Agreed.
So - Start in Computer Science and approach all of the classes with the same zeal that you have in technology.
Someone else mentioned it, but I'll bring it up as well. There are many tech jobs in games that do require strong math skilz (say for calculating the reflection of the sun off a lake, or that head shot from a half mile away) - but there are many that don't.
Since you already have an interest in tech - if you are any good, you'll probably be bored and far ahead of your peers during the intro level classes. This is a good time to focus on the stuff that you aren't familiar with. My experience is that at least 20-30% of the classes you take in college are to help you learn to think in general - not to make you a better hacker.
Personally, I spent my first year majoring in biology to enter a pre-medical program. Computer Science was the third thing I tried. To tell the truth, I knew I was good with computers from learning to hack videogames in high school. So I sort of picked Computer Science as an easy way out - too easy almost, I really didn't get interested in the coursework until the systems classes were available to me, after knocking off all of the required - intro sorts of classes.
So my advice is:
1. When taking boring, intro level stuff you already know, show up to all of the classes so you can get an A and boost your average.
2. When taking the challenging, advanced stuff, show up to all of the classes so you can get the best you can, which might be an A if you are good.
3. When taking required courses, such as the math and what not, show up, do the homework and get the best you can. Much of the required classes are learnable through repetition - then suddenly - you get it.
4. At large universities, be careful of the classes that are taught in halls full of 300 people and most of your interaction is with a 'teacher assistant'. Find the alternatives that are offered at night or whatever where the class size is more like 50 or less. If you see the teacher actually interested in the material, sometimes it's contagious and you will be too.
5. Be careful with drinking, partying, drugs, affairs, MMOG's whatever - there is plenty of time in life to kill brain cells and waste time. Personally I don't drink much at all these days - I partied way to much in high school, so by the time I made it to college, bars and drinking were more for social activity than getting a good buzz. By the way, I don't advocate any of that, I almost died a few times as the result of stupid things. So don't start (but now we are off topic)
Good luck!
Don't buy the book, wait for the movie.
on
Firefox Hacks
·
· Score: 1
I use Safari, O'Reilly's online bookshelf, and so immediately read the book as soon as it was available. I actually considered doing a review, except I had nothing positive to say about the book.
Even the reviewer here points out that half of the hacks could have been omitted without loss to the reader. If half of the book is irrelevent, how can it be viewed in a favorable stance.
Personally, as a Firefox user for the past nine months or so, I found that I learned only about 5 things that were useful in terms of tuning / settings - and those things, that I did learn, were easialy available via. google had I cared to try.
So it's not a bad book for someone that has never used Firefox. For any regular reader of/. - I suggest spending your money on Tivo hacks or Linux in a nutshell for your bookshelf.
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Agreed. So - Start in Computer Science and approach all of the classes with the same zeal that you have in technology. Someone else mentioned it, but I'll bring it up as well. There are many tech jobs in games that do require strong math skilz (say for calculating the reflection of the sun off a lake, or that head shot from a half mile away) - but there are many that don't.
Since you already have an interest in tech - if you are any good, you'll probably be bored and far ahead of your peers during the intro level classes. This is a good time to focus on the stuff that you aren't familiar with. My experience is that at least 20-30% of the classes you take in college are to help you learn to think in general - not to make you a better hacker.
Personally, I spent my first year majoring in biology to enter a pre-medical program. Computer Science was the third thing I tried. To tell the truth, I knew I was good with computers from learning to hack videogames in high school. So I sort of picked Computer Science as an easy way out - too easy almost, I really didn't get interested in the coursework until the systems classes were available to me, after knocking off all of the required - intro sorts of classes.
So my advice is:
1. When taking boring, intro level stuff you already know, show up to all of the classes so you can get an A and boost your average.
2. When taking the challenging, advanced stuff, show up to all of the classes so you can get the best you can, which might be an A if you are good.
3. When taking required courses, such as the math and what not, show up, do the homework and get the best you can. Much of the required classes are learnable through repetition - then suddenly - you get it.
4. At large universities, be careful of the classes that are taught in halls full of 300 people and most of your interaction is with a 'teacher assistant'. Find the alternatives that are offered at night or whatever where the class size is more like 50 or less. If you see the teacher actually interested in the material, sometimes it's contagious and you will be too.
5. Be careful with drinking, partying, drugs, affairs, MMOG's whatever - there is plenty of time in life to kill brain cells and waste time. Personally I don't drink much at all these days - I partied way to much in high school, so by the time I made it to college, bars and drinking were more for social activity than getting a good buzz. By the way, I don't advocate any of that, I almost died a few times as the result of stupid things. So don't start (but now we are off topic)
Good luck!
I use Safari, O'Reilly's online bookshelf, and so immediately read the book as soon as it was available. I actually considered doing a review, except I had nothing positive to say about the book.
/. - I suggest spending your money on Tivo hacks or Linux in a nutshell for your bookshelf.
Even the reviewer here points out that half of the hacks could have been omitted without loss to the reader. If half of the book is irrelevent, how can it be viewed in a favorable stance.
Personally, as a Firefox user for the past nine months or so, I found that I learned only about 5 things that were useful in terms of tuning / settings - and those things, that I did learn, were easialy available via. google had I cared to try.
So it's not a bad book for someone that has never used Firefox. For any regular reader of