For many governmental entities destroying of an old hard drive when upgrading a system/replacing a computer/etc.. is not only common it is mandated. While you and I might think that there is ill intent involved, this is clearly not the case. The place I used to work with would make several holes through the drive with a hammer and screw driver after the drive was wiped clean. The intent was to make sure that no one was able to recover sensitive information from the dive. And just in case you are wondering, these rules/laws were enacted by DEMOCRATS.
As a former CS grad student at the University of Central Florida (UCF), you are asking a very loaded question. In the engineering areas you will be dealing with a very diverse environment. It can be very difficult because of the high expectations placed upon you. Therein lies the problem (for US individuals as a whole). From what I have seen, a lot of Americans want the quick and easy answer to work/life/money. Unfortunately, they do not want to work for it. This is not to say that all Americans are lazy, just the vocal ones pushing you to take the easy way out. Thankfully, I did not listen to them.
Now that I am working in the commercial industry, those individuals that took the easy way out are easy to spot. It is not that they are bad at what they are doing, you just realize that they will never do anything else that what they are currently doing. In general they forgot the most import thing while getting an education: the ability to learn on their own. This can apply to individuals with a bachelors degree, but I have not seen an definite trend. However, it is definitely preferred that that an engineer obtain a MS degree. The reasons are varied, but a 'good' MS degree usually shows commitment to excellence. That is the individual wants to do the best that he/she can.
Pay wise, you probably will not be rich as an engineer. However, with a commitment to excellence and a drive to succeed, you will not be barely surviving in most areas. And I must say, if you feel that you cannot make enough to live comfortably, move to a market in which you can earn a comfortable living. I did, and I rejoice each and every time that I think about where I would be if I had not moved (half way across the country) to better myself.
I also have relatives working in law and medicine. I do not agree with most of the previous comments as to why individuals go into these fields. Yes, some individuals do go into it for the money, and some go into it because they feel it is easier than some of the more manual intensive occupations. But let me tell you, that a layer or a medical doctor will VERY VERY RARELY do well in engineering. It is not that they cannot, it is just that they are not very good at it. From what I have seen, the best engineers are ones that have always wanted to do something engineering like (for me it was work with computers), and have the drive to make it happen.
Now as for the individuals from other countries that you will meet. Talk to them, get to know them. Do not view them as wrong just because they are different. Take this opportunity to expand your view of the world. Now expanding this view does not mean throwing away your current view, it means taking the positive things that you learn from them (ex. different ways of accomplishing tasks) and altering your current view. Diversity is a very good thing.
It is best to complete the computer science curriculum. The courses you have listed seem to be relevant and they should teach you about some of the theory behind current computers. Unfortunately, I was not at a college that stressed the theory. I got out and I wondered why are companies not hiring me? Eventually, I went to a reputable college and learned the hard way the I did not know the topics/materials that I need to, in order to be productive.
Learn these topics well. Although they may not seem relevant now, they are some of the most relevant ones, if you want a rewarding career with computers. If you opt to take only the 'practical' courses, you can get by, but you will always be relegated to menial tasks. And, if you have any drive at all, wonder why you were not chosen for the more important assignments. You will think you can do them, and it is possible, but you will not be able to do them as well or in a timely manner as someone who has had, and understands, the basic theory behind it.
Example: I used to think javascript was difficult. I would try various things and sometimes it would work and sometimes it would not. Or it would only work in certain cases. At the time I did not know why. Now I realize that origionally I did not have the foundation I needed to understand what the books and examples were trying to tell me. I could not see what was wrong until I went to a 'good' university that had the knowledge to explain the theory and semantics in a way that I could relate too.
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For many governmental entities destroying of an old hard drive when upgrading a system/replacing a computer/etc.. is not only common it is mandated. While you and I might think that there is ill intent involved, this is clearly not the case. The place I used to work with would make several holes through the drive with a hammer and screw driver after the drive was wiped clean. The intent was to make sure that no one was able to recover sensitive information from the dive. And just in case you are wondering, these rules/laws were enacted by DEMOCRATS.
As a former CS grad student at the University of Central Florida (UCF), you are asking a very loaded question. In the engineering areas you will be dealing with a very diverse environment. It can be very difficult because of the high expectations placed upon you. Therein lies the problem (for US individuals as a whole). From what I have seen, a lot of Americans want the quick and easy answer to work/life/money. Unfortunately, they do not want to work for it. This is not to say that all Americans are lazy, just the vocal ones pushing you to take the easy way out. Thankfully, I did not listen to them.
Now that I am working in the commercial industry, those individuals that took the easy way out are easy to spot. It is not that they are bad at what they are doing, you just realize that they will never do anything else that what they are currently doing. In general they forgot the most import thing while getting an education: the ability to learn on their own. This can apply to individuals with a bachelors degree, but I have not seen an definite trend. However, it is definitely preferred that that an engineer obtain a MS degree. The reasons are varied, but a 'good' MS degree usually shows commitment to excellence. That is the individual wants to do the best that he/she can.
Pay wise, you probably will not be rich as an engineer. However, with a commitment to excellence and a drive to succeed, you will not be barely surviving in most areas. And I must say, if you feel that you cannot make enough to live comfortably, move to a market in which you can earn a comfortable living. I did, and I rejoice each and every time that I think about where I would be if I had not moved (half way across the country) to better myself.
I also have relatives working in law and medicine. I do not agree with most of the previous comments as to why individuals go into these fields. Yes, some individuals do go into it for the money, and some go into it because they feel it is easier than some of the more manual intensive occupations. But let me tell you, that a layer or a medical doctor will VERY VERY RARELY do well in engineering. It is not that they cannot, it is just that they are not very good at it. From what I have seen, the best engineers are ones that have always wanted to do something engineering like (for me it was work with computers), and have the drive to make it happen.
Now as for the individuals from other countries that you will meet. Talk to them, get to know them. Do not view them as wrong just because they are different. Take this opportunity to expand your view of the world. Now expanding this view does not mean throwing away your current view, it means taking the positive things that you learn from them (ex. different ways of accomplishing tasks) and altering your current view. Diversity is a very good thing.
It is best to complete the computer science curriculum. The courses you have listed seem to be relevant and they should teach you about some of the theory behind current computers. Unfortunately, I was not at a college that stressed the theory. I got out and I wondered why are companies not hiring me? Eventually, I went to a reputable college and learned the hard way the I did not know the topics/materials that I need to, in order to be productive.
Learn these topics well. Although they may not seem relevant now, they are some of the most relevant ones, if you want a rewarding career with computers. If you opt to take only the 'practical' courses, you can get by, but you will always be relegated to menial tasks. And, if you have any drive at all, wonder why you were not chosen for the more important assignments. You will think you can do them, and it is possible, but you will not be able to do them as well or in a timely manner as someone who has had, and understands, the basic theory behind it.
Example: I used to think javascript was difficult. I would try various things and sometimes it would work and sometimes it would not. Or it would only work in certain cases. At the time I did not know why. Now I realize that origionally I did not have the foundation I needed to understand what the books and examples were trying to tell me. I could not see what was wrong until I went to a 'good' university that had the knowledge to explain the theory and semantics in a way that I could relate too.