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Any advice at all for an aspiring Software Engineer?

First a little background on me:
- Hey I am currently a college student (hopefully I will get my A.S. & A.A. in computer science in the summer of 2011 -yes, I am eligible for both due to the fact there was no A.S. in Computer Science when I started attending college consecutively in 2007, so why not?...haha)...
- I would really love to be a Software Engineer some day (I was originally thinking Systems Software Engineer, but Applications Software Engineer will still be great for me)...
- I have a lot of experience troubleshooting and fixing /repairing / building computers starting from when I was about 12 years old when I set up my first PC (not build, mind you) and I used to always mess with the computers in Elementary (figuring out how to exit the schools provided screen and getting to a regular desktop etc...)
-Now I do not have any of what you may call formal experience (I never had an actual job with computers)...I have a lot of warehouse job experience though...and lately I was getting worried that it will hold me back, because I do not know how to get into the job field....
- I would like to get a masters degree (in Computer Science), hopefully with honors if everything continues as it is. (currently a 3.4 Cumulative GPA...)
Some of my thoughts / ideas / questions:
+I was thinking of trying to get some kind of IT Tech or support job to start off in the field (though jobs are scarce right now, so that may have to wait at least until I get my degree)...Is that a good thought?
+I currently have some experience with Visual Basic .net, C, C++, IA32 Assembly and now have developed my first Android app in Java.
Now I really would like to be a Software Engineer one day, so how would you suggest I go about doing so? Do you have any advice / ideas / comments @ all for me? Could you in the field give me some tips or even tell me your story (short OR long, I would love to hear it either way) about how you got to where you are & your current thoughts about it (do you like it?, what would you have done different? How and Why ?)
-in advance: Thanks A LOT! I am sort-of worried about my situation because sometimes it gets a little discouraging and/or confusing on what to do to get where I want to be....

how come no one has responded? there seems to be many educated people here and I am sure someone has something to say... also I am sure there are many of you who happen to be in some type of IT field, I would like to hear from you all...
Please advise me, I am in need of a little advice and guidance...

Just one possibility:
Do a computer science degree and make sure you get a 2:1 or more. Work for a recognized (so your CV looks good) large IT consultancy for a couple+ of years working for lots of their clients so you get varied experience. If you can, get some Finance (in combination with your IT experience) experience there. Learn a language that's particularly commercial (I recommend C# combined with your C++ - plus other areas of Microsoft .Net - asp.net, win forms, smart clients, full n-tier development, full life cycle development). Then go IT contacting where the real money is - with C++ and C# and Finance you'll be able to get the best paid contracts - assuming you're personable and committed too.
Does that help?

My advice, get a real job.....Software Engineers are a dime a dozen.

corrie said:
My advice, get a real job.....Software Engineers are a dime a dozen.
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+1, i've met too many software engineers in college, and that is the main reason why i stay away from the computer field (i'm a biomechanical undergradate student, specializing in auto design or biomedical engineering)
1.) you need to go higher than an associate's degree, i suggest going for a bachelores in computer science than maybe some experience before going to get your masters, if you're lucky maybe your company will pay for your tuition
2.) specialize, as said theres too many software engineers in this world, therefore you have to specialize.
3.) engineering is the combination of art and science remember that
4.) for a tech job, since you're still a student with no real work experience in the computer field, i suggest getting certification such as A+ certification
5.) always have a backup plan, i was thinking network security personally since i like tinkering with things lol

d k of the new add for breaking its still up no more, whaaaatttt?

Danni3 said:
+1, i've met too many software engineers in college, and that is the main reason why i stay away from the computer field (i'm a biomechanical undergradate student, specializing in auto design or biomedical engineering)
1.) you need to go higher than an associate's degree, i suggest going for a bachelores in computer science than maybe some experience before going to get your masters, if you're lucky maybe your company will pay for your tuition
2.) specialize, as said theres too many software engineers in this world, therefore you have to specialize.
3.) engineering is the combination of art and science remember that
4.) for a tech job, since you're still a student with no real work experience in the computer field, i suggest getting certification such as A+ certification
5.) always have a backup plan, i was thinking network security personally since i like tinkering with things lol
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wow that is discouraging...
I am actually planning on going higher than an Associates degree for sure, hopefully a masters, but if not then a bachelors at the least...
hmm, now you have me thinking... should I really try to go for something else? I was excited thinking about being a software engineer ...

