Comments on: The only college major that matters http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/ Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:10:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Paintbrush and the Canvas – The Story of the Next Gen of .com | Tim Chae http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-9674 The Paintbrush and the Canvas – The Story of the Next Gen of .com | Tim Chae Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:33:59 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-9674 [...] in Computer Science/Programming.  Several tech entrepreneurs like Chris Dixon have said it before.  It seriously is – should I dare say it – the only college that matters.  Since I [...] [...] in Computer Science/Programming.  Several tech entrepreneurs like Chris Dixon have said it before.  It seriously is – should I dare say it – the only college that matters.  Since I [...]

]]> By: tech_finance_guy http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-5772 tech_finance_guy Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:09:04 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-5772 Couldn't agree more. In my case, I am an infrastructure engineer (primarily at Wall St Firms and hedge funds) that dabbles in software development. As I progressed within the infrastructure side of the house, I found myself more and more involved with software development projects whether for systems management or full-fledged development efforts. Seeing this, I enrolled in a software engineering masters program. I cannot tell you how helpful this has been in terms of seeing the entire picture within an organization.<br>Having been involved with numerous startups and currently working for a financial services startup, learning the business side has been relatively easy in comparison Couldn't agree more. In my case, I am an infrastructure engineer (primarily at Wall St Firms and hedge funds) that dabbles in software development. As I progressed within the infrastructure side of the house, I found myself more and more involved with software development projects whether for systems management or full-fledged development efforts. Seeing this, I enrolled in a software engineering masters program. I cannot tell you how helpful this has been in terms of seeing the entire picture within an organization.
Having been involved with numerous startups and currently working for a financial services startup, learning the business side has been relatively easy in comparison

]]> By: tech_finance_guy http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-5152 tech_finance_guy Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:09:04 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-5152 Couldn't agree more. In my case, I am an infrastructure engineer (primarily at Wall St Firms and hedge funds) that dabbles in software development. As I progressed within the infrastructure side of the house, I found myself more and more involved with software development projects whether for systems management or full-fledged development efforts. Seeing this, I enrolled in a software engineering masters program. I cannot tell you how helpful this has been in terms of seeing the entire picture within an organization.<br>Having been involved with numerous startups and currently working for a financial services startup, learning the business side has been relatively easy in comparison Couldn't agree more. In my case, I am an infrastructure engineer (primarily at Wall St Firms and hedge funds) that dabbles in software development. As I progressed within the infrastructure side of the house, I found myself more and more involved with software development projects whether for systems management or full-fledged development efforts. Seeing this, I enrolled in a software engineering masters program. I cannot tell you how helpful this has been in terms of seeing the entire picture within an organization.
Having been involved with numerous startups and currently working for a financial services startup, learning the business side has been relatively easy in comparison

]]> By: kellan http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-3757 kellan Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:52:21 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-3757 My experience in hiring is that a CompSci degree is in no way indicative of whether someone will be any good. CS degrees simply don't teach readily applicable for building a product. Coding teaches one to code.<br><br>The handful of people who can apply the advanced theory to everyday problems are a god send, but they nearly universally have advanced degrees, not an undergrad's understanding of Java.<br><br>What I've been really wish I had lately was a degree in Economics, not because I find the discipline particularly compelling but because those people have the best mathematical toolset around for dealing with Big Data.<br><br>Similarly I wish a few more of the coders I worked with had any sort of formal background in aesthetics or business in order to help them more successfully weigh cost-benefit. My experience in hiring is that a CompSci degree is in no way indicative of whether someone will be any good. CS degrees simply don't teach readily applicable for building a product. Coding teaches one to code.

The handful of people who can apply the advanced theory to everyday problems are a god send, but they nearly universally have advanced degrees, not an undergrad's understanding of Java.

What I've been really wish I had lately was a degree in Economics, not because I find the discipline particularly compelling but because those people have the best mathematical toolset around for dealing with Big Data.

Similarly I wish a few more of the coders I worked with had any sort of formal background in aesthetics or business in order to help them more successfully weigh cost-benefit.

]]> By: Process for the Enterprise » Blog Archive » Is Computer Science the Only Major that Matters? http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-2638 Process for the Enterprise » Blog Archive » Is Computer Science the Only Major that Matters? Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:25:41 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-2638 [...] Dixon’s blog, which I recently was turned on to by another blogger, recently opined that the only college major that matters is Computer Science.  Nice to see someone sticking up for my major!  Naturally my bias led me to believe this post [...] [...] Dixon’s blog, which I recently was turned on to by another blogger, recently opined that the only college major that matters is Computer Science.  Nice to see someone sticking up for my major!  Naturally my bias led me to believe this post [...]

]]> By: spaley http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-2551 spaley Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:05:50 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-2551 Electrical engineering is probably a very good hybrid for this, combining advanced mathematics and physics, along with plenty of programming.<br><br>Of course, I'm biased. That was my major... Electrical engineering is probably a very good hybrid for this, combining advanced mathematics and physics, along with plenty of programming.

Of course, I'm biased. That was my major…

]]> By: Are MBAs Necessary for Start-ups or VC? | CloudAve http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-2251 Are MBAs Necessary for Start-ups or VC? | CloudAve Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:07:45 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-2251 [...] tonight.  He writes with a great perspective and is well worth reading.  I came across this blog post about getting a computer science degree as the best degree for getting into venture capital or [...] [...] tonight.  He writes with a great perspective and is well worth reading.  I came across this blog post about getting a computer science degree as the best degree for getting into venture capital or [...]

]]> By: cdixon http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-2244 cdixon Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:37:06 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-2244 I'm a fan of other engineering degrees as well. Math & physics especially. Better than international relations or government etc which I see a lot of on resumes. I'm a fan of other engineering degrees as well. Math & physics especially. Better than international relations or government etc which I see a lot of on resumes.

]]> By: cdixon http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-2245 cdixon Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:36:10 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-2245 True, but at the same time CS changes so much that if you can just get the foundations in college I think you'll be able to update your skills later. True, but at the same time CS changes so much that if you can just get the foundations in college I think you'll be able to update your skills later.

]]> By: cdixon http://cdixon.org/2009/09/06/the-only-college-major-that-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-2246 cdixon Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:35:05 +0000 http://www.cdixon.org/?p=848#comment-2246 Yep, exactly my point. Thanks for you comment. Yep, exactly my point. Thanks for you comment.

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