<p>I'm trying to decide what to take in the Spring. I basically have two options (the reason why is a long story, but trust me on this):</p>
<p>Option #1:
- Take a freshman-level 3-hour science course (probably geology or chemistry) with a 4-hour per week lab.
- Take an upper-level math course.</p>
<p>Option #2:
- Take three upper-level math courses.</p>
<p>I'm debating which one to do. On the one hand, Option #1 might be easier (is this true?) but would be less interesting (I <3 math) and probably not look as great on a transcript/resume/etc. (there are at least three math classes it would be good for a CS major to have). On the other hand, Option #2 might stretch me too thin (I'll be wrapping up a senior thesis and working on another project, and am taking a grad-level CS class).</p>
<p>I'm really leaning towards the math classes, because while being upper-level, they don't look <em>too</em> bad, I would enjoy them more, and they would probably do me more good. Maybe I'm being optimistic. I can post some examples of classes with descriptions, if you guys want to gauge the difficulty.</p>
<p>Also, I've been toying around with the idea of not taking the grad-level CS course if I do option #1, assuming I can do that in grad school if I don't get a job next year. Is that a bad idea?</p>
<p>I would only take math courses that I knew might be useful down the road for my research. If you’re anything like me, you’ll forget most of what you learned in classes with material you never actually use. I think it might also chew up a lot of your free time you could use to learn other CS topics more in-depth or outside the scope of your university.</p>
<p>Well, here’s the thing. I doubt very seriously I’m going to use a course in geology in this lifetime… especially when compared to some of the math courses I’m looking at, such as cryptography, data compression, information theory, etc. However, as you indicated, these courses may not be as useful as CS-related courses.</p>
<p>However, if I have to choose one of the two options above (for reasons related to the nuances of the curricular situation I’m in), which do you recommend? Should I go for broke or take it easy? If I were to take, oh, I don’t know, advanced linear algebra, combinatorial designs, and data compression, would I have time for a CS class and a couple of projects?</p>
<p>It’s really tough to recommend a decision because my priorities and perspective on education probably doesn’t mirror yours. If I were in your position I would go with option 1. Experiencing a completely new field (even a 100 level) might just be enjoyable. For my undergrad (in CS as well) we were required to choose a sub-track in science from biology, physics, chemistry, or geological sciences. As you might expect, most of my peers took physics or biology because of their obvious relations to CS: more math and bioinformatics, respectively. I took geological sciences not because it was easier (far from the truth) but because it was something so completely different; we even went on field labs (outside in the sun where computer scientists NEVER go!) and got to play in the dirt. It’s fun to throw something different into the mix.</p>