erebusting said:
wow that is discouraging...
I am actually planning on going higher than an Associates degree for sure, hopefully a masters, but if not then a bachelors at the least...
hmm, now you have me thinking... should I really try to go for something else? I was excited thinking about being a software engineer ...
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I'm not saying that you shouldn't become a software engineer, but i'm just implying that they're not in high demand currently. But that could be said about any job, you just have to be very good at what you do and you'll find a job in no time =P
I'm suggesting that you specialize in something a bit more specific than software engineer, just like there are specializations of mechanical engineering (auto,aerospace,bioengineering,energy systems... etc) that way you can still do what you love (programming i assume) but to a more specific goal.
The reason i tell you to get higher than an associates (2 years) is because the average job now a days require atleast a bachelors degree. My Mom, a tiny little asian women, has a computer science degree and works for the government, its about 60k starting and shes been there for a few years so now she makes just under 80k ;] but you need atleast a 3.0 gpa and a bachelor degree
http://www.earnmydegree.com/online-education/learning-center/education-value.html
just look at the difference in salary!
don't worry about what degree to get either, you can complete all of your undergraduate studies before you have to choose a major, thats about two years of undergrad study

thanks for that advice...
I currently have over a 3.0 which I am trying to maintain...
I am in California, where seems to be a dense pack of tech jobs around (am I wrong though?)...
Also, I have not looked at many colleges around and what specific section of computer science they specialize in, after I do that though- I will have an Idea of what programming I want to specialize in (any ideas of what may be popular?)...
I know theres like robotics programming, gaming programming, and there are others I am not too aware of which I will have to look into....
Hey I just want to say I appreciate each and every comment here, it really helps chatting about it with you all...
I do look forward to more comments also from different people, I know things aren't the same for everyone and maybe some others have views on a different side of the story...idk, but thanks so far!!

hacking tethering via usb on sprint epic 4g? might refuse package and send it back.

i heard its impossible or difficult to hack usb tethering on the sprint epic 4g. i might refuse the new package and keep my touch pro 2 instead.
can anyone confirm if it can or cannot be done? obviously you can hack root on the device. what do?
OP note: found this http://www.junefabrics.com/android/index.php but is there a way through ipfw or linux hackery to do it free? Like on TP2 I just load MightyROM and it works .. no issues. No costs...
Here is a way to attach a keyboard if I need to get indepth with hacking this stupid feature to work. I pay for unlimited... this is nonsense. I was excited about this phone but if I can't tether that's wack...
http://jkontherun.com/2010/02/17/how-to-add-a-usb-keyboard-to-an-android-phone/

Once it's rooted then you can install wireless tether. Don't know about the timetable for that though, I just rooted my Evo this morning.

kinesis said:
I pay for unlimited... this is nonsense. I was excited about this phone but if I can't tether that's wack...
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No to sound like a prick, but regardless of the spirit of modifying/hacking our own devices to achieve more feature rich experiences; you should remember the moral side of this aspect.
I wish people didn't rant about this sort of stuff; I have no problem helping my fellow forum members achieve the features they seek, but when you rant like you just did, I'm forced to remind people like you that even if you do pay for unlimited data, you agreed to a contract that doesn't include unlimited data through tethering, only unlimited on your phone. No if's, and's or but's about it.
So please, next time, just keep that sort of opinion to yourself. People like me will help you out anyways. We don't need to know what side of the morality issue you are on.

ZeroBarrier said:
No to sound like a prick, but regardless of the spirit of modifying/hacking our own devices to achieve more feature rich experiences; you should remember the moral side of this aspect.
I wish people didn't rant about this sort of stuff; I have no problem helping my fellow forum members achieve the features they seek, but when you rant like you just did, I'm forced to remind people like you that even if you do pay for unlimited data, you agreed to a contract that doesn't include unlimited data through tethering, only unlimited on your phone. No if's, and's or but's about it.
So please, next time, just keep that sort of opinion to yourself. People like me will help you out anyways. We don't need to know what side of the morality issue you are on.
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Your morality points have validity, but the moment Sprint decided to use the free open license Linux based OS on their smart phones and then CHARGE extras for features that technically are built into the OS they pretty much voided any right they had to restrict network access. The only option they have is to not support the hardware if you choose to modify it.
The whole point of Linux is open and free. If they wanted to enforce an extra charge on tethering they should have gone solely with Widows OS based smartphones.
Also being on a soapbox is just as bad as ranting in my book..

jones79 said:
The whole point of Linux is open and free. If they wanted to enforce an extra charge on tethering they should have gone solely with Widows OS based smartphones.
Also being on a soapbox is just as bad as ranting in my book..
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He signed a contract. And the operating system they use on phones does not change the fact that they own the towers and the bandwidth. They can charge for it's use in any manner they choose. You don't have to sign the contract and use their product.

