Download Advice for Computer Science College Students

Advice for Computer
Science College
Students
by Joel Spolsky
Presented by: Sherrie Dowdy
Overview
• Joel’s 7 Pieces of Advice for Computer Science
College Students
• Joel’s reasons behind his advice?
Joel’s 7 Pieces of Advice for Computer
Science College Students:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Learn how to write before graduating
Learn C before graduating
Learn microeconomics before graduating
Don’t blow off non-CS classes just because they’re
boring
5. Take programming-intensive courses
6. Stop worrying about all the jobs going to India
7. No matter what you do, get a good summer
internship
Learn how to write before
graduating
Joel states that “the programmers with the most
power and influence are the ones who can write
and speak in English”
• Clearly
• Convincingly
• Comfortably
Learn how to write before
graduating (cont.)
A programmer that’s writes well can
1. Influence others
2. Comment their code well
3. Write good specifications
4. Write good technical documentation
5. Get the attention of management
Learn how to write before
graduating (cont.)
According to Joel, “the more you write, the easier it will
be, and the easier it is to write, the more you’ll write”.
Joel’s suggestions for getting writing experience
1. Take as many “writing intensive” classes as you
can
2. Look for classes that have daily/weekly writing
assignments
3. Start a journal/web blog
Learn C before graduating
Joel’s Reasons to know C
1. To learn something well you need to first learn the
basics
2. Language closer to machine language than most
programming languages taught today
3. Language most working programmers use to
communicate
Learn microeconomics
before graduating
Microeconomics teaches you about:
1. Supply and demand
2. Competitive advantage
3. Net Presence Value
4. Discounting
5. Marginal utility
Code should not only make sense in code, but it should
also make good business sense.
Don't blow off non-CS classes
just because they're boring
Why not?
• Neglecting non-CS class = possible drop in GPA
• Employers screen applications based on GPA
What does the GPA demonstrate to employers?
• What many professors, over a number of classes,
over a long period of time have thought about your
work
• That you will put in the work even if you do not
like the job
Take programming-intensive
courses
Computer Science vs. Software Development
What is the difference?
Computer Science - deals more in using logic to
solve complex problems
Software Development - deals more in actually
designing, developing, and documenting
the software
Stop worrying about all the
jobs going to India
Joel’s reasons to stop worrying
1. Trying to choose a career based on a current
business fad is foolish
2. Programming is good training for all kinds of
interesting jobs
3. There is still a shortage of really good
programmers, in Joel’s words, “really good
programmers do have jobs”
4. You got any better ideas?
No matter what you do, get a
good summer internship
Reasons to get a summer internship
1. Programmers who love to program will program
any chance they get
2. Always good to have the additional experience
3. Recruiters check programmers resumes looking
for part-time programming jobs and summer
internships
Summary
To summarize Joel’s career advice:
• Know how to write and communicate well
• Know the basics for a good programming foundation
• Know good business concepts
• Keep your grades up and persevere even when
something maybe boring to you
• Get as much programming experience as possible
• Do not worry about “current” business fads when
making your life decisions
• Get a summer internship
References
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/CollegeAdvice.ht
ml, Joel on Software, “Advice for Computer Science
College Students”, Joel Spolsky, Jan. 2005