View Full Version : Computer Science Grad School
moni
27 Sep 2005, 05:24 PM
Alright,
So I'm in my 4th year at Washington State University and will be graduating in May with a B.S. in Computer Science. I was never planning on going to grad school because of the costs. However, it is no longer an issue (I've been offered a fellowship and a TA position which will pay for everything: tuition, monthly stipend, and health insurance). Great deal, right?
Err... but I'm still wondering if grad school is for me. Going straight into it would be good, since I'll still be in the "school mode," but at the same time, I don't know what to research. Cybernetics, virtual reality, neuroscience... those are the types of field I'd like to study, but they are not taught in the WSU grad school for CptS. I will try out for other schools, but I don't feel all that motivated to do so.
Is grad school really worth it? It is only a year and a half more...
nottaprettygal
27 Sep 2005, 06:05 PM
I can't give you a computer science specific answer, but I just started grad school straight from undergrad. I think that if you're not sure what you specifically want to study it might be good to get some research/work experience to find your niche. I am struggling...big time. I don't know what I want to do, and I don't know anything about anything. The students in my program with work experience (which is most of them) have a level of real world understanding that I do not...and it shows.
Of course, I'm not sure exactly how much real world experience matters in computer science. Grad school is definitely worth it in the long run, but I'm beginning to feel as though rushing to finish school isn't the best option.
eyebyte_atWork
27 Sep 2005, 06:13 PM
The only thing I have to add is... what type of work would you like to do? More and more the interesting work is being done by grad schoolers. Most people out there programming, including myself, are doing busy work - which is comprised of doing the same thing day in and day out. Ultimately the choice is yours.
Nighthawk
27 Sep 2005, 06:44 PM
I don't regret my CS grad school. I pursued it as part of a career change, discovering that it would pay better on the outside world than pursuing a second BS degree ... so I had a break between undgrad and grad. The environment and challenges were among the happiest times of my life. I had a lot more latitude for creativity and interesting projects than I had during my undergrad time or work in the "real world." I highly recommend it, and often wish I were still in that kind of environment.
I believe that it is worth it, both in terms of doing something that is enjoyable (for an INTP, anyway) and setting yourself up for an easier and/or more successful time in the future. If you are not too burnt out on school yet, then give it a shot. There are a lot of different areas within CS that could potentially be of interest to you. If you can hook up with a professor mentor who is into a field that interests you, that would be a big plus. From my experience, I found more and more areas of interest the longer I was involved. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
jread
28 Sep 2005, 01:13 AM
I say go for it, especially if you're getting a free ride. I've never met a single person in my life that actually regrets going to graduate school. If nothing else, it can help you earn more money in the longrun.
I'll be going for a Master's in Public Administration right after I finish my undergrad degree. I did have to spend some time (8 years) in the real-world before figuring out what I wanted to do, though.
nottaprettygal
28 Sep 2005, 03:40 AM
I've never met a single person in my life that actually regrets going to graduate school.
Yeah...once they're done they don't regret it. I've talked to 3 current grad students who at this moment regret it. <sigh>
Avengardh
28 Sep 2005, 04:57 AM
Awesome.
I am really considering UT because one of my High School teachers is going to get her Doctorate there soon.
Good luck at any rate.
Rajah
28 Sep 2005, 07:45 PM
I can't give you a computer science specific answer, but I just started grad school straight from undergrad. I think that if you're not sure what you specifically want to study it might be good to get some research/work experience to find your niche. I am struggling...big time. I don't know what I want to do, and I don't know anything about anything. The students in my program with work experience (which is most of them) have a level of real world understanding that I do not...and it shows.I agree completely. If I could do it differently, I'd have taken at least a year or two to figure out exactly what it is I want to do.
Rajah
28 Sep 2005, 07:46 PM
Awesome.
I am really considering UT because one of my High School teachers is going to get her Doctorate there soon.
Good luck at any rate.Texas? Tennessee?
Avengardh
28 Sep 2005, 09:50 PM
Texas? Tennessee?
Texas ^^
UT at Austin.
MacGuffin
28 Sep 2005, 11:22 PM
Fuck Texas!
eyebyte_atWork
28 Sep 2005, 11:24 PM
Fuck Texas!
Don't mess with Texas
jread
29 Sep 2005, 12:01 AM
Fuck Texas!
Fuck Texas? FUCK TEXAS??!?
No, no... fuck you sir! :duel:
:banned:
eyebyte_atWork
29 Sep 2005, 01:14 AM
Fuck Texas? FUCK TEXAS??!?
