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