Can you do anything with an associates degree in Computer Science

[Dirk Diggler]

i dont know much about c++ but if its like other languages i've used, then u goto understand one thing:

when a program fails and tells you there's an error on line number 1000. that doesnt' mean the error actually exists on line number 1000. it only means it was at that point in the code that the program realized something is amiss.

so its now up to the programmer to sift through his code to determine where the fucck the problem is.

to avoid the hassle, i just usually add line markers to several chunks of my code.

I havent had this happen since I left college in 2000 when I was using the first version of Java wrinting programs in Notepad and running them from the command line. Compilers have come a long way, usually there is a few lines of code BEFORE that may need to be looked at but not more than 5-7 lines of code. Eg if you are thrown a NullPointerException at line 1000 and you declared the variable on line 995 but forgot to initialize it using new then yes this is true BUT the error isnt 500 lines away. If the compiler is complaining about a variable not being initialized I bet my paycheck the compiler will tell you the line where you declared it OR tried to use it before initializing it. For all the folks complaining about compiler errors being vague can you give me an example.

For all those complaining about Java you would hate classes in C/C++. Java makes things WAY easier and C# (even though less desirable by companies) makes things boat loads easier. All of your foundation in Object Oriented programming will come from your C/C++/Java courses once you understand the OO concept all of the other shyt should fall into place

 

[Golayitdown]

Is a programmer full time and enjoy it. Understanding the word problem at hand helps and so does having good problem solving skills. This coupled with being intimate with language you are working in will make you unstoppable. Check my response below

It gets better with time. After coding for 12 years I still occasionally put a ; behind an if statement and then wonder why that block wasnt executing it happens to the best of us.

Yeah, I like coding. More than I like people sometimes

Companies need people who can get the job done effectively.

It s all about knowing the market....why would a company hire a bachelors degree with no programming skills when they can hire someone with an Associates to hit the ground running?

You're talking about an experienced person with an Associate's degree vs. an inexperienced person with a Bachelor's degree. The threadstarter will be an inexperienced person with an associate's degree. Not a lot of upside when he will be competing against people with 4 year degrees. Not saying he won't be able to do it, but he's got an uphill battle. He may not even be competing for the same jobs.

i dont know much about c++ but if its like other languages i've used, then u goto understand one thing:

when a program fails and tells you there's an error on line number 1000. that doesnt' mean the error actually exists on line number 1000. it only means it was at that point in the code that the program realized something is amiss.

so its now up to the programmer to sift through his code to determine where the fucck the problem is.

to avoid the hassle, i just usually add line markers to several chunks of my code.

For anything more than an extremely simple procedure, I use a LOT of print statements and checks while I'm coding. It doesn't eliminate all problems, but I have way less issues than most of my coworkers.

Bruh I am a developer...been one since 2007...and yes companies do hire folks without degrees. But guess what...the ones that matter...and the ones that are willing to pay...they check for education...I got a 50% increase in salary from a govt contractor.....and they wont even send you a offer letter till they verify your degree.....and this is big boy development...with UPWARD mobility...my leads are former CS professors and mathematic professors


I used to work with guys that were self taught with no degrees....yeah they working....but they not advancing

Cosign, if you're trying to get on with a known company, they aren't going to bs when they have HUNDREDS of eager people for one position. I've never seen a requisition where the minimum education was lower than entry level Bachelor's


Since you haven't started yet threadstarter, you may want to rethink your position.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Bruh I am a developer...been one since 2007...and yes companies do hire folks without degrees. But guess what...the ones that matter...and the ones that are willing to pay...they check for education...I got a 50% increase in salary from a govt contractor.....and they wont even send you a offer letter till they verify your degree.....and this is big boy development...with UPWARD mobility...my leads are former CS professors and mathematic professors


I used to work with guys that were self taught with no degrees....yeah they working....but they not advancing

+1 been developing since 2000. With all the degree scams going on today companies are taking more time to go through and verify their employess

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Yeah, I like coding. More than I like people sometimes


You're talking about an experienced person with an Associate's degree vs. an inexperienced person with a Bachelor's degree. The threadstarter will be an inexperienced person with an associate's degree. Not a lot of upside when he will be competing against people with 4 year degrees. Not saying he won't be able to do it, but he's got an uphill battle. He may not even be competing for the same jobs.




For anything more than an extremely simple procedure, I use a LOT of print statements and checks while I'm coding. It doesn't eliminate all problems, but I have way less issues than most of my coworkers.



Cosign, if you're trying to get on with a known company, they aren't going to bs when they have HUNDREDS of eager people for one position. I've never seen a requisition where the minimum education was lower than entry level Bachelor's


Since you haven't started yet threadstarter, you may want to rethink your position.

