So I’m in my second semester of my freshman year at The City College of New York (CCNY for short). It’s an okay school, and I am a computer science major. I’m required to take calculus 1, 2, 3, and differential equations (something like that). I had to drop calculus 1 last semester because I did really bad on the midterm (it was an evening class, my schedule was a whole mess and I really wasn’t prepared for the transition to college). I’m retaking it this semester and it’s a struggle but I’m definitely understanding the material more. I am also taking an Intro to CS course where we’re learning C++, and its honestly really hard. The material went from moderate to really complicated, my midterm is in 2 days, and I’m honestly considering dropping the class. I’m not the only one either; most of the class is really lost and the recitation TAs don’t help us at all. We literally show up, take a 15 minute quiz (which is impossible, how are we supposed to figure out a C++ problem in 15 minutes???), and leave an hour before the class ends. We have had 2 group projects so far and the TA was supposed to make us explain/present them in class, but our TA seems like he doesn’t know about them. Doubt they’ll get graded. I know a fair amount of Python, Ruby and JavaScript, and honestly I dislike how C++ is taught here. I learned through workshops and an interactive classroom setting, more hands-on. The professor here always backtracks, doesn’t fully explain things, and kinda assumes we know more than we actually do. The only other Intro to CS professor is even worse.
I’ve come to realize that this major may not be for me and even though I love programming (when I can learn at my own pace and I have the benefit of a good instructor), I’m terrible at math. I don’t think I can deal with another 3 semesters of math. A friend who was a Computer Science major at Pace told me she did well in all her programming classes but her math classes really lowered her GPA. She never graduated and she only had 1 year left.
I’m honestly considering switching from Computer Science (CS) to Computer Information Systems (CIS); it’s more of what I want to do with security and programming mixed together, and it involves a lot less math. I’m considering transferring to the New York City College of Technology (City Tech for short) since it has a 2-year program for CIS, and then a Bachelors in Technology if I want to continue, and CCNY doesn’t have this major. Only problem is, I’ve been talking to friends, current students, and graduates, and I keep getting mixed reviews.
Some enjoy the school; one was a CIS major who’s graduating soon and he enjoyed how it was very hands-on. He currently works for the MTA. I also heard that there’s a lot of internship and job opportunities that are offered (no one takes advantage of them though so its a lot of space available). However, other people have told me that the buildings aren’t well-maintained, the environment can be depressing, the students are “lazy” (they go to class but don’t really excel and a lot play video games in the cafeteria all day), and it feels like high school. Some told me that the professors weren’t great, and some don’t offer office hours/tutoring. Most classes aren’t difficult and the work is “mediocre” (a current student’s words). I heard from two CS majors that the major classes are hard, and the CIS major who’s graduating said the transition from CS to CIS should be smooth. He also enjoyed the school and the environment didn’t bother him.
Another problem is that the graduation rate for City Tech is very low: like 15-25% in 6 years or so. I asked a previous student and he said that it’s low because a lot of people end up transferring out or dropping out, and a lot of older adults come back while working to take classes /certifications. I’m not entirely sure how a graduation rate is calculated but the low rate in this school really bothers me.
They take walk-ins until August for admission to Fall 2016, and it’s not selective at all. My counselor for a success program I’m in is currently on vacation so I have to wait to hear back form her next week about this. I’ve asked plenty of people and even though I’m 90% set on transferring, I’m not sure if it’s the right decision. CCNY has a better reputation, but City Tech has the major I want. I also commute from home: 1 hour and a half for CCNY, while City Tech is only about 20-30 minutes away. It would be a better commute for me and I’d be learning what I want, but I don’t know if I’m making a mistake.
A friend who has been working in the programming/IT industry for almost 20 years has told me that it doesn’t really matter where you get your degree from or if you even have one sometimes: its about your work experience in the field. And that’s true: I’ve looked at job applications that ask for 5+ years experience, not necessarily a 4-year degree. I do want to get a degree eventually, and I also want to take advantage of internships, but I’m not 100% sure if I’ll excel at City Tech. I’m planning to schedule a tour soon once I talk to my counselor and finalize it if I do indeed go through with it.
Any advice? I feel really lost and stressed about this whole situation honestly.
Sounds like you have trouble in CCNY. There’s no point in staying in CCNY if you are not doing computer science anymore. Why would you stay at CCNY if it doesn’t offer CIS major. Unless you can find any other school beside City Tech for CIS, then transferring to city tech isn’t a bad idea. According to what you heard and What I seen in here, both schools don’t have good professors. Most professors in general can’t teach so that’s sort of tough luck on you and me.
CCNY has more prestige and more resources available. I talked to my adviser from a success program I’m in and she told me that from her experience, City Tech is a lot less rigorous, there is less one-on-one attention, and less help received.
if you said that if CCNY doesn’t have CIS major… then there’s no point of staying. Unless you can switch to a major that CCNY offers, then its city tech. For example, Harvard doesn’t have chemical engineering so I wouldn’t stay or transfer there despite its resources and prestigeness.
Good point. I’m just worried I won’t excell at City Tech and I’ve heard a lot people say they disliked the school, professors, and administration. However, it’s close to home and the 2 people in my major there said they enjoy it.
you are not excelling well at CCNY either.
CCNY is the only CUNY 4-year institution that requires Calculus 1, 2 and 3 for their CS degree (maybe Queens College BS program? Math 141, 142, 143). The others only require Calculus 1 & 2. What about the possibility of transferring to another CUNY CS program? Did you do any Calculus in high school (AP Calculus AB/BC or honors calculus)? A lot of the people doing calculus 1 are repeating calculus in college and if you haven’t been exposed to it in high school, you are playing catchup compare to a lot of your peers. Did you take advantage of the calculus tutoring labs available on campus? Calculus is one of the primary weed-out courses for engineering/CS students.
Have you consider doing the calculus 1-2/3 courses (and maybe the introductory CS course) at one of the CUNY community colleges and transferring these courses back to CCNY or one of the other 4-year CUNY CS programs (Hunter, Queens, etc.)? There is some school of thought that these courses are better taught at CC than at some 4-year institutions. I don’tr think you should abandon your goals so easily without giving it 110% or looking at viable options!
I’ve actually been thinking it over and I reapplied to John Jay, Brooklyn, Baruch, and York; they only require up to at most calc 2 and the commute times to each are a bit shorter than the commute to CCNY. Hopefully I get in even though I submitted my application after the deadline but my #1 choice was John Jay since I am interested in the cybersecurity aspect of CS and their curriculum sounds very interesting (criminal justice courses mixed in). If I don’t manage to get in, I’ll take whatever CS courses I’d need to transfer over and transfer in the spring instead. 
But thank you! I posted this on reddit (something similar) and got a lot of rough criticism about not working hard enough for my goal. The transition to college is taking its toll on me and it’s made me question whether I really want to do this, and the harsh criticism I received on there made me feel like maybe they were right and CS isn’t for me. But I love programming and I want to stick with it for as long as I can. Hopefully a less rigorous school will help me achieve it.
Accidentally double posted, sorry haha