Computer science on the rise | Spectrum

Jeremy Budd?s story from today?s paper highlights the rising trend of people majoring in computer science at Columbia and nationwide. We caught up with six students studying comp sci or computer engineering, and here?s what they had to say about why it appealed to them.

Pierre Gergis, CC ?12
When I first took the introductory course in computer science (1004), I had no idea what it was to program?where they?re written, how they?re run, and whether I could accidentally break my computer by running one of my own. But I took the class because I wanted a challenge, and exposure to a field that was thoroughly foreign to me, yet clearly intimately influential in daily experiences.

There?s more after the jump!

What I discovered is that computer science is an art. It gives students a chance to learn systematic reasoning and efficient use of available tools to solve a problem and walk away with something tangible. The hook is submitting the product of many hours of labor?a small game, for example?that you are certain works flawlessly. Its functionality is the same as any other correct solutions your classmates have submitted, but yours is special in some way. It has your style, your fingerprint in the way it runs, and in the code, its very fabric.

Computer science is technical and tough, but it has applications and academic appeal to a wide variety of disciplines, from pure math to philosophy to linguistics to anthropology. So whether you?re curious about what?s going on in artificial intelligence research, or you just want to know more about how the Internet works, if you have any interest in exercising your creative logical reasoning, I actively encourage you to try your hand at computer science.

Andy Lamping, CC ?12
I?ve always enjoyed computers; I enjoy problem solving, analytical thinking, and the concrete answers that come from the sciences. I think more and more jobs will need comp sci knowledge, and I like how comp sci and programming can create new things.

Andrew Grant, CC ?12
I originally took it because I was interested in the 3-2 program (which I ended up not doing), and COMS1004 was a requirement. However, I continued taking CS classes because I found the programming assignments fun! Through the assignments you build really cool programs that perform real world functions (e.g. a virtual MetroCard machine).

Though programming can at times be frustrating (especially at first, but stick with it!), it?s pretty satisfying when you end up with a program that took 20 hours to build. I think people should study it because of its relevance; computers and technology permeate the modern world. It can also open up your career opportunities.

Alison Cooper, CC ?14
The idea of being able to do things, outside of just knowing things, was extremely appealing in terms of the independence and capabilities it confers. In the beginning, this had nothing to do with archaeology, except on a conceptual level. I was fascinated by how much human communication has changed over time and how much technology has changed over time. To me, before I knew any of the details, computer science quite basically seemed like a new sphere of communication. I still think that?s true, but I?m a lot more interested in what I can do with computer science to accomplish studying archaeology in a more sophisticated, 21st century-oriented way.

Also, graphics seemed like a way I could be creative and have fun in science, and not have to deal with the politics of getting grants, which stifles biologists? creativity. That?s because one can be creative with computer science in anything. It?s a lot freer?one can get involved in any field with it. Since I have no idea what I really want to do with my life, and CS is extremely versatile, this seemed like a smart way to go.

Oh wait, we?ve got some engineers too.

Tim Giel, SEAS ?13
(I?m studying computer engineering but it?s basically the same thing as comp sci.)

I got into it because I like working with computers and there?s sort of a satisfying feel about being able to create something that you can see work right in front of you. People should be interested in comp sci because it is involved in almost every aspect of life. Pretty much everything we use today was affected by a computer in some way or another.

Mikey Zhong, SEAS ?13
Originally did econ because I wanted to be Jeffrey Sachs/World Bank person. Realized I wasn?t smart enough or hard-working enough to get a PhD to do econ policy. So switched to comp sci because I felt like it was the only other major where I could impact the world on a large scale.

Mikey Zhong is a former Spectrum editor.

Source: http://spectrum.columbiaspectator.com/spectrum/computer-science-on-the-rise

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