PhilGoetz comments on Welcome to Less Wrong! (5th thread, March 2013) - Less Wrong

27 Post author: orthonormal 01 April 2013 04:19PM

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Comment author: PhilGoetz 13 April 2013 07:18:07AM 4 points [-]

Welcome!

I should probably write a post, "Why not to major in computer science." My advice is to be aware that there is almost no money in the world budgeted to computer science research, that most people can't even conceive of or believe in the concept of computer science research, and that a degree in computer science leads only to jobs as a computer programmer unless it is from a top-five school.

Comment author: MarkusRamikin 13 April 2013 07:50:03AM 10 points [-]

jobs as a computer programmer

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Comment author: ModusPonies 15 April 2013 06:40:30PM 0 points [-]

Such jobs can also be acquired without a CS degree.

Comment author: Swimmer963 15 April 2013 07:15:56PM 1 point [-]

Well, if you're good enough to teach yourself enough programming from scratch to be effective in those jobs. Not everyone is like that, IMO.

Comment author: ModusPonies 15 April 2013 07:43:55PM 0 points [-]

Not everyone is like that, IMO.

I'm certainly not! (Yet.) I should've been specific instead of pithy.

My own approach was to take a couple of courses through Boston University to get some foundational knowledge, and then start the job hunting dance. It was enough of a structured educational environment to get me to actually learn, but still far, far cheaper than getting another degree. (Happy ending: I am employed.)

I do wish I'd studied more CS (i.e., any CS) when I was doing the undergrad thing, but programming jobs have much less respect for credentialing than other professions.