First steps to my CSS degree...

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get_nick

These snozzberries taste like snozzberries...
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Well, I finally did it. I took the first steps towards my CSS degree. I am registered for college classes. I got to the point where I was complaining more than doing and got sick of hearing my own bitching. So unlike 95% of people, I committed to action.

Starting in April I'll be taking Calculus 2 and Programming 1. Mostly Java work. Here is the description.

Description:
Introduces computer science and programming for CS majors. Students learn design and implementation of algorithms and programming in a structured, modular language, with emphasis on problem solving, program design, and style. Prerequisite: MATH&141 (or higher), or placement by assessment in MATH&142 or above, or entry code.

Outcomes:
After completing this class, students should be able to:
  • Solve problems applying the techniques of decomposition, critical reasoning, induction and deduction.

  • Describe the functionality of memory, CPU and programs, including compilation, linking/loading and executing a program.

  • Identify best practices in software programming, including maintainability, style, structure and documentation.

  • Define the concepts of data types, including primitive types and objects.

  • Explain the evaluation of arithmetic expressions in conjunction with precedence rules for operators.

  • Use decision controls (if-else) and repetitions (do-while) in the construction of simple programs.

  • Design and invoke procedural methods in simple programs.

  • Utilize parameter passing to methods, including the process of returning values.

  • Implement existing code from an Applications Programming Interface (API).

  • Write programs to read and write simple test files on local secondary storage.

  • Explain the importance of code documentation with programmer comments.

  • Apply testing concepts and techniques to verify and fix errors in programs.

  • Use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to create programs.
 
very nice. so whats the end game? whats the increase in salary and whats the cost of schooling?
i'm curious on the black and whites of this decision.
also, what degrees if any do you have and what is your current job and what job do you hope to have after this degree?
 
very nice. so whats the end game? whats the increase in salary and whats the cost of schooling?
i'm curious on the black and whites of this decision.
also, what degrees if any do you have and what is your current job and what job do you hope to have after this degree?

The end goal is to get into product management/product marketing management at a tech company. Ideally F5 or Google. Both have very large offices here in Seattle.

I currently work in Finance at Boeing, with about 10 years of sales and client management background before that. I have my MBA from University of Washington. It's a top 10 public school with a lot of credibility here in the northwest.

Since I have a lot of credits already, I'll be able to skip most of the standard student electives. I work at Boeing and they will pay 100% tuition as long as I'm here.

Total expected cost, $22,000 for 7, possibly 8 quarters (this doesn't include what Boeing will pay). 2 quarters of community college at $1000 each. and 5 expected quarters at $4,000 each. That includes technical fees, student fees, etc.

I already make pretty good money. I don't expect a huge raise, maybe $10,000/year. I'm going it to get to a company and job that I want to do, not so much for the desire to be a programmer.
 
Boeing isn't the end all be all it used to be. The way they treat their employees has gotten progressively worse the last 20 years.

Glad to see you're trying to get out of their.
 
Boeing isn't the end all be all it used to be. The way they treat their employees has gotten progressively worse the last 20 years.

Glad to see you're trying to get out of their.

I tell people, "it's like marrying a 6. She's ok looking, you get missionary position sex every couple weeks, and she won't cheat on you. But you'll never get a blowjob in a theater or moments of exhilaration. Its where you go when you are ready to just chill for 20 years with no stress or excitement."

I'm not quite ready for that.
 
Its like the old SAT. half math, half english. Its mostly critical thinking and your process for problem solving. You have to apply rules and formulas to situations to solve the problems. Its an extra step past knowing Pythagorean theory and such.

I took the manhattan gmat course and had to work my ass off. Since youve done a lot of math, you should be ok. its more of a right of passage to weed out people who don't want to work hard.
 
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i look at some of the math kristen does and i cry inside. i struggle with anything more than basic math. i can't imagine some of the math you guys have to do. Pythagorean may as well be greek to me :)
 
i look at some of the math kristen does and i cry inside. i struggle with anything more than basic math. i can't imagine some of the math you guys have to do. Pythagorean may as well be greek to me :)
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I will be signing up for a GMAT course here in a bit. It's very common at my work to take one offered at the local CC a few miles from our office. I haven't looked into it as much as I should have by now, but will probably start the process this upcoming weekend. I test well but have no idea how I will perform on this so I'm going to take the course to help sharpen and relearn the math skills I probably take for granted every day.
 
I will be signing up for a GMAT course here in a bit. It's very common at my work to take one offered at the local CC a few miles from our office. I haven't looked into it as much as I should have by now, but will probably start the process this upcoming weekend. I test well but have no idea how I will perform on this so I'm going to take the course to help sharpen and relearn the math skills I probably take for granted every day.

just lmk if you need any help setting up your prep or finding a class. A good friend of mine is the Seattle Manhattan GMAT instructor. if you can score a set of used Manhattan GMAT books online, you'll be golden. I enjoyed taking the actual class because it forced me to hold to a schedule. I'm not a very good self study-er.
 
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