At my Junior College, they offer the following degrees for Associates: Associates in Science (cannot be in Computer Science, too specific) Associates in Applied Science, Application Programmer, Specialization in C++ I'm wondering what I should be trying to get in this case...

My advice would be to take the broadest path of study that you possibly can, and then specialise in postgraduate study once you've decided what you want to do.

Don't just bumble along, fall off the production line and become another software engineer; the world has too many of those and it's a rotten job (in my opinion). Too many CS graduates fall into that trap so be aware of it.

In other words, I would choose the "Associates in Science" option because you may discover too late, like I did, that you hate programming (the only concrete and tangible skill you're likely to get from a computing related degree) so it's nice to have the safety net with the wider field of study.

I'd go with the first one as well, for much the same reasons (broader education).

Quote: Original post by ukdeveloper
Don't just bumble along, fall off the production line and become another software engineer; the world has too many of those and it's a rotten job (in my opinion). Too many CS graduates fall into that trap so be aware of it.

Hmm, I agree UML-modelling business objects for high-tech enterprise solutions (I don't know whether to laugh or puke) is a tedious, soul-sucking career path; but I'm having a hard time seeing how it could be considered a "trap", or how the world could have too many of them. If the world has more use for software engineers than computer scientists then that's where graduates are going to end up.
The way some people talk, it's as if the computer science field can expand at whim to accommodate everyone.

EDIT: oh, and I'd probably pick the first one, too.

I'm noticing that at my college the credits overlap enough that if I got either an AS or an AAS, I could get the other within 1 semester... the AAS I would have one semester sooner.

Quote: Original post by Fenrisulvur
The way some people talk, it's as if the computer science field can expand at whim to accommodate everyone.

I don't think anybody is claiming that. I don't think anyone is even suggesting that pure/theoretical computer science is a remotely attractive field, even if there were jobs.

CS is the foundation that lets you adapt and learn new things, and understand why you are doing them. It's the difference between learning by rote and learning the concepts.

Sure, but what are more attractive, fulfilling and/or aspirational prospects for a CS graduate?

Quote: Original post by Fenrisulvur
Sure, but what are more attractive, fulfilling and/or aspirational prospects for a CS graduate?

To me:

• Computer security/forensics


• System administration


• Network infrastructure


• Database consultancy


• Data recovery


• Some kind of academic research, prototyping new technology

The above list doesn't include spending the rest of your career mindlessly unit testing someone else's CRUD app taken straight from TheDailyWTF. Because that is software development and ergo sucks balls.

I don't know where you're from, but in the UK there is far too much emphasis on software engineering and programming in CompSci degree programs here. Couple this with the fact that the UK education system is watered down more than water itself and you can easily have a situation where you can have the best degree from Ivory Tower University, but still end up in the same dead-end entry level job as somebody who got the bare minimum from Back Alley College and earning the same money. This essentially removes all incentive to work hard because it gets you no further than the next idiot.

Software development is the McDonald's of the IT industry; it's where you end up if you don't push yourself beyond the basics that you learned at University. I did software development in 2007 and 2008 as an intern at two different companies and, quite frankly, it made me want to spew - the politics and culture surrounding it was truly appalling and it was then that I suddenly realised that Dilbert was funny because it was actually deeply rooted in reality. It's not even that well paid for all the crap you have to put up with; it was boring, unrewarding and "Development Managers" are seemingly always total fuckwits.

I would never have even dreamt of doing postgraduate study before internship #2 but now I've seen first hand that it's practically a necessity.