Co-Op Computer Science (2 Viewers)

[shazzam]

Hi, I received an interview invitation for this program. However I was really not prepared on receiving this, so I really don't know too much about it. Can anyone offer me an overview on the course, and preferably, on this particular co-op program.

OH, yeah and maybe also what they like to hear from you at the interview

Thanks heaps

 

[underthesun]

well, compsci = what I wished I did instead of software engineering. Much more relaxed, much more free in terms of what you can choose, and the electives are more free as well (you can do 3rd year courses in 2nd semester of 2nd year). And no SENG subjects which makes SENG SUX (even though I hate to admit i learnt hell of a lot from seng subjects, but still)

and as for co-op, you get huge amount of money, but at 2nd year you have to work or something (i know so for co-op in BIT, not sure about compsci). And you have to attend co-op meetings in suits and such..

I know quite a few people doing co-op BIT and compsci. They're a smart bunch, and very competitive mark-wise (im pretty sure, since the ones I know do higher comp). Hell, one of them topped classical greek, musta been pretty high UAI.

A plus is you get employment after that. I think someone with a coop scholarship should speak on this instead of me..

 

[Slidey]

I don't like the idea. I think it restricts you. I'd much prefer another, non-industrial scholarship.

 

[shazzam]

Thanks everyone. I think most of those problems aren't really a big issue, for me at least; I went to v competitive school; and really don't mind working.

However, I'm a bit worried about the mathematical subjects, as I now doubt my abilities in this area. Is studying Programming compulsary? I mean I'd much rather specialise in graphic design, but by looking at the candidature and the interviews, maths appears to be a rather important element of this course.

Is this true? And what is Seng? And am I pretty screwed if I don't even know what SENG is?

 

[sunny]

However, I'm a bit worried about the mathematical subjects, as I now doubt my abilities in this area. Is studying Programming compulsary? I mean I'd much rather specialise in graphic design, but by looking at the candidature and the interviews, maths appears to be a rather important element of this course.

There are only compulsory first year mathematics subjects. Yes maths is important in computing, but you can get by without being a genius at maths (like myself)

Is this true? And what is Seng? And am I pretty screwed if I don't even know what SENG is?

Seng is short for software engineering.

 

[underthesun]

Is studying Programming compulsary?

That's the whole point of compsci..

it's fun though, I'll die a happy man if they let me do full on COMP subjects for at least one semester. muahahaha

 

[sunny]

it's fun though, I'll die a happy man if they let me do full on COMP subjects for at least one semester. muahahaha

Me this session:

- COMP2920, Professional Issues and Ethics for Comp Sci (core)
- COMP2041, Software Construction (core)
- COMP3311, Database Systems (elective)
- COMP3211, Computer Architecture (elective)

Next year I only have one core (COMP3111 ) for the entire year - I plan on doing more COMP subjects

 

[gman03]

Hey sunny, any opionion/comments about the course " COMP3211, Computer Architecture"? like how much workload and stuff?

 

[+Po1ntDeXt3r+]

its the co-op comp sci for wankers?
lolz j/k.. one of my best friends is in it
sounds lik hard work.. but the fact is u get a head start in industry which helps

i heard the interview is like a job one because its the company reps too .. but im not too sure

 

[sunny]

Hey sunny, any opionion/comments about the course " COMP3211, Computer Architecture"? like how much workload and stuff?

Comp Arch is da bomb!

You need to have done Digital System Structures (COMP2021) or ELEC2041, but I would recommend DSS over ELEC2041 before doing Comp Arch.

In Comp Arch you study the design of CPUs, how they work, why its designed they way the are, and most of the course focuses on how to improve a design to make the CPU work faster. You do some high level programming as well as assembly. One of the assignments this session was to design our own pipelined CPU on paper, and then we used a hardware simulation programming language called VHDL make our design, then run simulations to verify our design

The course does require effort to do well in, and does require you to put time into it. If you do DSS and didn't like it at all I don't suggest you do Comp Arch.

 

[tonberry_kun]

what electives do u recommend for s1 of 2nd yr comp sci?
and what about gen. ed? what's it for? why do we need to do it?

 

[sunny]

what electives do u recommend for s1 of 2nd yr comp sci?
and what about gen. ed? what's it for? why do we need to do it?

I would recommend you do what you find interesting Really, I can say I found this really interesting but you might hate it. Have a look at the courses that are available.

If you think you like something, check you would have met the pre-reqs for the course, then have a look at the course's homepage to see the kind of work they are doing. Try and get in touch with some people that have already done the course and ask for their opinions or other details (nice and cool tutors always help you out with stuff like this if you ask nicely).

Gen eds are courses that everyone has to do. In second year you need to do 6 units worth. UNSW has policies where it requires its students to have "general knowledge" as well as knowledge from their own discipline. This requires you do to gen ed courses that are from other faculties (from the top of my head, you can do 6uoc worth of gen eds from your own faculty). Many many gen eds are offered over summer session and I would recommend you do your gen eds during summer session. You will save yourself 6uoc worth of work during session. You can search for gen eds on myUNSW.

