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You will need to do a lot of math. If you can get through it, it's probably worth it if you enjoy programming.
If you're an object-oriented programmer modeling business processes (most programmers) programming is more of an art. Most of your work is properly modeling, encapsulating, and identifying key parts in a process that you're going to automate or create. People that are very logical/math-oriented are almost universally bad at this when they begin because they try thinking like a computer to solve the problem rather than trying to assess the problem domain. This is why you see a lot of really bad obfuscated code from typical nerds and math-heads.
If you're an algorithmic programmer, embedded device programmer, or want to work on games, almost everything is math.
What draws you to computer science that makes you want to major in it?
Are you already in college? I would say go talk to a CS advisor and see what they offer. I suggest this because my college offers a BA in CS which is most of the programming/computer classes with the highest math being Calc1/Discrete 1. I'm still taking the majority of the CS classes that the BS majors are but instead of math I get to take some humanities classes (humanities = hot chicks and easy classes which is a nice break from the hard upper level CS classes). I still get all of the computer knowledge but less math.
Are you already in college, still in HS, or starting college in the fall?
When you say you suck at math, what exactly do you mean? Do you have problem with arithmetic or do you have problems with logic/proofs (geometry class?)?
What makes you want to major in CS? What do you think CS is? Where do you think it'll take you?
Honestly? nothing at all.
If you don't know why you're going to do something for the rest of you're life, you're making a mistake regardless of your aptitude for mathematics. If you don't know how CS applies to networking, then you're making your decisions based on an ignorance of the fields in which you say you want to work.Honestly? nothing at all.
I really want to get into Networking/Security but 9 out of 10 IT related job listings want CS degrees even though it doesn't pertain to the job.
If you don't know why you're going to do something for the rest of you're life, you're making a mistake regardless of your aptitude for mathematics. If you don't know how CS applies to networking, then you're making your decisions based on an ignorance of the fields in which you say you want to work.
So you're interested in implementing network hardware, like routers and switches? Yes, CS applies. Or are you saying you're interested in wiring and installing networks using equipment bought off the shelf and following a plan made by others? Nope -- not much CS in that.What i meant was from a hardware pov
Without hardware, software has nothing to do. Most non-trivial digital hardware implementations are either embedded systems or in-silicon implementations of software algorithms, and this is particularly true in the domain of computer networking.Isn't CS mostly software related?
Depends on what you mean by "good at computers".The thing is you don't really need to be good at math to be good at computers.
Of course, computers don't know which math to do without help. That's where you, the user, comes in. Someone who is not good at math is probably also not good at abstract reasoning. That person is also unlikely to know what math applies to the problem they're trying to solve, and is therefore unable to articulate a mathematical model for their problem. As such, even the fastest computer won't help them.Computers DO the math for you.
What does your job have to do with Computer Science? If "deleting a few files once in a while" is what you're qualifying as "good at computers", then you're right -- you're not going to use any math beyond what you [should have] learned in third grade.Now I'm a server tech and take care of a whole hospital - about 50ish server VMs on an ESX cluster. I do not use any math on the job, other then very basic math like making sure there's enough room on the undersized SAN they bought.
What i meant was from a hardware pov
Isn't CS mostly software related?
The thing is you don't really need to be good at math to be good at computers. Just go for a college CS program and not a university one. College will be more applied and most likely have less math. (of course, look all this up when choosing, courses vary) Computers DO the math for you.
Just for some background, I struggled in math most of high school. I failed grade 11 math and retook it in summer, I somehow passed grade 12 calculus even though it was through video conference... think the teacher was generous and realized this situation was hard for all of us. I struggled through college math (similar to HS math, not much more complicated) but passed. My CS program had 3 math courses (continuations) and that's it.
Now I'm a server tech and take care of a whole hospital - about 50ish server VMs on an ESX cluster. I do not use any math on the job, other then very basic math like making sure there's enough room on the undersized SAN they bought.
Security but 9 out of 10 IT related job listings want CS degrees even though it doesn't pertain to the job.
What does your job have to do with Computer Science? If "deleting a few files once in a while" is what you're qualifying as "good at computers", then you're right -- you're not going to use any math beyond what you [should have] learned in third grade.
On the other hand, imagine how much better off your employer would be if you were prepared to write a script that helped manage the file usage on the SAN. Or, if you were articulate enough to explain that spending a few thousand dollars on additional storage each year would cost far less in the long run than whatever fraction of your salary is spent manually managing the size of the file system -- as well as the time wasted by users waiting for space to become available.
This simply isn't true. You work in the field you decide to work and where your experience and aptitude suggest you should. People aren't victims of their degrees; the degree doesn't pre-determine their employment opportunities.Computer science is more likely to land you in IT, then anything else.
+1 for doomed.I'd really love to major in computer science, but I suck in Math
Should i go for it, or am i already doomed?
+1 for doomed.
Traditional 4-year CS degrees are mostly math and very little CS. In fact at most universities you can get a double major in CS and Math by just picking the right electives and taking one or two more courses than you would need just for the CS degree.
Edit: I'd advise against a BA degree in CS, you are spending the time and the money, may as well get a real degree that will put you in front of the line ahead of the BA folks.
I don't blame you at all, upper level math never clicked for me either, all I am saying is that CS is a degree that on paper looks much better as BS than as BA. If the goal is to avoid the math then maybe a Computer Information Technology or some other IT related degree would be better than a traditional CS degree.
Historically CS is basically math because it's focused on algorithms and the curriculum was created at a time when 640 kb of memory was a lot. In today's workplace programmers can be a lot more "sloppy" because either the compiler will optimize the code, or the resource usage simply doesn't matter.
Depending on the application or the code no one in their right mind will spend weeks of payroll to make the app use a few kb less memory or a couple less CPU cycles. There are still areas where efficient code matters of course, and generally speaking there's professional pride to get things efficient and elegant, but then there's the real world which says: Ship it!
I would just like to chime in here and point out that those that claim to be terrible in math usually aren't. Instead, they have a deep fear of math which prevents them from truly focusing on their work. Get them past the fear, and they usually do just fine. In fact, in my experience, most people excel in math once you get them over the "I can't do it" fear.
So don't let your fear of math stop you from doing something you want to do. Although I will agree; sys admin is a far more interesting field than programming ( yes, personal preference ). You get to do programming as an admin, but a whole range of other things too. And take it from me; you will never be without work if you are good at your job. I would work 200 hours a week if it were possible, I turn away work because I simply don't have time for it.