CS%20110:%20Introduction%20to%20Computer%20Science

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• CS 110 Introduction to Computer Science
• Frequently asked questions about a CS major and
  CS career

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Is CS a hard subject?

• CS is challenging for everyone
• Some students may say that CS is easy for them,
  but they may not be telling the whole truththey
  may want to make themselves look smart
• Lack of experience is not the same as lack of
  ability
• You are able to succeed in CS well provide
  needed experience
• Help is available if you want it

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How do I get help?

• You will always get help but you have to tell us
  you need it
• Tutoring
• Chief Departmental Advisor
• Mentoring from professors and classmates
• Organize study groups to provide mutual support
• Join CS clubs

4
Are CS students competitive with one another?

• Some students prefer to compete with and one-up
  others
• Most students benefit from working with others
  helping others is a powerful way to learn
• Learning to work well with others will help you
  to be more successful while a student and after
  you graduate
• Pair programming in the labs will help you to
  work well with others

5
Are professors international?

• Some professors and graduate teaching assistants
  are international
• Some may have accents and some may speak English
  better than others
• You will have an opportunity to learn how to work
  with people from different cultures which will be
  good preparation for the CS workplace which has
  great cultural diversity
• Ask for help and clarification if you need it

6
Are professors friendly?

• Most professors are friendly and caring
• All professors want their students to do well but
  they may use different means to achieve this
• Some professors are unaware of their impact on
  students
• Some professors wait for students to approach
  them to ask for help
• This is good preparation for the work world where
  you have to work with many different types of
  bosses

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Is CS work performed alone or with others?

• While some work may be performed alone, most of
  the time work must be coordinated with others
• Most CS work is done as part of a team,
  especially as you advance in your career
• Working well with others (good teamwork) is one
  of the best predictors of career success and
  advancement

8
Does CS work require long hours?

• This varies by type of job and type of company
  you work for
• Many companies provide flexible scheduling to
  allow employees to balance work and family needs

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Is CS work all programming?

• Programming is most common only during the first
  few years after graduation
• As you gain experience, more time is spent
  working with others to design and implement
  systems to solve problems and help organizations
  to become more effective
• http//www.cs.colorado.edu/why/

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Quote from Someone who has been there

• "It's so not programming," Ms. Burge said. "If I
  had to sit down and code all day, I never would
  have continued. This is not traditional computer
  science.
• Jamika Burge - Phd student Va Tech

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Job Functions of CS Grads
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Will it be hard to find a job after graduation?

• The average time to find a job in CS nationally
  is 3 months
• The average unemployment rate nationally is 2.9
  percent
• 100 of graduates from ODU found jobs after
  graduation
• If you graduate from our program you will find a
  good paying job that provides the possibility of
  professional growth and career advancement

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10 Fastest Growing Occupations for College
Graduates

• Network systems and data communications analysts
  
• Physician assistants
  
• Computer software engineers, applications
  
• Physical therapist assistants
  
• Dental hygienists
  
• Computer software engineers, systems software
  
• Network and computer systems administrators
  
• Database administrators
  
• Physical therapists
  
• Forensic science technicians
  

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Some Statistics

• Types of Employers

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Employers of CS Grads
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How much do CS jobs pay?

• CS is one of the highest paying jobs in the
  country
• Starting salaries with a BS in CS in 2004-2005
  were 50,000
• Typical starting salaries for our students who
  graduated last year above that average

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Will I lose my job to someone in another country?

• In recent years, many lower level programming
  jobs have been lost to countries such as India
  and China, but companies are beginning to
  question this practice
• CS jobs with more creative content (less
  programming) and that involve working with others
  are less likely to be lost

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Quote Career Recruitment Media

• The job market for computer science graduates
  moves so quickly that by the time anything is
  said about it, something new pops up to change
  the dynamics of the industry. However, two words
  will remain standard for some time to
  comebooming profitable.

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Future

• The job market for computer science graduates
  might be red-hot today, but employers aren't
  hiring warm bodies. They still demand skills and
  a commitment to ongoing career development.
• Communication skills are vital. Corporate
  recruiters say don't talk to us if you can't
  communicate with our customers or management.
• Keep up to date. Continuing education is vital.
  Your competition will get stiffer.
• Be prepared to respond quickly to changing market
  conditions -- learn new skills.
• Get the big picture of the computing industry,
  not just your particular focus.
• Have your competence in the field be certified.
• Remember the athlete's motto "Somewhere out
  there he is training, and I am not and when we
  meet, he will win."