pursuing my second bachelors in computer science from TESC, any advice/opinions?

[ncpenn]

A couple of points I don't think have been brought up yet:

1) You can take Discrete Math instead of Linear Algebra. Unless you planning to write 3D graphics engines or Photoshop-like software, Discrete Math will probably be more generally applicable. Just a thought . . .

2) I'm to start the C programming course tomorrow 8/5. I've looked at the textbook and the syllabus (an the final programming project). I'm disappointed how simple it looks. Really. And I'm not even a true programmer. So, my 2-cents is not to worry about that too much.

3) Yes, the 12 month enrollment covers you for taking classes for 12 months, BUT you'll have to do extensions or possibly re-enroll to graduate. Here's the reason: your last test has to be graded and all that before you can apply for graduation. That takes about 30 days. Only then can you apply for graduation, and you must be actively enrolled to apply for graduation. Something to keep in mind.

4) I'd highly recommend the Straighterline Calc 1 and 2 (don't do the clep and the TESC class). The TESC class is essentially teach-yourself-from-a-textbook. Not easy. Nor is the clep easy.

However, Straighterline has a textbook, videos, and slide show that tackle each topic from multiple angles. It makes getting some concepts much easier. Also, if you take Straighterline's Calc 1, you already know the first third of their Calc 2. Go look at the syllabus. Section 5 is the last section of Calc 1 AND the first section of Calc 2. It makes Calc 2 a breeze. (I did Calc 1 and 2 there in 6 weeks)

[Yanji]

Also, some require GRE, so make sure to schedule some time to prepare for that one.

Considering OP is thinking about NYU and Columbia, I think we shouldn't even be talking about the GRE... there are much bigger fish to fry.

The fact that you have a degree from a leading music school will probably be very beneficial when applying to NYU because of their strength in fine arts. (I say this because I know there are abnormally many music majors at IU's business school, which must have some correlation with the Jacobs School being at IU) If you're dead set on Columbia/NYU, I would actually not recommend doing a CS degree from TESC and seeing if you could do something part-time/online at a CUNY school, Rutgers Newark or Fordham instead. Compared to Pace or ESC though, TESC is just fine. CLEP/DSST should be fine, but I would avoid ACE like the plague... that's just not good for an application to Columbia.

If you're willing to do the Master's at Fordham or somewhere like that, I think you'll have no problem with a TESC CS degree if you take the right prereqs. Even NYU should be doable with your unique background. Columbia's grad programs are littered with students from Cornell, NYU, Penn, Imperial College, etc. though, and I can't help but think it'll be a very uphill battle to get admitted with a TESC CS degree, despite the doors TESC has opened for people in the past.

For your information, UIUC (a top 5 CS school) offers a Master of Computer Science degree online, (slightly different from the MS in CS offered at Champaign-Urbana) which might interest you. Stanford SCPD also offers some CS type degrees online, although being Silicon Valley, they are more SE oriented and extremely competitive to get into.

If I were you, I'd give the UIUC MCS program a strong look first and then go from there. Best of luck!

[instant000]

Considering OP is thinking about NYU and Columbia, I think we shouldn't even be talking about the GRE... there are much bigger fish to fry.

I disagree. Of course, your response seems to infer an institution/prestige bias for admission. I agree that this is entirely possible, but I am not sure that we can state it as fact, unless someone on the admissions committee confirms this bias. Of course, if there is a prestige bias, it would mean that the OP should try THAT MUCH HARDER on the GRE, to make up for this bias.

Graduate schools have criteria for admission that help to determine academic success/research potential (that is, that students will be able to enter and complete the program). The criteria are typically these:
Student essay
CV/Resume
Recommendation letter
GPA
standardized test score (GMAT/GRE)
accreditation status of undergrad school
major
prerequisite courses
publications

If schools are publishing what GRE scores are typically admitted, it indeed does matter. The GRE provides a reference point that is school-agnostic. GPAs can be inflated. If you worked hard, recommendations should be easy to get. You aren't timed when you write your admissions essay.

Of the different criteria above, only the standardized test and essay are school-agnostic. Of these two, only the standardized test is performed within a time constraint of hours versus days for the admissions essay one would prepare.

