Solving the Elective Course Dilemma for Graduate School & Employment

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the implications of withdrawing from a C++ course on a graduate school application and the relevance of programming languages for employment. A "W" on a transcript may raise concerns for top PhD programs, but experience in VB and MATLAB can still be valuable. However, retaking C++ is advisable to strengthen the applicant's profile, as C++ is recognized for its speed and efficiency in numerical simulations, outperforming languages like Java and Python in certain contexts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of graduate school application processes
  • Familiarity with programming languages: C++, VB, MATLAB
  • Knowledge of numerical simulations and their requirements
  • Awareness of transcript evaluation criteria by academic institutions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of course withdrawals on graduate school applications
  • Learn about the advantages of C++ in numerical simulations
  • Explore job market trends for programming languages in demand
  • Investigate strategies for improving academic transcripts
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Graduate school applicants, computer science students, and professionals seeking to enhance their programming skills and academic profiles.

absurdist
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Ok so I was interested in programming and took up this C++ course which I withdrew from since I was taking too many credits. If I plan to apply to a top grad school (phd hopefully) does thw W on my transcript look bad? Also I now have experience with VB and MATLAB so do you think these are enough or should also I retake the C++ course to get rid of the W?
Also are there any benefits of learning C++? I've heard it gives you an edge when it comes to employment.
 
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C++ quite fast comparing to languages like java and python

for the purpose of numerical simulations at least one of C/C++/Fortran would be a good idea.

I don't remember the last time I heard anyone using VB (but then I don't specialize is computer science...)

MATLAB is quite handy but it definitely isn't as robust as languages stated above, iirc when you have a whole loads of data to work with it can get quite sluggish as well.
 

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