I’m currently a sophomore in high school and I’m wondering if I should start studying for a Java SE7 OCP certification (should i learn it at all considering Java se 8 is out). Will that be a good thing to put on my resume for college?
Also, I’m currently inclined to Computer Science or Game Dev so what are some things I should do that can make my extracurricular part of the college app look better? Thanks!
note: There is a programming class near my place teaching Java SE 7 OCP cert classes but they don’t offer Java SE 8… so don’t tell me to learn Java SE 8 instead of 7
Most colleges do not admit “pre-comp sci” majors – but simply freshmen. They admit freshmen based upon the broader transcript and GPA and test scores – not whether or not you have a certain JAVA language.
My kiddo was admitted to multiple CompEng schools w/o having taken a single CS class. I don’t even recall her citing any coding languages in her apps. Her prime EC was sports. As a hobby, she coded and gamed and adminned a creative writer’s forum. What got her in were spectacular grades and scores. This showed she could do the work – any work, CompSci included.
DO NOT try to get certificates in some language. Programming languages are a tool of computer science - they can be swapped and interchanged, and knowing the mechanics of a tool is not nearly as important as knowing how to properly and intelligently use it. Not to mention that by the time you get out of college, Java 7 (and probably 8 and more) will probably be dinosaurs.
I’m assuming your high school doesn’t offer any CS classes - try to find one online if possible.
If you want things to put on your resume, personal projects using CS skills would be a way to go, but they are by no means needed.
^ Right. I asked my kiddo and she did not list coding languages but instead listed completed projects (like her free lance webpage design and her years of admin over the writer’s forum).
The litmus test for things like this is whether or not you are doing something because you “think” it looks good on your college application. Admissions folk can tell the difference. Do things because you enjoy them. Quality ECs trump quantity. You would not enjoy your fellow freshmen class if everyone faked their way just to get in.