CS 110: Introduction to Computer Science
Frequently asked questions about
a CS major and CS career
Is CS a hard subject?
• CS is challenging for everyone
• Some students may say that CS is easy for
them, but they may not be telling the whole
truth—they may want to make themselves
look smart
• Lack of experience is not the same as lack of
ability
• You are able to succeed in CS; we’ll provide
needed experience
• Help is available if you want it
How do I get help?
• You will always get help but you have to tell
us you need it
• Tutoring
• Chief Departmental Advisor
• Mentoring from professors and classmates
• Organize study groups to provide mutual
support
• Join CS clubs
Are CS students competitive with one
another?
• Some students prefer to compete with and
one-up others
• Most students benefit from working with
others; helping others is a powerful way to
learn
• Learning to work well with others will help you
to be more successful while a student and
after you graduate
• Pair programming in the labs will help you to
work well with others
Are professors international?
• Some professors and graduate teaching
assistants are international
• Some may have accents and some may
speak English better than others
• You will have an opportunity to learn how to
work with people from different cultures which
will be good preparation for the CS workplace
which has great cultural diversity
• Ask for help and clarification if you need it
Are professors friendly?
• Most professors are friendly and caring
• All professors want their students to do well
but they may use different means to achieve
this
• Some professors are unaware of their impact
on students
• Some professors wait for students to
approach them to ask for help
• This is good preparation for the work world
where you have to work with many different
types of bosses
Is CS work performed alone or with
others?
• While some work may be performed alone,
most of the time work must be coordinated
with others
• Most CS work is done as part of a team,
especially as you advance in your career
• Working well with others (good teamwork) is
one of the best predictors of career success
and advancement
Does CS work require long hours?
• This varies by type of job and type of
company you work for
• Many companies provide flexible scheduling
to allow employees to balance work and
family needs
Is CS work all programming?
• Programming is most common only during
the first few years after graduation
• As you gain experience, more time is spent
working with others to design and implement
systems to solve problems and help
organizations to become more effective
• http://www.cs.colorado.edu/why/
Quote from Someone who has
been there
• "It's so not programming," Ms. Burge said. "If
I had to sit down and code all day, I never
would have continued. This is not traditional
computer science.“
• Jamika Burge - Phd student Va Tech
Job Functions of CS Grads
Will it be hard to find a job after
graduation?
• The average time to find a job in CS
nationally is 3 months
• The average unemployment rate nationally is
2.9 percent
• 100% of graduates from ODU found jobs after
graduation
• If you graduate from our program you will find
a good paying job that provides the possibility
of professional growth and career
advancement
10 Fastest Growing Occupations
for College Graduates
Network systems and data communications analysts
Physician assistants
Computer software engineers, applications
Physical therapist assistants
Dental hygienists
Computer software engineers, systems software
Network and computer systems administrators
Database administrators
Physical therapists
Forensic science technicians
Some Statistics
• Types of Employers
Employers of CS Grads
How much do CS jobs pay?
• CS is one of the highest paying jobs in the
country
• Starting salaries with a BS in CS in 20042005 were $50,000
• Typical starting salaries for our students
who graduated last year above that
average
Will I lose my job to someone in
another country?
• In recent years, many lower level
programming jobs have been lost to countries
such as India and China, but companies are
beginning to question this practice
• CS jobs with more creative content (less
programming) and that involve working with
others are less likely to be lost
Quote – Career Recruitment Media
• The job market for computer science
graduates moves so quickly that by the
time anything is said about it,
something new pops up to change the
dynamics of the industry. However, two
words will remain standard for some
time to come—booming & profitable.
Future
• The job market for computer science graduates might be redhot today, but employers aren't hiring warm bodies. They still
demand skills and a commitment to ongoing career
development.
• Communication skills are vital. Corporate recruiters say don't
talk to us if you can't communicate with our customers or
management.
• Keep up to date. Continuing education is vital. Your competition
will get stiffer.
• Be prepared to respond quickly to changing market conditions - learn new skills.
• Get the big picture of the computing industry, not just your
particular focus.
• Have your competence in the field be certified.
• Remember the athlete's motto: "Somewhere out there he is
training, and I am not; and when we meet, he will win."