Also, I looked up the admissions information from the NYU and Columbia websites:

Successful applicants to the MS program in Computer Science will generally have the following minimum qualifications:

Strong GRE Quantitative and Analytical scores. (Typical acceptable scores are near 700 for each of these sections, or 4.0 or better on the new Analytical Writing section.)
Positive, specific recommendations.
Strong grades in relevant courses.
...
The minimum prerequisite background for admission to the MS program consists of:

Languages: Deep working knowledge of C and familiarity with object-oriented concepts and work with some object-oriented language such as Java or C++.
Data structures and mathematics: Understanding and working knowledge of pointers, lists, stacks, queues, trees, arrays and recursion; induction, order of magnitude growth, probability and elementary combinatorics, set notation.
Working familiarity with windows and Unix.
Knowledge of assembly language (e.g. Intel or Motorola) sufficient to understand self-modifying code.
Promising students who do not have this background will be conditionally admitted with the provision that they complete the one year preparatory course (PAC). Students without adequate mathematical training should take Discrete Mathematics, which is offered in the summer only.

Source: NYU Computer Science Department > Graduate Admissions Information

What are the admission requirements?
You should have an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related discipline. If your undergraduate degree is in a different field, you are required to have completed at least four computer science courses covering foundations of the field and basic programming, and two mathematics courses. For example, Intro to Computer Science (COMS W1004 or COMS W1007), Advanced Programming (COMS W3157), Data Structures and Algorithms (COMS W3134 or W3137), which is a prerequisite for most of our graduate-level courses, or/and Discrete Math (COMS W3202).

...

Is there a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) for application?
Yes, a minimum of 3.3 (out of 4) is required. Most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Please see below regarding converting percentage grades to the GPA system.

...

Do I have to take the general GRE Test before applying?
Yes. Your application will not be reviewed without your GRE test scores in the online application.

Is there a minimum General GRE Test score?
No. Most admitted applicants, however, have scores of 750 or higher on the Quantitative section of the test.

Source: Department of Computer Science, Columbia University | Application Information

[bluebooger]

2) I'm to start the C programming course tomorrow 8/5. I've looked at the textbook and the syllabus (an the final programming project). I'm disappointed how simple it looks.

is there anything you can post ?

what book are you using ?

is it possible for you to post the syllabus ?

does everyone have to do the same final project or do you get to choose your own ?

is it a group project or individual ?

[dposborne]

is there anything you can post ?

what book are you using ?

is it possible for you to post the syllabus ?

does everyone have to do the same final project or do you get to choose your own ?

is it a group project or individual ?

Text was: A First Book of ANSI C, 4th ed., by Gary J. Bronson
The final consisted of knowledge checks through several programming assignments to include 2 dimensional arrays and loops and passing into functions. I cant post the questions up, but you get the idea...
The syllabus is openly available under the course listing in the online catalog
The midterm and final projects are individual assignments.

[Daithi]

I plan on pursuing an online Masters Degree in the computer field once I finish my degree at TESC as well.

In my case, I'm older with lots of experience and already employed, so the degree is more of a checkoff box in case I need it in the future. I'm also looking at doing consulting work for the government and they require degrees. Since that is the case, getting my degree as cheaply, quickly, and easily as possible are the main criteria. At this point, I'm leaning towards the Fort Hays State University (KS) Masters of Professional Studies (Web Development). It is incredibly inexpensive at less than $7,500.

However, if I were in the position of the original poster then I might lean towards a more respected program. The most respected program I found was the Master of Science in Information Technology at Carnegie Mellon University (PA). In the field of Computer Science Carnegie Mellon is the man. However, at a cost of $64,000 it is wicked expensive.

One of biggest names offering an online Masters Degree in Information Technology is Harvard University, and the cost is only about $20,000, which is a major bargain for a degree with Harvard's name. However, it is offered through their Extension School and there are some who view this as not a "real" Harvard degree. The Extension School is over 100 years old and was founded at about the same time as the Harvard Business School. In most of the Harvard Schools (Business, Law, Medical, Divinity, Engineering, etc.) you need to apply, and they reject over 90% of the applicants. In the case of the Harvard Extension School you can get in by simply taking and passing three of their online courses. However, the courses are not easy and are in fact the same as the courses provided on campus (you watch videos of lectures) and over 90% of the people who attempt to get a degree through the Extension School also fail to earn one. Nevertheless, there are some who not only look down on a degree granted through the Harvard Extension School as a lesser degree, but the person who lists this degree on his resume can be viewed as somehow cheating or lying. (Nevertheless, I'm still considering this as a Masters option because I'd like a degree from Harvard.)

