Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site steinmetz.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!ncsu!uvacs!edison!steinmetz!hammond
From: hammond@steinmetz.UUCP (Steve Hammond)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Why take CALC (Blech!)
Message-ID: <170@steinmetz.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 10-Jul-85 08:10:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: steinmet.170
Posted: Wed Jul 10 08:10:41 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 15-Jul-85 07:02:28 EDT
References: <199@rruxo.UUCP> <511@ttidcc.UUCP> <734@ihlpg.UUCP>
Organization: GE CRD, Schenectady, NY
Lines: 33

> 
> I have the same gripe.  It really galls me!  I got a BA in computer science
> instead of a BS because of the calculus.  Now, I'm finding that 1) I can't get
> anywhere in my job without it and 2) I can't go on to graduate school without
> it.  I don't know of ANYONE in the areas inwhich I want to work that EVER use
> anything more than algebra (if even that).  The justification I have been
> given by several people (including professors) is that even though I won't
> ever need calc., simply being able to do it shows a certain sophistication of
> mind that is hard to detect any other way.  I'm not sure that I agree with
> that, but I suppose that, for now, I must accept it.  I guess I look on it as
> paying my membership dues.
> 
> Sarah E. Dugan
> "One Day At A Time"
>

Perhaps I am assuming too much but if you could not handle calculus and
therefor only got your BA, then possibly you did not deserve the BS.  Once
again, assuming that your pursuit of graduate school will be in computer
science, if you could not handle calculus as an undergraduate then 
you may have trouble with some graduate c.s. courses.  I find that I
did not get *enough* math background for my job as a computer scientist.
I regularly consult my college texts to refresh myself on group and set
theory, statistics, and abstract algebra.  Because I have a broad
background I find that I am able to tackle manifold tasks.  A few years
ago I bitched and moaned too, now the work that I so protested is
paying off.  I guess it all depends on you job and your career goals also.
(If my assumptions above were off, i'm sorry sarah)



-- 
  Steve Hammond   arpa: hammond@GE   uucp: {...edison!}steinmetz!hammond