Geezer Squid said:
He signed a contract. And the operating system they use on phones does not change the fact that they own the towers and the bandwidth. They can charge for it's use in any manner they choose. You don't have to sign the contract and use their product.
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And we sure didn't sign to getting rammed up the rear an extra $10 for 4G when we paid for 4G when we buy the phone. It's like buying a car that has a V8 engine then getting charged an extra $1000 monthly because the car is able to go over 110 mPh and only so many other cars can. It's all un-moralistic in some ways and IN FACT a violation/breach of the contract that subscribers originally agreed to. Contracts bind both parties not only the disadvantaged! What about when we pay for service that's not delivered as promiosed, such as outages, bad coverage areas, slow data, etc... We can go on and on about morals.
By the way, why are you even on our forum standing on a soapbox for Sprint and such. You're a troll and if that's the case, every thread on this forum has some controversy that you seem to love debating. Im sure you don't own the network, nor are you the CEO, so what's the use of you making yourself look even more idiotic? Beat it scum!

[Q] I have a fabulous idea for an app- anyone want to help?

Hi I have an app idea that will be (if implemented) profitable methinks- similar apps are available - it is for specialist field and is of an interactive map/ navigation type- the idea is very obvious and probbaly quite simple to implement with the feature design phase all done and explainable in a brief synopsis- i am clueless as to how to implement it though
?
would anyone like to help build it and share the credit?
i have no money to pay anytoine just an idea that will definitely pay off to some extent- whoever does this first has a captive market so to speak!
I spoke with my brother who is in the industry as a maarketing project manager- not a developer and he agrees that it is well worth doing.

the features the app would require are-
interactive map with user editable gps data additions, tagging in real time, possible photographs.
updates made by various professional bodies with information feeds on around 600
+fixed locations and areas, route planning facility directly affected by data from these feeds, these are the main features of the app but the capacity for expansion is seemingly endless- preferably a uk south east based developer.
this app also has the potential to save lives /prevent accidents as the data is of real world importnace and is already accessed by many as an essential reference- possible licensing by and definitely appreciated by the professional and govt bodies with respoinsibilities inhe speciliaist field.

anyone? i bet one of you guys could build ths in your sleep!
i would not know where to start however, there is a siumliar app out there it does not do the same thing as my idea but it would provide a template for the concept- trust me this idea is dynamite and my industry source- ie my brother tells me it is instantly saleable to the relevant bodies fort aa fee of around 50k!
but is worthless to me without the relevant skillset in an individul i can trust, cmon! whats to lose?>

ok anyone want to teach me how to do this on my lonesome?
i usually spend all day chopping trees down which is why im asking for help , not sure if i haave the time for leaarning computer progrmming but...

Perhaps you should be a little more specific as to what the app will be good for. I know you probably don't want to tell this everyone, but you'll have to eventually anyway.

are you lot on this forum an honest bunch? thats the question...
i m very aware that an intellectual community such as yours is by its nature ius n open nd honest one but bill gates and steve jobs are still bastards who got rich of your back!
the complexity of the app or the potential for its future complexity and added feature sets is one of the apps strong points as is its ingenuity in its area of application!
It would mean the safety apsect of the thing could be provided for free which kinda is the whole intellectual property business side of things hence my hesitation in being candid..i dont want to be charged in the future for an idea i had myself to save lives!
I was reckless in sharing an invention in the past- 12 months later my mate ws on dragons den flogging my idea!
it wasnt groundbreaking but he nicked it and never sent me a cheque out of the 150 grand one of them ponied up!!
but... the basic idea is very similar to chris boardmans pothole reporting app for cyclists- generating repair requests to uk councils- my bro happened to have worked on this very app and he said the development tools are readily avilable to create mine own whgich might bvew easiuer if tha button hADNT FALLEn off my old comp and i actually owned smartphone.
hence my request-
i can see the app in my head and can describe evry function of it very well but are you the man to describe it to?

eightyape said:
i m very aware that an intellectual community such as yours is by its nature is an open and honest one
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...
lol you can almost see the tumbleweeds rolling across-

ah well, was worth a try- can someone recommend me a good starting point or the best book for learning the android sdk?

