Why are comp sci students such saps??

Chaos-Engine · 02-01-2002 03:41AM #1

I am repeating my leaving cert and hoping to study comp sci in trinity next year. I have one problem. EVERY SINGLE comp sci student I know of (except 1 individual in tcd) are total morons. They are the type of ppl u think of in sccounting courses(no offense to the a/cs)... Smarmy, Think-they-know-it-alls-but-don't, right-wing corprate whores....

Please somebody tell me this is a UCD thing(like their arts degree students - "pieces of toilet paper degrees") only and that tcd doesn't have such souless muppets.... I want to beable to communicate with ppl next year about my course and not want to kill them at the same time... I just hate those ****ers... Like engineering students almost... Christ i like the wrong thing.
Maybe i should stick to Photography

GoneShootin · 02-01-2002 04:15AM

EVERY SINGLE comp sci student I know of (except 1 individual in tcd) are total morons

i cannot vouch for dublin, but in CIT comp science guys n gals for the most part are pretty ok, depends on the course

deg ppl [ok some of these are stuck up]
dip ppl [like me, as honest and hard working as the next person]
cert ppl [drink and fail first year, repent first year in second year]

now switch to UCC, and comp science there seems to be

"ooo ive a laptop to take notes"
"sorry teacher person i couldnt take them down cos i 4got to charge it last nite"

and those ARTS ppl ? sheesh

emmet · 02-01-2002 06:51AM

First of all, what your classmates are like is a lottery, independent of the college or the course. I didn't really get on with most of mine,
but I "fell in" with a crowd of half-a-dozen or so very genuine people who I still go for pints with on a weekly basis, having graduated in 94 and 95.

Speaking from an informed position (and I do) computer science (CS) and cognate disciplines (computer engineering, computer applications, and so on) have suffered greatly from popularity. In other words, there are many people who have pursued courses in these disciplines "to get a good job", rather than out of any interest in the field. I doubt if one in ten students in these courses over the last ten years cared for the material. You call them "morons", I call them "misguided".

Every discipline "has its day", when I did my Leaving in 1989, business-oriented courses were the "flavour of the month", now it's computer-oriented courses that everybody wants to do.

> Maybe i should stick to Photography

Maybe you should. If that's what you really like doing, then do it. If you're genuinely committed to what you do, you'll find a way of making a living at it and, frankly, it really doesn't matter a whole hell of a lot what it is --- software, photography, knitting, ..., whatever. In other words, if I were you, I'd choose my course for the love of it, not for profit.

Finally, I don't mean to be hyper-critical, but I'm sure that even a "moron" (as you've chosen to label your potential future classmates) wouldn't relish the prospect of having, as a classmate, someone who is as arrogant and judgemental as your posting makes you appear --- you manage to disparage two reputable academic institutions and two respected professions (to one of which I happen to belong) in ten lines of prose.

My 2 cent worth

Emmet.

DeadBankClerk · 02-01-2002 12:42PM

im a total moron

Lemming · 02-01-2002 01:37PM

A lot of the computing students in IT-Tallaght are alright.

There are/were a core of about 20/30 absolute f*@king nutters ranging from 1st-4th year who were/are a laugh (but are also all really good with computers. They just don't give a f*ck)

There are quite a few dipsh*ts around though too. As what Emmett said ... its like a lottery. They range from the "I don't know about computers, and don't want to, but the money looks good" types to the "I am a freak with no social skills".

Somewhere in between you'll find the "I'm strung out on caffeine and Linux rocks and I only do 2 hours study and still get A's" types.

MarcusGarvey · 02-01-2002 02:04PM

Originally posted by Gone Shootin

now switch to UCC, and comp science there seems to be

"ooo ive a laptop to take notes"
"sorry teacher person i couldnt take them down cos i 4got to charge it last nite"

Right, and you have experience of this from 4 miles away in the CIT yeah ?

Out of a degree class of 120 people, there may be one who has a laptop, thats about it .

I always find it amusing that many CIT people have a chip on their shoulder over equivalent UCC courses.

There are many comp sci students who are muppets, like there are in other courses. Generally I find Comp Sci students to be very quiet and almost shy or afraid of social interaction.

GoneShootin · 02-01-2002 02:14PM

Right, and you have experience of this from 4 miles away in the CIT yeah ?

sure do, aqquantice of mine takes his/her laptop to classes with him, he/she told me its like that for all

so if ive been misimformed then I stand corrected

i still hold that school tie grudge tho, gggrrrr

)

MarcusGarvey · 02-01-2002 02:40PM

I know of one person in Comp Sci that does this. ONE.

Law Students will be given laptops in the near future alright, but there are only a few people that nowadays bring laptops with them.

GoneShootin · 02-01-2002 03:12PM

I stand corrected

Pepe LeFrits · 02-01-2002 03:50PM

Originally posted by DeadBankClerk
im a total moron

me too

b20uvkft6m5xwg · 02-01-2002 08:47PM

Originally posted by Chaos-Engine
Please somebody tell me this is a UCD thing(like their arts degree students - "pieces of toilet paper degrees")

Good to see you make assumptions based on....???
When you get into college +/or get your degree then put some value and perspective on things:)

[80p swings to the defence of UCD and especially those downtrodden Arts Students]

seamus · 02-01-2002 08:57PM

Ah, those old school jokes. (most of) It doesn't ring true. Although UCD is better for sciences, and Trinity is better for performing arts, and you can quote me on that

A lot of the people doing the specific Comp Sci course in UCD are freaks and geeks, with plenty of muppets, but some are cool too.

