Meet a Computer Science Major

Why did you choose your major? 

Anything pertaining to technology has always interested me. Additionally, the IT industry continues to grow as technology continues to evolve rapidly. Computer/software/mobile programmers will always be needed, which influenced my decision to major in computer science. 

What has been your favorite class? 

I really don’t have a favorite class, but if i had to choose one, it would be Web Programming. I find creating web pages fun and interesting, and the Web Programming course taught me how to do it. It reminds me of the Myspace days, where we’d go crazy customizing our pages to make it look better than our friends.

Have you done any internships?

I’m currently a ASP.Net/C# developer intern for the New York City Department of Transportation. The experience is challenging but also enlightening. I have not been taught C#, so I’ve have to use my knowledge of other languages to teach myself a new one. This is my opportunity to put all the theoretical work into a full blown real life project.

What are your plans after graduation?

Ideally, I would like to become a software engineer. My other ideal professions are: database developer/administrator, .net developer or mobile developer.

Have any professors made a big impact on you?

Yes, Peter Boothe who was my first computer science professor. He exposed me to the world of programming and made it easy enough for me to grasp the fundamentals and challenging enough to keep pushing myself to do better and learn more.

What’s your favorite thing about this major?

The end product. Finishing a major assignment for any computer science class brings me encouragement and reassurance that I have what it takes to compete in today’s industry.

What’s the most difficult thing about this major?

The most difficult aspect of my major was bettering my analytical skills. Every assignment brought different approaches to solving it.

What advice would you give to new students trying to select a major?

Don’t get discouraged if you’re struggling a lot in the beginning. Programming becomes easier the more practice you put in. Another piece of advice: go to office hours. A one-on-one session with a professor may be scary, but it can be extremely helpful.