Seriously, I am tired of my school, university of Connecticut. It does not teach me how to become a good programmer. It rather teaches me how to study by my own, and typical school stuff. Good professors are rare. Most classes are useless so far, seriously, what the hell am I gonna do with Finite Automata, and turing machines? I and most CSE majors wants to program softwares and learn good practice and become a prominent programmer. If I want to achieve this, then I will and have been learning by my self during my free time. Seriously, does anyone have a clue on how america's school system got so much corrupted? For example, do we( CSE majors) really need to take history, philosophy, anthropology, and all that other useless crap? Why am I wasting my money here, WTF?

Not to mention all these whores and temptation to ruin one's life forever!

Quote:
Most classes are useless so far, seriously, what the hell am I gonna do with Finite Automata, and turing machines? I and most CSE majors wants to program softwares and learn good practice and become a prominent programmer. If I want to achieve this, then I will and have been learning by my self during my free time. Seriously, does anyone have a clue on how america's school system got so much corrupted?

I've worked with a few people who really didn't take those classes to heart, and they suffered for it. Learning to be a good programmer is one thing, and learning to be a good software writer is another. Being a good programmer doesn't mean you are good at writing software. Though I do agree, my school also didn't have specific focuses on programming. But, there was a lot of hands on stuff. And side oportunities, like the ACM programming competitions hosted by my school.

Some of the more hands on classes were:
Algorithms and Data Structures - Core to any programmer
Compilers - Wrote our own optimizing compilers. Very useful knowelege. Requires understanding of Finite Automata. Good when designing your own custom file formats or scripting languages.
Operating Systems - Wrote our own minimal operating systems. Good for understanding the workings of your computer. Required Finite Automata and Systems Programming (assembly).
Databases - Everyone uses them to store data.
Digital Electronics - Built an 8bit computer from scratch using an FPGA. Binary operations and logic operations.
Technical Writing - Learn to communicate
Web Programming - Interesting if you are going into that field.
Parallel Processing - Mandatory now that octo-core and centi-core computers are common place (ps3/gpus)
Digital Forensics - Learn how anyone could recover anything from your computer.

Some of the classes were less hands on, but really important to understanding how to make good choices in your algoritms.
Discrete Math - Learn your recursive code.
Linear Algebra - Used EVERYWHERE in game programming
Ethics - Know how you could be held accountable, and what are good choices to make if your product is ever released.
Networking - Understand how your data gets from point A to point B, and why it is so slow/fast/lossy.
Economics - More useful math and ideas.
Chemistry and Physics - Scientific method. Applicable in many fields of programming. More useful math.

And the core classes... cause you need to be well rounded. Thats why. I've worked with atleast one person who didn't take these to heart. It is really hard to work with someone who you can't communicate well with.
History - Those who don't learn from it, are doomed to repeat it.
English/Literature - Learn to communicate.
Sports - Get OUTSIDE.

Quote:
Not to mention all these whores and temptation to ruin one's life forever!

Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. You're only there for 4-5 years, make the most of it while it lasts. You won't have time for nearly as much of that social temptation once you start working.

Quote: Original post by Concentrate
Seriously, I am tired of my school, university of Connecticut. It does not teach me how to become a good programmer. It rather teaches me how to study by my own, and typical school stuff. Good professors are rare. Most classes are useless so far, seriously, what the hell am I gonna do with Finite Automata, and turing machines? I and most CSE majors wants to program softwares and learn good practice and become a prominent programmer. If I want to achieve this, then I will and have been learning by my self during my free time. Seriously, does anyone have a clue on how america's school system got so much corrupted? For example, do we( CSE majors) really need to take history, philosophy, anthropology, and all that other useless crap? Why am I wasting my money here, WTF?

Not to mention all these whores and temptation to ruin one's life forever!

you paint some of the best parts of most universities very badly. College is very much about teaching yourself how to learn. It's one of the best skills to take away from it.

And the general education is also great. Gives you a good broad view of the world so you aren't limited in the way you view the world.

Quote: Original post by Concentrate
Most classes are useless so far, seriously, what the hell am I gonna do with Finite Automata, and turing machines?

May be they try to make you think different?
And say them thanks that you haven't military training course, like me in Soviet times.
BTW, I'm stil able to disassemble and assemble back Kalashnikov gun in 40 secomds.
But from the other hand and speaking honestly I don't regret about it[smile]
......

