Schools Computer Majors for College Freshmen | Learn About Computers

[Science123]

Hey, I am a freshman in college and I'm trying to figure out the best course of action in terms of major to learn as much as possible about computers. I also wish to learn outside of the classroom as well, if possible. If possible, can anyone help me out? Much appreciated.

 

[story645]

Hardware (compE) or software(software engineering)?

 

[anti-proton]

Hey, I am a freshman in college and I'm trying to figure out the best course of action in terms of major to learn as much as possible about computers. I also wish to learn outside of the classroom as well, if possible. If possible, can anyone help me out? Much appreciated.

Learning outside of college is great! Take up a job as an intern and try and involve yourself in the day-to-day activities of your company.

Here are some tips to success:

First, if you find a problem you should find the soultion and never abandon it. Often people skip to easier tasks but the massive time spent on a small problem will teach you SO MUCH about that problem.

Second, get a spare computer and build it over and over. Install various copies of Windows, Linux, etc. As soon as it works, do it again. Delete things, move things, take chances and rebuild! Nothing is as useful as learning by doing.

Third, pickup a computer language. Any will do but you need to understand how computers think. I suggest Java Script as a quick and easy language. you might try Java or C++ if you want more challenge.




MOST IMPORTANTLY, when you see something you don't understand, learn it. If you use something and you don't understand why it works, find out. This is a key to success with computers.


Have fun!

 

[hadsed]

MOST IMPORTANTLY, when you see something you don't understand, learn it. If you use something and you don't understand why it works, find out. This is a key to success with computers.

Anti-proton gave excellent advice. I think the above is probably the second most important advice, but first place has to go to:

Have fun!

This is very important. You'll get bored and you'll want to drop it if you're not having fun figuring these things out. Yes, when you're first trying to figure out Linux it will be the biggest pain to your skull, like no other. But just remember how useful people who know these things are, and again just remember why you're doing this (to learn as much as you can), and have fun with it.

Also, some things might not seem important or interesting to you. Do it anyway, because you'll find out almost in every case that it's much more interesting than you thought.