Computer Science Advising FAQ

• Who is my advisor?  Why do I need an advisor? - To find out for sure who your advisor is, look yourself up on ISIS.  Also, you should receive email from your home department telling you who your assigned advisor is. 
  
• You need an advisor because: (a) they are the ones to clear service indicators from your record that permits you to register, (b) they dispense advice about what classes you should take next semester, and this advice depends on your circumstances and progress to date, (c) they help answer questions you may have about academic programs, (d) they give general advice about careers, (e) all of the above.
• Probably, if you are reading this, I am your advisor (bookmark my homepage).  I am approachable - see my personal bio which is intended to convince you of this.
  
• To contact me, Email me (cwt@uark.edu) or come by my office for specific advice.  My office hours are posted on my web site (http://csce.uark.edu/~cwt/) but my door is often open, especially to you, my advisees.  I will be happy to see you.  My office is ENGR 340B.  ENGR is just east of Bell Engineering, on Dixon St as you head off campus for town (map).  The CSCE office is the West Wing on the 3rd floor of ENGR; my office is the East Wing (red dot), near a stairwell.  I have a restful view. 
• Why start out in engineering or sciences?  If you have the ability and potential inclination to go into engineering or the sciences, then aim for this as an incoming Freshman.  A main reason is, it is relatively hard to transfer from liberal arts to engineering/sciences due to substantial prerequisites needed for these disciplines.  A long term reason is, these technical disciplines increase the likelihood of employment after university.  Also, this route leads to interesting careers.
  
• Is Computer Science a good major?
• You are likely to get a good job in this major - see CNN Money "Most Lucrative College Careers."  Money alone is not a good enough reason to go into an area.  But money is important in helping families thrive. Do not worrry much about out-sourcing (jobs sent overseas) but, at the same time, in no job should you rest on your laurels, always keep learning and work hard to produce top quality results.
  
• A career should be interesting to you.  Sure, there will be some hard work ahead understanding a bunch of new concepts but the payback is that, the harder you work, the more you will learn, the more useful your experience will be, the better you will be paid, and the more interesting the jobs you will be qualified for.
• What are preprofessional courses?  CSCE requires you to take certain courses before you can take major courses.  These preprofessional courses include:  Intro to Computers, Intro to Programming, Comp I and II, and Calculus I and II.
  
• How much should you study?  Many students at U Arkansas only study 3-5 hours a week outide of class.  At the top schools, it's probably well over 20 hours per week.  Consider hard work as you would the power of compound interest.  If you invest $100 and get 10% a year back then eventually you will be a millionaire.  Similarly, hard work will pay off.  Generally, you will get a better paying job, will rise faster in your company, and will have more opportunities in life if you work hard.  Someone who works hard will almost always beat out someone who has no work ethic, at least in the long run.  Hard work is partly focus and partly organizational skills.  Work on these.
  
• How should I spend my summers while in school?  Get a paying job is the time honored answer.  Never bad advice.  Consider these additional possibilities:
  
• Should I travel overseas or within the US?  Yes.  You may not be able to recall what you did day-to-day for most of your life.  But you will never forget your travels, even what you did day-to-day.  Traveling is very enriching, second only to raising a family, career is third in this pecking order.  My advice:  (a) travel with a smallish group, (b) go for 2 or 3 weeks or for a full summer, (c) target a particular country or state, esp. away from the main cities.  I spent a summer youth hosteling in England when I was 16, traveling alone.  My daughter and three friends hiked the Coast to Coast Trail across Northern England last summer.  Just ask and I will show you home movies ...  Is England the only place to go?  well, I like it but ... another possibility is a 2-3 week trip in the US with your Mom or some friends.  A multi-day hike is also a possibility.  These latter trips can happen at the start or end of summer, leaving time for that job we were talking about.
  
• Should I intern or coop?  Yes, the summer after your Sophomore year and more especially the summer after your Junior year.  Some companies (like JB Hunt) almost do not consider you if you have not interned somewhere.  That is, work experience in your major is as importantas getting good grades.  Check out the campus Career Development Center.  Here is what one coop student had to say (quoted by permission):
  

• Should I maintain a resume?  Yes, its a good idea - keep it up-to-date.  See examples.
  
• How do I drop a course?
  
• When you are first having trouble in a class, (a) work harder, (b) talk to your professor, (c) consider tutoring at the Enhanced Learning Center, (d) tell your advisor.  Avoid dropping if you can.
  
• To drop a class
• do so by the end of the first week of class and you do not have to pay for the course else you do in full
• drop using ISIS
• Apparently (not sure where this is written) U Ark seems to have a grade forgiveness policy which will replace a poor grade with a better one, but limited to two times.
  
• Do I have to take Chemistry/Physics Lab - Be sure to sign up for the lab along with Chemistry and/or Physics.  Do not listen to the advice that, because you had it in High School, you do not need to take the lab again.  Computer Science and generally Engineering require the lab class to accompany the lecture class.
• Can I take an Honors class?  Yes, if you have been doing well in normal classes and feel you can handle an Honors class. 
  
• More advice, please - Oliver wanted more gruel - and you want more advice!  Here is some general advice.  

Related Links

• University of Arkansas Academic Calendar
• CSCE Handbook - Fall 2004
• MS Thesis Template