+1 LOL. I think the thread started needs to browse USAjobs.com, monster.com,dice.com etc and check what the minimum education requirements are for ENTRY LEVEL developers. An Associates and no experience will surely limit you to being Help Desk/Network/It Support

Software Engineers with a bachelors come a dime a dozen. I am sure my companies paper shredder is loaded with resumes from Candidates with Associates degrees...

 

[semtex]

Java for the win......!!!!

 

[Silver Surfer]

+1 been developing since 2000. With all the degree scams going on today companies are taking more time to go through and verify their employess

Exactly....every job does thing differently. Some places have dedicated DBA's...graphic designers and what not to do certain thing. Here...we write our own stored procedures in SQL and do our own java development. My last job...I rarely touched any sql.....The degree means you have at least had exposure to certain things so it wont be like they are taking someone that dont know anything. We had a guy here who could answer interview questions all day. They handed him some work....it took him 3 weeks to fix a for loop syntax error......SYNTAX!!!!...he was fired

 

[Golayitdown]

+1 LOL. I think the thread started needs to browse USAjobs.com, monster.com,dice.com etc and check what the minimum education requirements are for ENTRY LEVEL developers. An Associates and no experience will surely limit you to being Help Desk/Network/It Support

Software Engineers with a bachelors come a dime a dozen. I am sure my companies paper shredder is loaded with resumes from Candidates with Associates degrees...

The bolded is the best advice in the thread
I was lucky that I had good grades that could slide me right into a Fortune 100 company, but I know it's hard (especially now) for anybody to get on.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Exactly....every job does thing differently. Some places have dedicated DBA's...graphic designers and what not to do certain thing. Here...we write our own stored procedures in SQL and do our own java development. My last job...I rarely touched any sql.....The degree means you have at least had exposure to certain things so it wont be like they are taking someone that dont know anything. We had a guy here who could answer interview questions all day. They handed him some work....it took him 3 weeks to fix a for loop syntax error......SYNTAX!!!!...he was fired

My wife and I see shyt like that happen all time. We will be sitting in an interview with a slick talking, 10 page resume, 15+ year motherfukker who doesnt know how to use the debugger.

 

[#1 pick]

Get certifications.

 

[Silver Surfer]

My wife and I see shyt like that happen all time. We will be sitting in an interview with a slick talking, 10 page resume, 15+ year motherfukker who doesnt know how to use the debugger.

Thats why I dont really like interview questions that much that pertain tho theory and what not about programming.

I will always respect the guy that hired me out of college back in 2007 and started me down this programming path(RIP) Dude basically new I was a novice to programming...but sensed I could pick it up....but he was like...Im just gonna throw you in the deep end of the pool and force you to learn to swim

Im like a mechanic around here. I cant really build a Ferrari from scratch.....but I can bring that bytch back to life and find out what happened to it

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Thats why I dont really like interview questions that much that pertain tho theory and what not about programming.

I will always respect the guy that hired me out of college back in 2007 and started me down this programming path(RIP) Dude basically new I was a novice....but he was like...Im just gonna throw you in the deep end of the pool and force you to learn to swim

Im like a mechanic around here. I cant really build a Ferrari from scratch.....but I can bring that bytch back to life and find out what happened to it

Pretty much I prefer to be asked how I would solve a problem. If I dont have an answer I dont bullshyt like I do. I am honest about it and keep it moving. I learned all the theory shyt in college and RARELY do I see it being practiced much in the real world. The best thing I learned was Software Patterns and best practices (which I am always searching the internet for when faced with a problem).

 

[Sharp]

Look for a tech support job or internship job while getting a degree or pick up some certifications.

this

 

[patscorpio]

WRONG WRONG WRONG......

It is about who knows the latest stuff....

if you have a bachelors and cant program a new language or do the latest engineering its worthless.

I have been in this field for a while to know that

that is the truth....the programming dept at my job stay having the highest turnovers...i have the degree in comp. science and im knowledgeable in a good amount of computer languages but that life isn't for me..like someone said you have to have a love for it which i do not..luckily there are other areas in computer science you can segue into..like i did with the business side and you can still make good money

 

[Prodigital]

Doing firmware programming at my job, spending most of my time on the coli eating snacks.. 401k stacking taking company paid 'vacations'...

I work in research and development btw. I do shyt 99% of everyone else can't do then go back to chilling

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Doing firmware programming at my job, spending most of my time on the coli eating snacks.. 401k stacking taking company paid 'vacations'...

I work in research and development btw. I do shyt 99% of everyone else can't do then go back to chilling

Always wondered what it took to do this. I have the slightest clue where to begin.