My Takeaway:

AP Computer Science is such an important class that can and will be seen in everyday life. I like how Collin was able to go into detail about how mechanical engineering and how his background with computer science helps him ease the load and stress of school. I think that my biggest takeaway from this meeting is that APCSP is an important class and I have gained such a greater appreciation for what I am, and what I will learn in this class.

Insights: I have learned that internships are very important in gaining connections and APCSP is helpful for the rest of your life. I have learned from these past students and experiences that they greatly value their time in Mr.Mortensen’s class and I look forward to learning more.

Background

  • Collin: UCSD majoring in mechanical engineering

  • Anthony Vo: Uc Irvine major in computer science.

  • Andrew: Mira Costa, transferring to a uc school.

  • Maybel: UCSD and swapping to cognitive science machine learning.

  • Allison: UCLA majoring in cognitive science and needs coding in her major.

  • Nitiya: UCSD computer science major.

How they realized their major:

  • Collin knew that he was good at coding and that’s why he chose his major, mechanical engineering.

  • Anthony liked problem solving and knew how to code for years and this is why he chose to major in computer science.

  • Andrew liked the challenges seen in csa and csp

  • Maybel did not like CSP much but knew that it was important for the future.

  • Many majors require the knowledge of computing and coding.

  • Allison was more of an artsy person but is now majoring in computer science, and wants to go into web design.

  • CSP gave people the technical background that they needed.

  • Nitiya has always liked making her own games and started to learn how to code in high school.

Biggest challenge in CS:

  • The start is difficult at first and sometimes challenging.

  • Clashing egos and people thinking that they know more than another person.

  • Important to focus on your own path and not anyone else’s.

  • Learning theory and how things are set up and it kind of lets you see how things work.

  • Important to have a project and a purpose in what you are doing.

  • Temptation to just go the easy route and this is not good as you do not really learn and you might need that knowledge later on.

  • Getting started is very difficult overall and hard to learn about the basics especially if you don’t have a background in it.

Any PBL scenarios in college

  • There are and it is helpful to have APCSP so that it can help you in the future.

  • PBL is present depending on the major you have.

  • Studying in groups is very common in large class sizes.

  • Managing groups is common and is a form of PBL that will be present.

  • PBL can make your studying more efficient and it can help you learn and practice for the real world.

Application of CS in their major

  • Copy and pasting and converting data types and this helps make classes more efficient thanks to CSP.

  • Debugging is also common in every major

  • Knowing how to coe will help you

  • Many different applications for computer science.

  • Computer science can help in higher math and education.

  • Computer Science can help you in every day tasks

Working as a tutor and professor

  • Important to put a resume together.

  • You want to stand out from everyone else.

  • Robotics coach of Maybel also teaches at UCSD

  • Interacting with the professor is helpful.

  • Teaching assistants are very common and helpful.

  • Working at code ninjas

  • Internship at LG

  • Internship with a church group, not as technical but was able to incorporate graphic design.

Other info

  • Personal projects and school projects need a balance and both are important.

  • Visual projects are great and helpful when applying for jobs.

  • Mechanical Engineering

  • Stem majors all have Computer Science

  • Have a resume by early september.

  • Proof of former employment

  • Smaller companies take high schoolers

  • Build a network with others.