I need help with getting into the computer science field

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hey guys I have a big problem and I’m hoping that you could help me to solve it: I am currently a psychology major and am about to finish my A.A. I only have two more classes to go to finish the degree, and I’m going to finish it by the end of spring semester. However, after doing research it appears that I must have a PH. D to do really anything that makes money in that career industry. The problem is that I really need money now. Currently, I am literally dirt poor and need money desperately: I have an awful gagging problem that prevents me from exercise that will be very expensive to diagnose and treat, I don’t have a car and it seriously limits my transportation capabilities, I have no financial backing from anyone else, and I barely have money for living expenses period! I need money now!</p>

<p>Anyway, so I recently went to my financial aid adviser and told her that I was going to finish my A.A. in psychology because I was so close to finishing it, but after that, I really want to go and get a degree in computer science. For you see, my eventual goal is to work for a company like” Microsoft” or “Apple”, and to develop technology such as new cell phones and/or computers for their company. However, my financial aid adviser gave me really bad news: She told me that financial aid would not pay for me to get another A.A. degree in computer science. There is a rule called, “The 150% rule” and it states that financial aid will only pay for up to 100% of a A.A./A.S. degree and then just 50% of another degree. However, once I get my A.A. degree, financial aid will once again pay for my bachelor’s in the subject. </p>

<p>Now this puts me in a very difficult situation: After all, I really need money now in order to survive and to pay for my medical bills and living expenses, so I can no longer go to school full-time like I was in the past. Now it appears if I am going to have to find a way to go to school part-time and work full-time. However, the thing is this: if I do this, I am going to have to find a job that makes at least $25,000 a year. Otherwise, I won’t be able to buy a car, and without a car, I won’t have enough time in the week to work and to continue to do my classes and maintain a high GPA (currently I have a 3.45). The reason for this is because the public transit system in my city is so poor, that it literally takes me an extra 16 hours a week to ride it! It really wastes a lot of time! I live in a HUGE city in terms of landmass!</p>

<p>So here is what I am thinking. I am thinking about getting into the I.T. field for a while and grabbing a couple of certifications. I first plan on getting an A+ certification (which seems to be the most basic of the basic certifications) that can get me hired. Anyway, I plan on studying for that certification on my own. Then I will pay out of pocket to take the test. Keep in mind that I have now found two different companies that have told me that all I needed was to get an A+ certification in order to get an entry level job in their company, and that they would hire me as soon as I had it (I have connections). Anyway, the companies would then pay for other certifications for me and I could slowly build a career in their company. </p>

<p>Now here is my plan: once I can get enough certifications in their company to make $25,000 a year, I will get a car, and go back to school. I will then pay out of pocket to get my A.A. in computer science, and then my bachelor’s and finally be able to develop technology for companies like “Microsoft and Apple”. Do you folks think that this is a good idea, or should I maybe try to work less and go to school more and just try to get scholarships instead? After all, I do have a pretty high GPA.</p>

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<p>You do not need an associates degree to be ready to transfer as a junior to a university. Indeed, if you have completed enough to transfer as a junior psychology major, you may be able to take just the needed CS transfer-preparation courses within the +50%, since you will have already completed breadth type of courses (humanities, social studies, etc.).</p>

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<p>Well, what you’re talking about doing is IT, not “computer science,” which is really a branch of math (and software engineering is “applied” computer science).</p>

<p>Not that there is something wrong with IT, but it’s different from an actual “computer science” degree from a four-year university.</p>

4

<p>My school is ridiculous, and it is literally telling me that I need an actual A.A. in computer science to transfer to the bachelor’s program, despite the fact that I will already have an A.A. in psychology. They won’t let me transfer without it. I don’t know what to do, and going to school in another city is out of the question.</p>

5

<p>@TomServo</p>

<p>Yes, I am well aware that they are different fields. I am also aware that I can’t be a computer engineer with I.T. certifications. However, I can simply take a short break from school to get some certifications and then at least be working in the computer field (which is the field that I want to eventually want to be in, obviously). The problem is that it doesn’t look like I can do anything in the computer science field for a while, because it requires at least a B.A. to even get an entry level job. And it’s going to be a long while before I can obtain that degree going only part-time, and I need money now! So in other words, I’m thinking about working in a similar field for a while until I can get my B.A. in computer science.</p>