I dunno why,but they say that Mictosoft very like boys and girls passed this education program (though MSU has the Department of Programming and Computers too ).They say also that after passing all this math courses the programming itself seems very easy:

Quote:
Moscow State University,Department of Mathematics

Algebra - 286 hours
Analytical Geometry - 235 hours
English language - 408 hours
Calculus of variations and optimal control - 96 hours
Introduction to mathematical logic - 96 hours
Valid analysis - 112 hours
Discrete Mathematics - 90 hours
Differential geometry and topology - 108 hours
Differential Equations - 220 hours
History and methodology of mathematics - 80 hours
Classical differential geometry - 112 hours
Complex analysis - 204 hours
Linear algebra and geometry - 200 hours
Mathematical analysis - 820 hours
Mathematical statistics - 108 hours
Sociology - 68 hours
The history of Russia -126 hours
Population and territory protection in emergencies - 100 hours
Probability theory - 112 hours
The theory of random processes - 96 hours
Number theory - 96 hours
Differential equations with partial derivatives - 204 hours
Physics - 204 hours
Physical(sport) training - 476 hours [smile]
Philosophy - 128 hours
Functional analysis - 204 hours
Numerical Methods - 208 hours
Economic theory - 128 hours
..
Special Seminar - 564 hours
Workshop on the computer & programming - 676 hours

[Edited by - Krokhin on September 11, 2010 1:01:33 AM]

Quote: Original post by Concentrate
For example, do we (CSE majors) really need to take history, philosophy, anthropology, and all that other useless crap?

Computer science teaches you how to program computers. History, philosophy, anthropology and other courses are there to teach you about the users.

Quote: Original post by way2lazy2care
you paint some of the best parts of most universities very badly. College is very much about teaching yourself how to learn. It's one of the best skills to take away from it.

thats what high school is for.

if such a person couldnt do that before they went to univerity said person should never have been allowed into university. Since most people cant teach themselves (or are too lazy) we end up with exams which test memory instead of understanding.

Concentrate: You should have done a Software Engineering.

Computer Science is science and Finite Automata is a core part of that science. Not very suprising when you look at it like that.

You cant really teach programming anyway, it comes from experience. 10,000 hrs to become an expert, GET GOING!

Quote: Original post by Concentrate
Seriously, I am tired of my school, university of Connecticut. It does not teach me how to become a good programmer. It rather teaches me how to study by my own, and typical school stuff. Good professors are rare. Most classes are useless so far, seriously, what the hell am I gonna do with Finite Automata, and turing machines? I and most CSE majors wants to program softwares and learn good practice and become a prominent programmer. If I want to achieve this, then I will and have been learning by my self during my free time. Seriously, does anyone have a clue on how america's school system got so much corrupted? For example, do we( CSE majors) really need to take history, philosophy, anthropology, and all that other useless crap? Why am I wasting my money here, WTF?

Not to mention all these whores and temptation to ruin one's life forever!

So basically, you want to be spoon-fed syntax and design patterns and then go on to become a glorious rockstar programmer? Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. If you want something more "practical" then find a vocational school. Not knowing the theory behind what you're doing means your skills will be more or less obsolete by the time the Next Great Thing (tm) comes along, but at least you'll get to write software faster.

When I saw the topic of this thread, I thought it was going to be a rant about someone's university turning into a purely vocational javaschool, with perhaps a few bits of XNA sprinkled over it for good measure. Instead, it's a rant about someone's school not being that - WTF indeed!

This sounds like regular complaints about school - not actually preparing you for the job at hand, and just being there to get the certificate, but then:

Quote: Original post by Concentrate
Not to mention all these whores and temptation to ruin one's life forever!

Does this mean the whole thread is a joke, or are you serious?

Quote: Original post by Concentrate
It rather teaches me how to study by my own

Which is an essential skill to have.

I studied industrial design and engineering, and went to law school, finally ended up as a game developer. I learned how to program by myself, and I think I'm pretty decent at it. However, it also means that my knowledge is limited to what is directly applicable and/or what I'm personally interested in. I know plenty of programming languages, but don't ask me how a compiler works. That's exactly the stuff you want to learn in school, before it's too late. :)

Quote: Original post by Concentrate
Seriously, I am tired of my school, university of Connecticut. It does not teach me how to become a good programmer.

Forget about it. School will teach you what it can. Hopefully you'll find a use for it. If you feel like "brave enough" you can quit, find yourself a shitty job and make your life from there.

That's what I did. AND I DID FINE.

Stop bitching. Start DOING.