This year I did Astronomy and Murderers and Detectives in summer session (early Jan/Feb this year), and I'm doing 21uoc both sessions instead of the usual 24.

 

[nictnic]

Dude, comp sci co-op is the best!

You get $12,500 a year for I think 4 years (the duration of the degree), and you get great experience working without having to look for it! True you are restricted in choice of electives, but this is minimal compared to the benefits. I'm not a co-op, but am good friends with the 3rd year comp sci co-ops, and I have never heard them say "I wish I didn't do co-op".

Considering that altogether you work for a year and a half, and in all you'd get around $50,000 (can't be bothered working it out exactly), and that you can put on your CV you got a 4-year scholarship as well as having great work experience in that time period, I'd call it a pretty good scholarship, it's definitely not just a "tiny salary".

underthesun: the co-op ppl I know aren't at all competitive mark-wise. They are really smart people but not at all competitive.

I'd highly recommend it.

 

[anti]

I do CompSci Co-Op. 2nd year. I guess it depends how much detail you want..

Currently we get $12.5k a year.. next year it goes up to $13.4k. You get almost $500 a fortnight, which is a lot while you're at uni and not enough when you're working full time.

Compsci is not like BIT - BIT focuses a lot on the commerce side of things. There are MORE BITs than there are CompScis which may make a difference to you. We get the same amount of money, but have different sponsor companies and different schedules.

The schedule of Compsci, by the way:
1st year - full time uni
2nd year sem 1 - full time uni
2nd year sem 2 - full time work and if you like a few subjects at uni (I do one this sem)
3rd year sem 1 - full time uni
3rd year sem 2 - full time work
4th year sem 1 - full time work
4th year sem 2 - full time uni, no scholarship.

I haven't gone to a single co-op meeting in a suit, underthesun. There are a few black-tie type events which aren't compulsory (graduations, awards etc etc).

First year involves a lot of maths (most of semester 1 is maths, if you hate it persevere since it subsides later on) and you need to think pretty logically for the programming side of things. You do a LOT of low-level programming at unsw no matter what course you do; if you really want to do graphic design and program as well that go to UTS. That uni is MUCH better for that sort of thing.

We tend not to be super-competitive in compsci but everybody else is very smart (we got the 100 uai girl from 2002). I'm just hanging around

You do work fulltime (that's what I'm doing now .. er.. eating lunch.. yes.) which is good for some people (like me!) and crap for others. In a way it depends whether you go to a big company (I'm at Westpac) or a small one (Telstra ebusiness services or Whitesmiths, both of which verge on 'medium'). First time it's 6mths, second time (at a different company) is 12mths. You're not guaranteed a job afterwards but gz if you get one

I haven't done a single SENG corse, nor have I done a single INFS (infosys) course. I've done a database course which taught me SQL, I had two electives (Linguistics and Marketing) and I've done two gen eds (one on murderers, and astronomy). It is actually a scholarship as the sponsor company doesn't pay us directly; it always comes from the uni.

If you get less than a CR average you may be required to explain why you should keep the scholarship. I know of a person who left co-op and rejoined.

I don't know where sunny's coming from (yes I do but shh) but I hated DSS and I refuse to do Comp Arch.. I may do a hardcore programming subject next session if I have the motivation (OS) but I'll probably wuss out

By the way, I'm not very strong at maths and it's not very hard to pick it up if you bother studying.

And at the interview there will be the course coordinator and at least one business rep. You might get a lecturer too.

 

[anti]

I'd recommend doing COMP2041 in s1 of 2nd year, it's a good subject for when you want to 'take a break' from the other subjects *shakes fist at DSS* It might mean having a full timetable though (since most people do DSS (CS2021) and Data Org (CS2011/CS2711) in 1st sem as well)

 

[anti]

It's $13 400 now, and you don't have to do Mathematical Computing! *throws hat in the air* Sadly I already did mathematical computing *mutters*

$50k isn't much considering that's quite possibly the starting salary for a graduate but the experience is good, and the money is useful (textbooks, accomodation etc)

 

[sunny]

I don't know where sunny's coming from (yes I do but shh) but I hated DSS and I refuse to do Comp Arch..

wuss!

 

[shazzam]

Wow thanks, that was really helpful

I was just wondering though, would there be much freedom is selecting electives from other disciplines?

Eg, usually with accounting scholarships you can select some Law electives beginning in second year. The result being that when you graduate you can work in either field. It just seems difficult to suddenly change career direction, as I'd never seriously thought of doing computer science.

 

[sunny]

You can do whatever you want (mostly) with your electives. You can do more comp, or take on something completely different. A thing to consider though is that since electives start in first year, you might have to carry on with that choice whether you like it or not in later years.

 

[shazzam]

That's okay, I just feel I'm not ready to completely give up on something I've wanted for more than half my life, despite how good this comp science
scholarship sounds.

But yeah, with the choices available, it seems great.