The 'Omnibus' Entry (through Science), which I do, is the opposite. Most of them know nothing about computers, and money can be made teaching these people Java at the end of first year (even if you're in first year too

). Most of these would rather spend time in the pub than playing CS or anything else.

Take your pick

Monty - the one and only · 02-01-2002 11:48PM

Normally i would lock a topic with such a flamatory title, but since most of the content is ok just I'll keep an eye on it.

Lump · 03-01-2002 12:32AM

Originally posted by Chaos-Engine
I am repeating my leaving cert and hoping to study comp sci in trinity next year. ........ EVERY SINGLE comp sci student I know of (except 1 individual in tcd) are total morons.

Please somebody tell me this is a UCD thing(like their arts degree students - "pieces of toilet paper degrees") .......Maybe i should stick to Photography

You're repeating the LC and you are calling them morons???? Also I dont see why you take the piss out of arts degrees, and then say thqat you should stick to Photography....... Thats an art btw.

John

Blitzkrieger · 03-01-2002 12:50AM

In any course you're going to get a wide mix of people. There was about 80 in my class, from all over the country, and all sorts of back-grounds. I got on with some - I didn't get on with others. If you're worried that everybody will be a "sterotypical computer geek" - don't be.

phobos · 03-01-2002 01:20AM

Originally posted by emmet
In other words, there are many people who have pursued courses in these disciplines "to get a good job", rather than out of any interest in the field. I doubt if one in ten students in these courses over the last ten years cared for the material. You call them "morons", I call them "misguided".

I completely agree with that statement

I am in my final year of CS, and so far I have never had to repeat subjects (while doing this course), have ranked in the top 2 of the class, and have had a passion for computers (not consoles) since I was 6.

Having said that I don't judge my lower graded class mates, or call them "morons", I simply feel sorry for them because they obviously decided to do the course for the wrong reasons. I don't class myself as being very intelligent, but I do have a great interest, and it is that interest, that has gotten me this far. Sure you stereo-type successful CS students as the Counter Strike, IRC headz, who spend countless hours posting on BBS. I am not one of those, I don't even play games (much). I am probably more old skool than that. Yet people in similar work as myself call me a muppet because I don't fall in to their stero-typical world of Computer Science. This is because I decided to take a different approach to them. An approach that seems to be working, and one that has earned me the respect of my lecturers and classmates.

The moral of this story and my word of advice is, choose your course wisely. CS is not about player Mplayer LAN games, and what you like doing on your home computer. If you are enthusiastic enough about computers, who will enjoy the challenge of whatever they decide to throw at you during your degree years. It's not a bad idea to check out the course content of a particular course first, or even contact the head of a particular department. You will get all that information from the college's web site. I wouldn't simply base your decision on what your Guidance Councellor has to say, because all those years ago, mine told me there was no difference between Electronic Engineering and Computer Science :rolleyes:

;-phobos-)

Chaos-Engine · 03-01-2002 04:37AM

First of all I must appaligise for my passionate opinion. I am very greatful for those that took the time to reply with a critical and personal angle. The "morons" either didn't reply or I am just unlucky to have met them(seemingly the minority) and as was stated I probalbly wouldn't as most of the descent ones are shy and difficult in social situations.
I have always wanted to study Computer Science since I was 7 and started messing around with my uncle's 286, with 400kb HDD

... But in the last few months since i started repeating I have encountered those Business-comp types that would love to be the next Bill Gates and they sicken me, They are the morons.
(note: I have my reasons but they don't make me a moron. I'm still friendly, sincere and intelligent)

As for my other love Photography. I have had a deep passion for the art of focused light for at least the last 3 years. Influenced some what by friends, mentors, strangers and my father. It is unfortunitly something I myself only began 2 months ago. However in the meantime have learned to develop my own photos and taken almost 500 photographs. Thats about 12 a day.

Photography and Computer Science are very different but my love for the two is strong. Since most photography college courses are only certs(1 year) and most comp sci courses that i am interested in are degrees(4 years). I have decided and am now definite about presuing Computer Science in college influenced somewhat by the positive nature of the replies i recieved. I thank you all again and hope that I will encounter individuals such as yourselfs in college next year.

p.s. "UCD Arts degrees are toilet paper" quote from a café toilet in the georges st. arcade.... Oh, and those UCD Arts degrees should realy be called "Humanity degrees" as the have little to do with artistic method..... Although I must say they are great if you don't know what u want to do in college but want to get some 3rd level qualification...

