CS/CS:GD Majors

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Santa Cruz
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<p>I posted on another UCSC forum but didn't get all my questions answered yet (Copy Pasted), if you can help thanks :)</p>

<p>Hello! I'm currently applying to UCSC (as my first choice, results don't come back until later). Since I predict I'll have free time in the upcoming future, I was wondering if any current students majoring in CS/CS:GD could give me resources to start studying for a little head start in the major. =) Maybe if there are free versions of the textbooks used or something like that. I've been self studying things that catch my attention but doesn't hurt to study the right content hehe.
Another topic - What's the best dorm/college to try to get? I've heard college 9/10 (don't know anything about them, just names) or Crowell and another one. I'm not into drugs or partying and like computers, so I assume a gaming type dorm or something would fit nicely.
Thanks
EDIT:
I used to have Linux on my computer but just switched to 100% Win7 since I didn't have a big enough reason to have both, guess I'll get back into that.
I've seen GM before but I didn't want to spend the time dealing with it since it looked like the easy way out and I'm pretty sure it's not going to be used later after graduation? And I didn't want to start using it and then have to pay for some better version later, dunno.
I've been teaching myself some programming on and off for a while (depends on schedule) but it's been C/C++ and (a little) python (since it's more fun). When I looked at the suggested courses tree or w/e of the major it looked like taking Java classes were required, is that true? Or is there a way around those since they look like intro courses. My school doesn't have Comp Sci A (otherwise I would've learned Java) and I chose C/C++ over self-teaching Java b/c after some research it looked to me like Java hides some of the lower level stuff and doesn't have pointers (which I read that many get confused on if they learn Java then C/C++ later)
Is it possible to double major in CS + CS:GD in 4 years since I assume many courses overlap? I want to develop games but realistically that may not happen and a degree in CS would have more benefits in job hunting. And if you know, how do the majors differ? Does CS have more math than CS:GD or the same? etc.
I think that's it I can come up with for now, thanks. =)</p>

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<p>Java is required. It’s used in 2-4 courses for the major, depending on who’s teaching in any given quarter.</p>

<p>You can’t overlap CS and CS:GD. The majors are too similar so they dissalow double-majors. The Game Design degree will prepare you for software development nearly as well as the regular CS degree does, if not equally so. Of course you can also take more of the CS-specific classes to fulfill the CS:GD electives if you’d like, and get a balance of the two majors that way. </p>

<p>CS does have more math than CS:GD.</p>

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<p>What’s the best strategy for getting admitted into ucsc for cs:gd? Is it to declare a major or an intention to major in cs:gd or to just gain admission and then declare the major? thanks!</p>