[Q] The iphone is really tracking location?

So incase you haven't heard:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-apple-tracking-20110421,0,4880695.story
Like, wtf. This really rather freaks me out.
A. I have an iPhone 3gs (jailbroken)
B. What if my Xoom is doing the same thing?
Are there ways to make sure this is definately not going on for the more average consumer like me? I wouldn't know where to look in os files for this. I could find the os files, but I don't really go snooping in them because I don't know what I'm doing.
But I think all this is bull**** with Apple, and last month with samsung computers. I'm pissed.

What does this have to do with the Xoom?

......?
Sent from a Limited Edition phone from a Premium app..

ggareis said:
What does this have to do with the Xoom?
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He asked if his xoom is doing the same thing.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App

I would put money on it that the all Android devices keep track of location, Google lives off statistics, no way tehy don't know everything about everything you do with the thing.
I did some reading into this and the bit I don't get is that cell location isnt very accurate, so did the guy who "visualised" his data there just keep GPS on _all-the-time_? That's a colossal waste of battery.

I saw this article on many a site last night - and one of them I am sure said that 'android devices haven't found any similar file storing location' or words to that affect.
(think they mentioned WinPho too)
while google do live off stats - do they care that much? they already have a map of where activations happened - they did a map of the North US activations awhile back?

Lothaen said:
I saw this article on many a site last night - and one of them I am sure said that 'android devices haven't found any similar file storing location' or words to that affect.
(think they mentioned WinPho too)
while google do live off stats - do they care that much? they already have a map of where activations happened - they did a map of the North US activations awhile back?
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I wouldn't doubt it, I just bet they do it and store the information at their end rather than on the phone. What with all the wifi hotspot privacy problems that have been going on with them and eerything else. I'd expect nothing less from them really.

just more careful then
it doesnt bother me that much (at the moment) as I'm pretty sure my network will also keep track of me anyway
unless google/o2 are going to find my house and rob it while i am out - that doesn't bother me - it's only if someone else found a way to see live my location and then did the above that i'd start being more concerned... or is there something else I should worry about?

alias_neo said:
I would put money on it that the all Android devices keep track of location, Google lives off statistics, no way they don't know everything about everything you do with the thing.
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Quote of the day, bang on the money.

ggareis said:
What does this have to do with the Xoom?
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Oh, hey, sorry, listen.... I hadnt realized the Xoom police were out. Sorry this wasnt completely understandable for you.
I mean, I can see how some people think that if Google is logging our locations, it might not be a big deal. But this is all just a glimpse at whats coming. I mean I have no idea what that is. But a future where the biggest corporations are tracking people that use there products does not seem like a future I want to be apart of.
Apple gets their customers out of addiction, "the iphone is tracking me? who cares, its pretty." Like there is no logical reason I can think of to have that tracking software built into the nitty gritty of ios, and it being there is just a big slap to the consumers. We already have to worry about apps st but now the os?
Its not like I go or do anything suspicious that I should be worried. It's just that I spent damn near 900 dollars on this device, I don't want it to ****ing track me. Also, I'm sure that would use some sort of data to transfer the data, and with everyones love for only having tiered data plans for tablets, I am paying for them to do this.
Even if it is kilobytes, and I'm only paying a hay penny, thats one hey penny to much for my liking. Us as consumers get the **** end of every stick. They sell us items, bootlock them, track us, apps steal and sell our data, sue us if we post something they don't like (the ps3 guy), just an all around **** you.
I was reading this article the other day on how they're a step closer to building quantum computers. Now what happens when they have computers that can take all the data from every device, and compile it into useful information that will be more personal than your facebook?
They could potentially have what we posted on fb, next to a location we were at, along with the song we were hearing at the time. And in the iphones case, a picture takin from facetime to go right along with it, and for all I know, the xoom is taking pictures of me right now considering its on its stand and im sitting right in front of it typing.
I guess there would be no way for me to tell, since I'm pretty much just an end user, but I hope someone investigates this for us. Because if it turns out the Xoom does anything of the sort I will be getting rid of it. As I have already decided to do with my iphone. It's not about what theyre doing with it. Its about why they decided to do it in the first place, and the fact that they're all data whores.

