Is Computer Science boring?

Martyn1989

I was just wondering what people think of Computer Science in general? I have already sent off my UCAS application, and applied for Computer Science at York, Surrey, Lancaster, Liverpool, Durham and Nottingham.

I just want to know how people find it. To be honest I am not the biggest fan of programming, and some parts of my A-Level Computing class at the moment I find quite boring, which is why I am worried that I will find my Uni course boring.

Reply 1

Psyk

16

Well if you are finding computing boring then that's not a good sign. I find CS interesting but then again I like programming.

Reply 2

EKO

Why on earth did you choose it then?

Reply 3

giggsy

what grades did you get martyn

Reply 4

snu

2

Which parts of computer science do you find interesting? Comp Sci degrees aren't about making fun videos and putting them on web sites, playing with gadgets etc. They're about understanding the theory of computing and enabling you to apply that to real world problems. Programming is obviously a key part of that.

To ask whether Computer Science is "boring" or not is silly - it's all dependent on whether you find it interesting. Most courses will provide you with an overview of the sorts of things covered, so you should read those and formulate your own judgements.

Reply 5

malfoy

are any of you hear applying to durham or warwick to do computer science and if so what as grades did you get and whats your predictions

Reply 6

killah

actually the question is not soo stupid! But i think its all a matter of opinion! it'll be interesting to hear someone who picked computer science because they thought it would be interestin and ended up dislikeing it!

personally am in love with computing right now!! and computer science sound like what i really want to do!!

is there anybody out there doin the subject? which course are you on? the Meng or Bsc?

Reply 7

JohnC

I'd like to throw in that it is the reason you don't enjoy a-level computing that is important. Personally, I didn't enjoy it much myself due to its watered down nature and very little depth to any of the topics, among countless other reasons. However, I know that I will enjoy doing computer science, as the reasons I didn't like a-level computing don't apply to that. There were a few interesting topics on the a-level course and these were the ones most like those you'd find in a cs course.

However, if you don't like computing because you aren't interested in how computers work and how they can be used to solve problems, maybe you've applied for the wrong course, and in which case, you have to question why you did so in the first place.

Reply 8

Pilky

If you're good with computers then the first year of Computer Science can be very boring, I've been here at Sheffield for 3 weeks and I know half of the stuff they are teaching. However this is because most computer science courses are taught so that you don't need to know anything to do with computers to do the first year (hence none of them requiring A level computing).

However if you find A level computing boring and don't like programming then Computer Science really isn't for you. A lot of Computer Science involves programming in one form or another, it is also a lot like A level computing, just in more depth

Reply 9

Martyn1989

OP

JohnC

I'd like to throw in that it is the reason you don't enjoy a-level computing that is important. Personally, I didn't enjoy it much myself due to its watered down nature and very little depth to any of the topics, among countless other reasons. However, I know that I will enjoy doing computer science, as the reasons I didn't like a-level computing don't apply to that. There were a few interesting topics on the a-level course and these were the ones most like those you'd find in a cs course.

However, if you don't like computing because you aren't interested in how computers work and how they can be used to solve problems, maybe you've applied for the wrong course, and in which case, you have to question why you did so in the first place.

In general I love Computers, and I love my A-Level Computing course. It is just recently a lot of the A2 theory, like normalisation and stuff like that I am finding quite boring.

The reason I applied to do Computer Science in the first place is because I love Computers, and I have been told I have a natural aptitude for them (other people's words, not mine).

I went on a Headstart course at York University and did Computer Science for a week there, I quite enjoyed it, but I was not sure if that would be an accurate representation of what it would be like because I am sure York University would make the course seem attractive and innovating and hence would cut out anything that was not fun.

Reply 10

Talon

18

snu

Comp Sci degrees aren't about ... playing with gadgets etc.

Lies! In my first year one of my unit's coursework was to program a lego robot :smile:

.

Reply 11

TomX

14

Martyn1989

In general I love Computers, and I love my A-Level Computing course. It is just recently a lot of the A2 theory, like normalisation and stuff like that I am finding quite boring.

The reason I applied to do Computer Science in the first place is because I love Computers, and I have been told I have a natural aptitude for them (other people's words, not mine).

I went on a Headstart course at York University and did Computer Science for a week there, I quite enjoyed it, but I was not sure if that would be an accurate representation of what it would be like because I am sure York University would make the course seem attractive and innovating and hence would cut out anything that was not fun.

I don't think there are that many people who are interested in databases really. From what I've seen in my friends CS course, there's much more to CS than just databases too, fortunately :P

Reply 12

Pilky

There's much more to CS than databases, though databases are a key part in programming and the majority of applications developed either have, or would benefit from, some sort of database backend

Reply 13

v2006

Quite amazing how this section on tsr is being kept alive by a few people posting everyday in most of the threads.

Reply 14

Psyk

16

Haha I think I'm guilty of that. I have at least one post in nearly every thread on page 1. But hey, if I have something useful to say I might as well say it.

Reply 15

v2006

well man we shud be thankful u post and some other ppl post or else this section would close!

Reply 16

shammy

1

v2006

well man we shud be thankful u post and some other ppl post or else this section would close!

As someone told me you either like programming or you hate it, i like a challenge and get a buz when a programme i create kicks in and works, if it doesnt i make sure it does! :biggrin: