A question

[Billy]

I am one of the future "green kids" that Mr. Matthew referred to in an earlier
reply. As a freshman in college, what can I do with the remaining 3.3 years
I have left to increase my market "value" when I graduate. Also, is there
a vast preference for programmers with a masters vs. those with only a B.A.?

[Elena]

Greetings!

Well, there are certainly many paths to follow but here are my suggestions.
If you are interested in programming, a bachelor's degree is not strictly
required to get the initial job but, I believe, essential for career advancement
in the long run. A graduate degree is not required at all for general business
applications (client/server, web, database, etc.) I had thought that most
IT degrees would be Bachelor of Science rather than Bachelor of Arts, but
perhaps your school defines these things differently. What really matters
is the type of courses you take and you can explain that to the interviewer
if he was expecting a B.S. rather than a B.A.

The other really important thing to do during your undergraduate years is
to find internships and/or projects in real companies so that when you graduate,
you have something more than classwork to talk about in the interviews.
Your school most likely can help you there.

Finally, once you've been working for a couple years, you may decide you'd
like to go into project management or some other area and THEN a decision
about a graduate program can be made.

Best of Luck!

Elena


"Billy" <timothy412@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I am one of the future "green kids" that Mr. Matthew referred to in an
earlier
>reply. As a freshman in college, what can I do with the remaining 3.3 years
>I have left to increase my market "value" when I graduate. Also, is there
>a vast preference for programmers with a masters vs. those with only a B.A.?

[Matthew Cromer]

"Billy" <timothy412@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I am one of the future "green kids" that Mr. Matthew referred to in an
earlier
>reply. As a freshman in college, what can I do with the remaining 3.3 years
>I have left to increase my market "value" when I graduate. Also, is there
>a vast preference for programmers with a masters vs. those with only a B.A.?

Paid experience in the career you wish to pursue (even part-time or internship)
will put you way above the new graduates who don't have paid experience.
I'd strongly recommend you consider summer internships and maybe a part-time
job during the year.

Good Luck,

Matthew Cromer

[Billy]

"Elena" <egermano@home.com> wrote:
>
>Greetings!
>
>Well, there are certainly many paths to follow but here are my suggestions.
> If you are interested in programming, a bachelor's degree is not strictly
>required to get the initial job but, I believe, essential for career advancement
>in the long run. A graduate degree is not required at all for general business
>applications (client/server, web, database, etc.) I had thought that most
>IT degrees would be Bachelor of Science rather than Bachelor of Arts, but
>perhaps your school defines these things differently. What really matters
>is the type of courses you take and you can explain that to the interviewer
>if he was expecting a B.S. rather than a B.A.
>
>The other really important thing to do during your undergraduate years is
>to find internships and/or projects in real companies so that when you graduate,
>you have something more than classwork to talk about in the interviews.

>Your school most likely can help you there.
>
>Finally, once you've been working for a couple years, you may decide you'd
>like to go into project management or some other area and THEN a decision
>about a graduate program can be made.
>
>Best of Luck!
>
>Elena
>
>
>"Billy" <timothy412@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I am one of the future "green kids" that Mr. Matthew referred to in an
>earlier
>>reply. As a freshman in college, what can I do with the remaining 3.3 years
>>I have left to increase my market "value" when I graduate. Also, is there
>>a vast preference for programmers with a masters vs. those with only a
B.A.?
>
Sorry, I meant a B.S., I accidentally put the wrong acronym.