RadDudeTommy said:
Oh, hey, sorry, listen.... I hadnt realized the Xoom police were out. Sorry this wasnt completely understandable for you.
I mean, I can see how some people think that if Google is logging our locations, it might not be a big deal. But this is all just a glimpse at whats coming. I mean I have no idea what that is. But a future where the biggest corporations are tracking people that use there products does not seem like a future I want to be apart of.
Apple gets their customers out of addiction, "the iphone is tracking me? who cares, its pretty." Like there is no logical reason I can think of to have that tracking software built into the nitty gritty of ios, and it being there is just a big slap to the consumers. We already have to worry about apps st but now the os?
Its not like I go or do anything suspicious that I should be worried. It's just that I spent damn near 900 dollars on this device, I don't want it to ****ing track me. Also, I'm sure that would use some sort of data to transfer the data, and with everyones love for only having tiered data plans for tablets, I am paying for them to do this.
Even if it is kilobytes, and I'm only paying a hay penny, thats one hey penny to much for my liking. Us as consumers get the **** end of every stick. They sell us items, bootlock them, track us, apps steal and sell our data, sue us if we post something they don't like (the ps3 guy), just an all around **** you.
I was reading this article the other day on how they're a step closer to building quantum computers. Now what happens when they have computers that can take all the data from every device, and compile it into useful information that will be more personal than your facebook?
They could potentially have what we posted on fb, next to a location we were at, along with the song we were hearing at the time. And in the iphones case, a picture takin from facetime to go right along with it, and for all I know, the xoom is taking pictures of me right now considering its on its stand and im sitting right in front of it typing.
I guess there would be no way for me to tell, since I'm pretty much just an end user, but I hope someone investigates this for us. Because if it turns out the Xoom does anything of the sort I will be getting rid of it. As I have already decided to do with my iphone. It's not about what theyre doing with it. Its about why they decided to do it in the first place, and the fact that they're all data whores.
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we better put on our tin hats!
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

I believe this is a valid question. Companies like google, apple, and facebook have a strong interest in tracking what we do, what we buy, etc to make their advertising more effective, which means they can charge more for it. Unfortunatly, I think this boat sailed long ago. Even on a PC they can track your IP address or Mac address. The minute you get on the internet you are sending information about yourself. Its that simple. The issue becomes whether companies are, can or should be storing that data. And why are they storing that data. Again most of it is advertising, but it could be used for other things that might not be so innocent. Even the government would have an interest in companies storing data so they can retrive that infor for criminal prosectutions, etc. Now if you want to prove where you were they can call your cell phone provider and just ask.
I think the shock is that it is happening all the time by even the most admired companies like apple. Short of a major rebellion by consumers or government regulation (like Europe has done) this will continue (see the case against Google for 'accidentally' collecting data from wifi networks while they did their street view stuff).
Sometimes technology can suck.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

For a second I thought I had made the horrible mistake of going into an iphone forum...
Anyway, I think Google is for sure collecting data on all of us! Personally I don't really care if they know where I am unless one day I rob a bank and need to go into hiding.....................

robbiev80 said:
For a second I thought I had made the horrible mistake of going into an iphone forum...
Anyway, I think Google is for sure collecting data on all of us! Personally I don't really care if they know where I am unless one day I rob a bank and need to go into hiding.....................
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In that case, when robbing a bank just leave your xoom and phone at home ?

Carrier IQ tracks Samsung Epics on sprint.

Uhm if u notice the first time u turn on any new android device it has something about sharing ur data with google servers.
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OneStepAhead said:
we better put on our tin hats!
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
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I understand the joke however I dont think its farfetched.

There is one difference though ...
Honeycomb will eventually be open source as well as many devices such as my Galaxy S now have the source made available. Openess gives you that ...
Apple for all we know logs our bank transactions, send favourable posts to Apple fanboy sites and SMSs our girlfriends on our behalf.
Don't get me wrong, Android devices are just as capable of doing all the wrong things, but an open device gives you a little more comfort.

http://investmentwatchblog.com/i-spy-apple-google-phones-track-users/
it's confirmed, google is doing it too, but in an even more obtrusive way, **** this, i'm selling my Xoom.