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<p>It is not what your community college requires for transfer, it is what the four year university requires for transfer that matters. Look up various four year universities’ web sites to see what they specifically require for transfer applicants.</p>

<p>In any case, a second associates degree likely takes fewer courses than the first one, since you presumably took general education requirements for the first one that presumably apply to the second one.</p>

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<p>Unless your target school has some sort on enrollement limits on the computer science major (and there are ways around that too), your AA in psychology can allow you to transfer to a BSCS program.</p>

<p>Now as far as determining how far along you are in a BSCS program depends on how much math and CS courses (at the freshman/sophomore level) you have taken. You need the following courses:</p>

<p>Calculus I
Calculus II
Linear Algebra
Object-Oriented Programming I (either in C++ or Java)
Object-Oriented Programming II (either in C++ or Java)
Discrete Mathematical Structures
…and 2 semesters of Science (preferably Calculus-based Physics I & II)</p>

<p>The above courses should be able to get you into most BSCS programs (provided you have the GPA).</p>

<p>Now if the school STILL does not allow you to transfer into CS. We may can use other technical majors to “manufacture” a CS degree like using the B.A. in Math or B.A. in Stats, etc.</p>

<p>As far as the differences between CS & IT, it was well-explained in the earlier posts BUT every CS major SHOULD TAKE some IT courses (as well as IT majors should take some core CS courses). Although there are great “pure CS areas” like artificial intelligence, visualization, compiler design, etc, MOST COMPUTER-RELATED HIGHER PAYING jobs focuses on the processing (read: programming), distribution (read: networking) and storage/retrieval (read: databases) of DATA.</p>

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<p>@Jnelsonmarka,</p>

<p>I guess if you have decided that the only way that you can raise money quickly is to get into CS via the IT route, you should do that. However, you should be aware that you could be branded as an “IT person” as a result of obtaining IT certifications and taking IT jobs. Since you mentioned Microsoft and Apple as the type of companies you would like to work for, they generally do not look for the type of person who has an IT background. (Granted, there are exceptions.) In fact, if you apply to companies like this, and you do not have some type of “portfolio” of CS accomplishments, you’ll be going through the maze of recruiters, headhunters, etc. that look to match specific skills against specific job requirements using keyword-based resume filters and such. Of course, you might actually satisfy some of these companies’ requirements for IT jobs, but it can be difficult to cross over from the IT side to the CS side, even if you’re hired.</p>

9

<p>Okay, so it appears as if I have other options. I went to another university today in my town just for *****s and giggles. It appears as if they will accept my A.A. to transfer into their University, unlike my other school. The only problem is that their tuition is like $14,000 per semester! However, it appears as if you are full-time faculty there, that you could take classes for free, and I could pay for my degree that way.</p>

10

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<p>Perhaps I’m misunderstanding what you wrote, but I interpreted this statement to mean that you could get free tuition at this university because you would be (or become) part of the faculty. If you can become part of a university faculty, you should at least check to see if they offer some kind of medical plan that will reduce your out-of-pocket costs for your condition. That way, you would not have to major in computer science (unless you really want to do that).</p>

11

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<p>That’s actually a really good idea: I should ask if they have medical insurance, that may be able to help me tremendously. However, yes, I really do want to major in computer science. That is really want I want to do with my life.</p>

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<p>Out of curiosity, how would you join the faculty there?</p>

13

<p>@sumzup</p>

<p>My grandmother used to work there for like 20 years. I think I could pull some connections to get a job. Also, I have 5 years of customer service experience, two years of sales experience, and I’m soon to have an A.A. With all of that, I think I could find some way to find a job there.</p>

14

<p>@Jnelsonmarka, perhaps you meant “staff” instead of “faculty”. The latter generally refers to people who are responsible for instruction at universities, such as professors.</p>