at their course offerings to see if they cover the needed topics in their more advanced offerings.</p>
<p>First off, being a CS major is a lot of coding and sitting in front of the computer screen, and that’s why I’m switching out. To be expected, though, I suppose.</p>
<p>There’s something at my school called “co-terming”, where you can get your Bachelor’s and MS in CS in 4 years. You have to plan out your courses well and be capable of it.</p>
<p>I think most CS majors in my school go work directly in industry after graduating.</p>
<p>If I could do it again, and if I wanted to be a CS major, I’d plan out my schedule more carefully, taking one math class and one CS class a quarter, and ultimately double majoring in Math and CS.</p>
<p>Okay, that’s what I got.</p>