[CS-FSLUG] OT: Where to go from here

[Frank Bax]

At 02:25 AM 1/21/06, Nathan T. wrote:
>Where do I go from here? I was thinking best case scenario I get into
>a university somehow, otherwise it's a college with a decent CS and
>engineering course, or even just a technical institute.


Best school in Canada for both Engineering and Math/CS is Waterloo 
(sometimes called "MIT of Canada").  Check it out.  They also have an 
excellent Co-op program; so in 5 years you get a 4-year honours degree 
*and* two years experience.  Between gov't grants/loans and coop work I 
paid my own way through this university.  I'd be cautious about a career in 
software development; the field has become very specialised in the past 10 
years; so I suggest finding something else as a major with some software 
courses tossed in to fill your schedule.  Programming is becoming a useful 
tool on any job; but as a profession I think the days are limited; besides 
you are more likely to be coding for a project you like if you got the job 
because of your other strengths.

University can be a shock for some students used to high marks.  As you 
look around in your first class, realise that every person in the room was 
"top of their class" a few months ago; but now half of them are "below 
average".