RadDudeTommy said:
http://investmentwatchblog.com/i-spy-apple-google-phones-track-users/
it's confirmed, google is doing it too, but in an even more obtrusive way, **** this, i'm selling my Xoom.
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I am selling my Captivate and Xoom and getting a Jitterbug.

[PET] Help me out!

Hey guys!
I actually need to ask back from the community and ask for some help... Will you help me..?
What's going on?
So I got my schedule for this school year for my classes I am enrolled in at my High School and I've been placed into a class that I feel I don't deserve to be in!
What's the issue? Why can't I just deal with it?
I've talked with the counselor several times last year about clutching this course or testing out or skipping it altogether, however my requests for her to do something about it were put on the "back-burner" and never fully addressed. The class that I have been placed into is a Regular IT (Information Technology) course. I really wanted to skip this class as it's only a "root" class that, after being completed, allows you to go into other branches of IT courses at my school; I wanted to be in an advanced computers class. I don't normally complain about what I get, but I'd really like to take a more challenging class!
With that being said, my goal is to be put in to Advanced IT or maybe a different higher tiered computing class.
Will you help me?
Please Sign Here: http://www.change.org/petitions/dvu...t-it-class-and-take-a-more-challenging-course
--and help me get in a course that will suit me the best!
Thank You.

talk to your counselor again. or principal or call the administration.
go to the class you want to be in, ask the teacher for a signature allowing you in one of the classes.
if you demonstrate the skills to skip the class theres no reason they should deny you admittance.
dont stop until you get into the class you fit best in. theres always exceptions made at schools.

ddurandSGS3 said:
talk to your counselor again. or principal or call the administration.
go to the class you want to be in, ask the teacher for a signature allowing you in one of the classes.
if you demonstrate the skills to skip the class theres no reason they should deny you admittance.
dont stop until you get into the class you fit best in. theres always exceptions made at schools.
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I've honestly been pursuing this since December; the counselor I have doesn't put much effort into anything. >.<.
I planned on talking to the teacher of the class that I'll be in as soon as school starts and then showing him a portfolio of my work and then this petition. I'm hoping he'll help me get this issue addressed!

StrumerJohn said:
I've honestly been pursuing this since December; the counselor I have doesn't put much effort into anything. >.<.
I planned on talking to the teacher of the class that I'll be in as soon as school starts and then showing him a portfolio of my work and then this petition. I'm hoping he'll help me get this issue addressed!
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email him today. why wait? most schools have a staff directory on their websites.
you should hound that counselor until you get what you want. dotn settle for no.
email her/him everyday. call everyday.

what do you think a petition with signatures from random people on a random forum will help you achieve? I don't really think that's going to change anything...

ddurandSGS3 said:
email him today. why wait? most schools have a staff directory on their websites.
you should hound that counselor until you get what you want. dotn settle for no.
email her/him everyday. call everyday.
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I have been, I don't want to start annoying the teacher yet though because it's not his fault and if I can't get a schedule change, I don't want to be known as the annoying student that wanted to leave his class!
thetestis said:
what do you think a petition with signatures from random people on a random forum will help you achieve? I don't really think that's going to change anything...
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Show that I have motive / determination and aren't going to settle with a regular class when I am capable of much more. You guys aren't random either. I know a lot of you on here, some even personally. You may not think that they're going to help, but what's the harm in signing it? I'm trying everything I can.
This also isn't a random forum, it's one of the biggest developer / tech forums out to date. The course is a technologic course, so having a petition signed by people off of a tech site of which I am a contributor to is going to look nice.
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I think there are better ways to show your tech proficiency than starting a petition. If you know people on here in real life then having them write a letter with their insight into you and some of their own credentials would be much more conving because- yes, this really is a random forum with random people. No matter how important it is to the android community, it's not going to convince administration that you should be in a more advanced class.