No, no... fuck you sir! :duel:
:banned:
Too funny
moni
29 Sep 2005, 08:51 AM
Thanks everyone for the replies and support... and uhhh texas stuff. I have to apply as soon as I can in order to secure the TA position for sure, so I'm gonna do it anyway (it won't hurt). As to whether I'll actually attend... we'll see. I thought I wanted to go straight into the work force as a software engineer... but looks like that involves mostly testing testing TESTING *ugh* (at least for those thare just beginning?).
So maybe there's another field I can look into...
nihilist
29 Sep 2005, 09:47 AM
Thanks everyone for the replies and support... and uhhh texas stuff. I have to apply as soon as I can in order to secure the TA position for sure, so I'm gonna do it anyway (it won't hurt). As to whether I'll actually attend... we'll see.
Out of curiousity, how did you get offered a fellowship? Was it because of a high GPA? I don't mean to be prying; It's just that I myself am contemplating CS grad school if it's financially feasible. Anyway, I wish you best of luck in whatever journey you embark upon.
eyebyte_atWork
29 Sep 2005, 12:49 PM
Thanks everyone for the replies and support... and uhhh texas stuff. I have to apply as soon as I can in order to secure the TA position for sure, so I'm gonna do it anyway (it won't hurt). As to whether I'll actually attend... we'll see. I thought I wanted to go straight into the work force as a software engineer... but looks like that involves mostly testing testing TESTING *ugh* (at least for those thare just beginning?).
So maybe there's another field I can look into...
If they're telling you that you'll be testing as part of your first work.... I'll tell you that won;t last too long. Then you can be coding... it usually works as follows:
You test -
You test -
Then after some time has passed - you'l get a chance to modify...
test and modify
write something new
test , modify and write something new
There is a progression.
moni
29 Sep 2005, 03:20 PM
nihilist, most likely I got the fellowship ($3000) because of my gpa (3.79), but there are probably other factors... I'm an american citizen and a female, and the professors mentioned that they're trying to get more grad students that are either one (about 50% of the CS grad students at WSU are international students, and well, you know how the male to female ratio is). I know that there are more fellowships out there that you can apply for... which I plan on doing ('cause I don't really want to be a TA).
eyebyte, does it ever get so repetitive that it's just plain tiring? I feel like I'd probably be the unstable type that goes from job to job, constantly trying to find something new and exciting to do. *whines* Mannnn.... and I really don't like looking at other people's code just to find bugs... The couple times that I did do that, I ended dozing off/falling asleep within 10 minutes.
Nighthawk
29 Sep 2005, 03:33 PM
eyebyte, does it ever get so repetitive that it's just plain tiring? I feel like I'd probably be the unstable type that goes from job to job, constantly trying to find something new and exciting to do. *whines* Mannnn.... and I really don't like looking at other people's code just to find bugs... The couple times that I did do that, I ended dozing off/falling asleep within 10 minutes.Yes ... it does, but it's not too bad. It's mostly variations on the same theme. If you work for an internal IT shop, you'll likely be doing a lot of maintenance and debugging of existing code ... with some spurts of new development in between. Some big companies like to outsource the new development though ... which seques into the second option.
You can work for a service organization or as a consultant ... doing the work that the big companies outsource. This gives you more fresh stuff to work on, but the hours are usually brutal, as your management will be pursuing the $$ or just trying to stay alive. Also, the service shops ususally have a couple of superstars who get all the cool work, while the rest of the people get a boring niche like creating data objects, making admin back ends, or ... ugh .... testing. If you get a spot as one of the superstars, or work for a more enlightened shop, you can have a lot of fun and learn a lot. I highly recommend doing it for few years, despite the brutal hours. You'll really gain some depth.
eyebyte_atWork
29 Sep 2005, 03:34 PM
Yes ... it does, but it's not too bad. It's mostly variations on the same theme. If you work for an internal IT shop, you'll likely be doing a lot of maintenance and debugging of existing code ... with some spurts of new development in between. Some big companies like to outsource the new development though ... which seques into the second option.
You can work for a service organization or as a consultant ... doing the work that the big companies outsource. This gives you more fresh stuff to work on, but the hours are usually brutal, as your management will be pursuing the $$ or just trying to stay alive. Also, the service shops ususally have a couple of superstars who get all the cool work, while the rest of the people get a boring niche like creating data objects, making admin back ends, or ... ugh .... testing. If you get a spot as one of the superstars, or work for a more enlightened shop, you can have a lot of fun and learn a lot. I highly recommend doing it for few years, despite the brutal hours. You'll really gain some depth.
