Alright.
Hi. I’m a senior in high school and thinking about majoring in Computer Science. Unlike most other people my age, this is probably my first post on any chat forum/ wiki/ blog. I also don’t normaly type things without a spell checker and would like to get better. Any coments about my spelling or anything else would be appriciated.
My brother showed me this site a while back and also HP:MoR. Spicificly, I saw the Sequences. And they were long. Some of them were some-what interesting but mostly they were just long. In addition to that, I had just been introduced to the Methods of Rationality which, dispite being long, was realy interisting (actualy my favorite story that I have ever read), and there was some other things, so yeah . . . I still haven’t read them. But anyway, that was about a year ago and at this point I have read through MoR at least three times. I feel that I am starting to think sort of rationaly and would like to improve on that.
In addition to that, I have this friend that I talk to at lunch. Normaly we talk about things that we probably don’t have any ideas about that actualy reflect reality, like the origins of the universe, time travel, artificial intelligence (I did actualy read a bit about that by Eliezer. didn’t understand as much as I would have liked, but still) those sorts of things. And about half the time I am almost entirly sure that whatever thought process he’s using just doesn’t work. So another reason I’m here is to make sure that what ever thought process I’m using is actualy the right way to be looking at things and that I am acting as an intelligent thinker rather than a condecending jerk.
So, I’m going to go get reading those sequences now.
I should probably write a post, “Why not to major in computer science.” My advice is to be aware that there is almost no money in the world budgeted to computer science research, that most people can’t even conceive of or believe in the concept of computer science research, and that a degree in computer science leads only to jobs as a computer programmer unless it is from a top-five school.
I’m certainly not! (Yet.) I should’ve been specific instead of pithy.
My own approach was to take a couple of courses through Boston University to get some foundational knowledge, and then start the job hunting dance. It was enough of a structured educational environment to get me to actually learn, but still far, far cheaper than getting another degree. (Happy ending: I am employed.)
I do wish I’d studied more CS (i.e., any CS) when I was doing the undergrad thing, but programming jobs have much less respect for credentialing than other professions.
Alright. Hi. I’m a senior in high school and thinking about majoring in Computer Science. Unlike most other people my age, this is probably my first post on any chat forum/ wiki/ blog. I also don’t normaly type things without a spell checker and would like to get better. Any coments about my spelling or anything else would be appriciated.
My brother showed me this site a while back and also HP:MoR. Spicificly, I saw the Sequences. And they were long. Some of them were some-what interesting but mostly they were just long. In addition to that, I had just been introduced to the Methods of Rationality which, dispite being long, was realy interisting (actualy my favorite story that I have ever read), and there was some other things, so yeah . . . I still haven’t read them. But anyway, that was about a year ago and at this point I have read through MoR at least three times. I feel that I am starting to think sort of rationaly and would like to improve on that.
In addition to that, I have this friend that I talk to at lunch. Normaly we talk about things that we probably don’t have any ideas about that actualy reflect reality, like the origins of the universe, time travel, artificial intelligence (I did actualy read a bit about that by Eliezer. didn’t understand as much as I would have liked, but still) those sorts of things. And about half the time I am almost entirly sure that whatever thought process he’s using just doesn’t work. So another reason I’m here is to make sure that what ever thought process I’m using is actualy the right way to be looking at things and that I am acting as an intelligent thinker rather than a condecending jerk.
So, I’m going to go get reading those sequences now.
Since you asked… “comments”, “appreciated”.
Welcome to LessWrong!
Welcome!
I should probably write a post, “Why not to major in computer science.” My advice is to be aware that there is almost no money in the world budgeted to computer science research, that most people can’t even conceive of or believe in the concept of computer science research, and that a degree in computer science leads only to jobs as a computer programmer unless it is from a top-five school.
You say that like it’s a bad thing.
Such jobs can also be acquired without a CS degree.
Well, if you’re good enough to teach yourself enough programming from scratch to be effective in those jobs. Not everyone is like that, IMO.
I’m certainly not! (Yet.) I should’ve been specific instead of pithy.
My own approach was to take a couple of courses through Boston University to get some foundational knowledge, and then start the job hunting dance. It was enough of a structured educational environment to get me to actually learn, but still far, far cheaper than getting another degree. (Happy ending: I am employed.)
I do wish I’d studied more CS (i.e., any CS) when I was doing the undergrad thing, but programming jobs have much less respect for credentialing than other professions.
Some browsers have spellcheckers- I know that Pale Moon does.