thetestis said:
I think there are better ways to show your tech proficiency than starting a petition. If you know people on here in real life then having them write a letter with their insight into you and some of their own credentials would be much more conving because- yes, this really is a random forum with random people. No matter how important it is to the android community, it's not going to convince administration that you should be in a more advanced class.
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The forum isn't. The petition is. The point be, I'm not trying to skip a class that teaches HTML or something, I'm trying to skip a class that shows the basic fundamentals of how to use a PC / Windows, how to type on a keyboard, and use Microsoft Office. I've also done more than just start a petition. This is just a last resort. I've sent them a several requests to clutch the course, explained my technical background and skulls, showed them a portfolio of computer programming work I've done, showed them my website with a portfolio of work on it, and how when I had a basic tech course like this in middle school, I made the assignments for the teacher (I have emails of us talking back and forth about what the criteria of an assignment). I don't know what else to do. I know I can just take the class and get the easy A, but I'd rather have it on the same weighing scale as my AP/Honors classes. Yeah this petition may seem dumb to you, but once school starts and I go to the principals office with this, a letter I've started, printed out copies of some of the source to some applications, and a flash drive of all of the assignments I've made in the past for an IT class, it will help.
I'm trying to get any asset I can that shows determination put together before the second week of the first semester.
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You never know. Good luck.
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If the other things you've done don't help, I don't think the petition will be the clincher. If showing them your portfolio doesn't help you then a random petition with random people's signatures really isn't going to help. Good luck, great that you're taking the initiative, and go ahead with the petition butttt it seems to be time wasted to me. Honestly, your best bet is a mixture of showing your portfolio and prior grades and having your parents put the pressure on. Those will be your biggest assets.
Good luck- I'm surprised there isn't a way you can clep out.. generally there is, I know when I was in high school you had an option of doing a class like this or doing an html class if you had already shown proficiency with basic computer skills in prior classes. It sucks to have useless guidance counselors/administrators. I've been there- in college and high school.

thetestis said:
If the other things you've done don't help, I don't think the petition will be the clincher. If showing them your portfolio doesn't help you then a random petition with random people's signatures really isn't going to help. Good luck, great that you're taking the initiative, and go ahead with the petition butttt it seems to be time wasted to me. Honestly, your best bet is a mixture of showing your portfolio and prior grades and having your parents put the pressure on. Those will be your biggest assets.
Good luck- I'm surprised there isn't a way you can clep out.. generally there is, I know when I was in high school you had an option of doing a class like this or doing an html class if you had already shown proficiency with basic computer skills in prior classes. It sucks to have useless guidance counselors/administrators. I've been there- in college and high school.
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I have a 4.5 GPA and they can see that. This isn't a waste of time either because the only time I'm putting into it is really just replying to you.
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My mother wrote me a letter telling me that replying to me would always be a waste of her time

thetestis said:
My mother wrote me a letter telling me that replying to me would always be a waste of her time
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Ahaha. It's not a waste of time, it's just rather irking. All I want is to have another asset for school and I'm not in a very scholastic mood right now so it's really not something I want to go back and forth over :3 .
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as a teacher the last thing i would be is annoyed by a student trying to better himself and or challenge himself.
keep up with it. hound that counselor until you get what you want. if that doenst work, go higher up. its your education.

ddurandSGS3 said:
as a teacher the last thing i would be is annoyed by a student trying to better himself and or challenge himself.
keep up with it. hound that counselor until you get what you want. if that doenst work, go higher up. its your education.
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I'm trying my best!
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Good luck man.
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Skip the petition. Accept the fact that you are still a high school kid and rather than be angry about them not giving you what you want, look for an alternative route to it...
Rather than go to your counselor, who is not helping you at all, perhaps it's time to try to connect with the teacher for the course. Talk to him/her about the course itself, about what you already know (without being arrogant), about what you are looking to move on to, and ask if he/she feels that you would benefit from the course, or if you would be able to skip it and go on to one that you want to take. If the teacher feels the same way as you do, then he/she can & should talk with your counselor to get you moved into the proper course - assuming that it's not already full.
Talk shop with the teacher, but don't try to impress by dropping terminology or 'bragging' about your accomplishments. Just try to have a normal conversation with him/her around the topic of technology, and see how it goes. You should be able to ask your school office for the teacher's email address, and with that info, you can setup a time to meet. This is the time of the year that teachers are getting ready to get their classrooms setup so it's likely you could meet in the classroom. Be flexible and don't expect the teacher to meet you when you have time, but rather expect to make time in your schedule to meet with the teacher when he/she is available.
Good luck.

Thanks guys. I think I'll try again without a petition.
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