It seems their is reason in the madness after all

GoneShootin · 03-01-2002 04:47AM

uncle's 286, with 400kb HDD

ah the good ol days, twas the fathers 386 for me

and i see no resons why you cannot gain inspiration from your compu-sci and merge it with photographpy, use tech to your advantage

do both, you've loadsa time and you'll be all happy and squishy on the inside

Chaos-Engine · 03-01-2002 04:59AM

Originally posted by Gone Shootin

do both, you've loadsa time and you'll be all happy and squishy on the inside

twas my plan

MSc in Multimedia

Anyway, Photography is something u usually learn by yourself and computers isn't like that much anymore. You need to have a degree to prove you know C++ and thesis to show that you made an A.I. system write porno scripts...

WhiteWashMan · 03-01-2002 09:12AM

yes its true.
comp sci. undergrads are generally all pimply greasy youths and in general are all star trek geeks and not worth knowing.

come to think of it, you can take out the word generally and general in that sentence

us applied physics and comp sci grads are so much better

seamus · 03-01-2002 06:42PM

us applied physics and comp sci grads are so much better

Applied Physics *muffled laughter* NERD!!

WARNING: This post is made entirely out of spam

boddah · 03-01-2002 09:42PM

is EVERYONE here a complete nerd/doing a cs course?

Me, i'm doing comp sys in ul and find that my classmates are generally sound, though of course you get your share of pricks and posers. Surprisingly few snobs, though i believe this applies to UL in general. Even the top echolons of intelligent people in the class are totally sound, if a little dull.

I don't consider myself a nerd because i'm doing CS, i admit i chose the course because of financial/employment prospects but that doesn't mean i don't care about the course material, i find most of it quite interesting. Pity the lecturers don't care as much. :rolleyes:

saik · 03-01-2002 10:24PM

i hate the sound of you, not because you are right (you aren't), not because you are wrong (even though you are) , but because of the fact that you have demonstrated yourself to be a "Smarmy, Think-they-know-it-alls-but-don't" type,
It's tough to get into UCD or TCD Comp.Sci is it not? Didn't you fail to acheive this on your first attempt? I think you may have difficulty in relating to _anyone_ on _any_ course if you persist with your preconceived ideas based on people that have been unfortunate enough to have met you.
(Vermin stay in packs, this may be your problem with CS students _you_ have met)
How does someones degree / course (whether it is worth a piece of toilet paper or not) tell you how well they can "communicate" with you, the humourous, friendly , well rounded, inconceited happy chappy that you are?

I would suggest taking a year out, to mature, as you obviously have not done so yet - even with the repeat year.

"Maybe i should stick to Photography" - yes, preferably on your own in a darkened room away from all other forms of life for the rest of eternity.

WhiteWashMan · 04-01-2002 12:01AM

oh, we are a bit upset arent we.

Thorbar · 04-01-2002 12:39AM

oi dohbah what year are you in?

Asuka · 04-01-2002 01:25AM

From what I've heard, doing a general Computer Science course these days isnt worth jack $hit - im not basing this on personal experience, cos i dont have any, but on what i've heard. General CS graduates are the ones who sweep our streets these days - why? Because so many of them go into the course with no real interest, except to get a decent job, and come out with no real skills. I understand that these days, being a CS graduate isnt enough to land you a job - you also need to prove that computers are what you do. As in: you need to have a real interest, not just a degree. There are jobs for the best CS graduates, and the rest sweep the streets.

Before you all flame me, i repeat that this is what i've been told. Im in leaving cert now, and ive been quite strenuously warned off doing a CS degree for these reason. Not by a guidance counsellor who doesnt know much except the economic downturn either - my info comes from people who work in the industry, and know what it takes.

Of my college choices for next year, only one of them will be computer related, and that will be a very specific area (Computer Games Technology in Abertay, Dundee). I will have no computer related courses on my CAO, unless i stick one down at the bottom just to have a safety net (maybe id be thinking CS in UCD at this stage). Of course, this might be the exact reason why you get such people in these courses. My first choice on CAO will be History and Political Science in TCD, a nice little course which will involve me getting 540 points (whew!).

A

boddah · 04-01-2002 02:57PM

Originally posted by Thorbar
oi dohbah what year are you in?

second year

Jelvon · 04-01-2002 03:13PM

1st year cs student here

, I study at queens up in belfast and imho the only stuck up students here are medics. Us cs students are all relaxed , probably cause we only do a 11 hour week. Now medics.... hell they are soo full of themselves probably cause of the amount of work they do , they prance about the campus thinkin they own the place. I got accepted for cs at trinity but there was noway I was going to do a 30 hour week

. The moral of the story is: the less hours a week in your degree the lest stuck up your classmates will be.

Shinji · 04-01-2002 04:42PM

The moral of the story is: the less hours a week in your degree the lest stuck up your classmates will be.

Addendum to Moral: The less hours a week in your degree, the more useful for wiping your backside the piece of paper at the end of it will be.

Trojan · 04-01-2002 04:54PM

Originally posted by Chaos-Engine

Photography and Computer Science are very different but my love for the two is strong.

or maybe you could merge the 2 by setting up some sort of por^Wphotographic website and make loads of cash.

Al.

SheroN · 04-01-2002 07:48PM

Ah why do people get so worked up?...if you're good enough your're good enough, if you're interested you're interested, if you're a wanker you're a wanker.

Why are comp sci students such saps??

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