<p>My dad is scheduled an appointment with a computer science department head so we can learn more about my prospective major at this school. I was wondering what sort of questions should I be asking?</p>
<p>I know that most should probably be things I want to know about, but I'm struggling to think of any answers besides questions regarding the curriculum. Any help?</p>
<p>First, leave dad outside.
The meeting is for you. Parents tend to talk too much and take over.
Do some research, read about the work going on currently at the dept. and have a mental list of questions for the department head.
It is not his job to sell the program to you.
Don’t waste his time, be prepared and enthusiastic.
Keep it short, on topic, and be respectful of his position calling him Dr.____ or Professor____.</p>
<p>I would ask him how the department has changed over the past five or ten years. New faculty? (You should know the answer to this before you get there, actually, so don’t ask it.) New course offerings? Where have some of their recent graduates ended up? Where does he see the biggest growth potential for computer scientists for the next ten years? Will you learn how to program iPhone apps and other mobile devices? What about CGI, AI, operating systems, or database programming?</p>
<p>But this isn’t an interrogation session for you or for him. It’s a meet and greet – mostly you want to go in and just have a pleasant conversation with someone who knows a lot about the field you want to go into. (And yes, leave Dad outside!)</p>
<p>You haven’t said whether you have been admitted to this school or not but either way, I would cancel the appointment. </p>
<p>You are going to the college, not your dad. If you can’t think of anything to ask, or need to be told what to ask, or have to bring your dad with you, you’ll come across like an immature child at best, like a bumbling idiot at worst. Neither of these will help your chances of getting admitted or of making a good impression if you have already decided to go there. </p>
<p>No department head wants to have his or her time wasted by the father of a high school kid or the kid who is just there because daddy made them go. The only exception is if your dad is quite wealthy and there is chance he will be making a sizable donation to the department or to the school (beyond your tuition).</p>