Word - moni - he said it well.
Rajah
29 Sep 2005, 03:41 PM
Texas ^^
UT at Austin.Sigh. I shut down my computer for one evening, and we're slagging Texas.
Love Austin. Didn't love my grad program there, but I loved UT and loved Austin.
Fuck Texas!
He just says these things, because I am here.
You know what they say... Oklahoma's tornado problem being caused by Texas sucking and Kansas blowing. I think it should be replaced by Kansas *City*, Mac. [/wink]
I can take a joke...
[/pistol loaded]
MacGuffin
29 Sep 2005, 06:01 PM
Thank God I'm from Misery! Uh... I mean Missouri!
Aven is coming to Austin... now just a few more people on my list and my X-man fantasy is complete.
Ah.... x-men.
Oh, and yes... go to grad school. The real world can wait.
Division56
29 Sep 2005, 07:49 PM
Mmmm... I'm also headed for Austin...
MacGuffin
29 Sep 2005, 07:52 PM
Tejas is a fucking black hole! No one ever returns!
Tejas is a fucking black hole! No one ever returns!
When will we see you here, Mac?
Rajah
29 Sep 2005, 08:04 PM
Tejas is a fucking black hole! No one ever returns!I tried to leave. I even went out of state for law school. Somehow, Tejas sucked me back in...
eyebyte_atWork
29 Sep 2005, 08:05 PM
Yeah - it does have that effect
MacGuffin
29 Sep 2005, 08:07 PM
God, they are gonna offer the wife a position at the main office and I'll end up in Ho-town with Rajah.
I don't even like the Astros!
eyebyte_atWork
29 Sep 2005, 08:08 PM
God, they are gonna offer the wife a position at the main office and I'll end up in Ho-town with Rajah.
I don't even like the Astros!
The Astros were sold out of state... dont remember where.
The Astros?? Um... are in Houston.
You better learn to love them, Mac.
Rajah
29 Sep 2005, 08:16 PM
God, they are gonna offer the wife a position at the main office and I'll end up in Ho-town with Rajah.
I don't even like the Astros!Awww. They grow on you... like a fungus.
Actually, I like Houston. Good dining, museums, lots to do. I was pleasantly surprised. I moved here for my first job, and had only ever been here once before (for the interview).
MacGuffin
29 Sep 2005, 08:17 PM
It's too fucking hot and humid!
*cries*
It's too fucking hot and humid!
*cries*
And people wonder why Texans drive cars rather than walk...
Rajah
29 Sep 2005, 08:34 PM
It's too fucking hot and humid!
*cries*Awww. There, there. Here's an iced tea.
MacGuffin
29 Sep 2005, 08:37 PM
Awww. There, there. Here's an iced tea.*sniff*
Is it a Long Island Iced Tea?
Rajah
29 Sep 2005, 08:42 PM
*sniff*
Is it a Long Island Iced Tea?If you want it to be, it is.
Nope... make it a "Texas Tea," by just adding Bourbon to the Long Island Tea recipe.
Rajah
29 Sep 2005, 08:50 PM
Nope... make it a "Texas Tea," by just adding Bourbon to the Long Island Tea recipe.I thought that was oil...
Damn you, Beverly Hillbillies! :)
MacGuffin
29 Sep 2005, 08:53 PM
Dr. Hibbert: I'm talking about medicinal marijuana. Prescription pot. Texas THC.
Too bad no one on this thread knows anything about that.
Nighthawk
29 Sep 2005, 09:03 PM
It's too fucking hot and humid!
*cries*
Try El Paso ... no humidity there ;)
I thought that was oil...
Damn you, Beverly Hillbillies! :)
Nah, it is more refined... say like Kerosene or maybe lighter fluid.
Texas THC? Um, God knows... about... that... [/wink]
[/yells out, "Mac is a FED!"]
MacGuffin
29 Sep 2005, 09:09 PM
We prefer the term "Narc".
The IP Address is: 149.101.1.121. The host name is: wdcsun21.usdoj.gov.
eyebyte_atWork
29 Sep 2005, 09:10 PM
We prefer the term "Narc".
The IP Address is: 149.101.1.121. The host name is: wdcsun21.usdoj.gov.
I KNEW IT!!!!
Quick - flush that shit down the toilet.
I do have a strange clicking on my phone...
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