A middle ground is a well known school that offers online Masters in the computer field for a reasonable cost. There is one school that really stands out. The University of Massachusetts-Lowell (MA) who offers a Master of Science in Information Technology for $16,500. The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is ranked in the top 100 according to U.S. News. Although Lowell is a different campus this really doesn't matter, because when you stick it on your resume it is just going to be University of Massachusetts.

You can go a little higher in the rankings with schools like Pennsylvania State University (MPS in IS @ $27,000) , Boston University (MS in CIS @ $34,000),
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (MS in CS @ $38,000), Northwestern (MS in Medical Informatics @ $42,500), USC (MS in CS @ $44,500), and Columbia (MS in CS @ $51,000). However, as you can see, they do get a bit more expensive.

One other option is the newly offered Masters in Computer Science offered by Georgia Tech that is done entirely through Udacity and their MOOCS. The cost of this degree is supposed to be less than $7,000 and this is from one the top schools in the nation and a top 10 engineering school. GT estimates it will take you 3 years to complete the degree. I'm guessing that most master degree programs will take about 2 to 3 years, as most of these programs are not work at your own pace. One of the requirements for this degree is that your bachelors is in a related field. Mine is a BALS degree, so I'd need a quick CIS degree to get into the program (Northern Arizona University just announced an online BA in CS for $2,500 a semester and it is work at your own pace.)

Lastly, you can go the really stupid route, and go with the University of Phoenix (MS in IS @ $27,000), Walden University (MS in IS @ $28,500), Capella University (MS in IS @ $29,500), or DeVry University (MS in IS @ $35,000).

[instant000]

... (Northern Arizona University just announced an online BA in CS for $2,500 a semester and it is work at your own pace.) ...

I cannot find any information on this program at NAU's website.

Please provide a link.

[Daithi]

Try the thread on this site for lots of info.

Here is the link to the NAU site.

[Yanji]

I disagree. Of course, your response seems to infer an institution/prestige bias for admission. I agree that this is entirely possible, but I am not sure that we can state it as fact, unless someone on the admissions committee confirms this bias. Of course, if there is a prestige bias, it would mean that the OP should try THAT MUCH HARDER on the GRE, to make up for this bias.

Most Columbia grad program admits don't even have to think about the GRE, because it is something the typical Columbia grad student can take cold and score at least in the 90th percentile. The GRE is practically a formality at top schools; most people who cannot score in the 90th percentile or higher even after studying probably do not even belong at Columbia. Published GRE scores and GPAs make the applicants with no hope self-select out of the admissions process to allow them to spend more time on serious applicants. And to think that a degree from TESC would be viewed even equally as a degree from Fordham, NYU or Rutgers when applying to Columbia is utterly ludicrous. Of course undergraduate institution quality matters, although I never said you couldn't get into Columbia from a tier 3 school either. OP is looking to go to Columbia and it is doing him a disservice to not at least mention that where he takes his undergrad CS courses matters and that he should think about it.

I think it's important to not get caught up in undergraduate rankings when applying to graduate/professional programs. Department rankings, faculty and industry connections are far more important imo. For example, Penn State (University Park) is considered a good undergraduate institution but their medical school (Hershey College) is considered a bottom-feeder school and their law school (Dickinson) languishes in the middle of the pack. On the other hand, Arizona State is mainly considered a "whatever" undergraduate school (at least that's what all UA students say) but the Carey (business) and Cronkite (Journalism) schools are among the best in the region. There are also world-class graduate-only schools like UCSF which are unranked in regular university rankings but are simply incredible institutions. Throw the rankings out the window and find a program which suits your professional/personal goals and needs. (Btw, nobody in New England thinks UMass (Amherst) is the same as UMass Lowell are the same school... but UML is considered a good school in its own right and is actually the stronger of the two in tech fields)

I'm unfamiliar with Georgia Tech's program, but it looks intriguing if it really is that affordable. Georgia Tech is great and the price is unbeatable.

[wheresmyelephant]

wow, a lot of great advice in this thread. i'm going to do the switch from assembly language my first semester switch it with computer architecture.

i'm pretty set on a NYC area school as I've moved more than 12 times in the last 6 years including 4-5 moves over 200 miles. And as far as going to a big name school a lot of it is because I have a chip on my shoulder. I got into NYU 10 years ago but ended up taking a full ride to someplace else because my family has no money and wouldn't let me take out loans. I did eventually transfer to Berklee because I always wanted a hardcore music education instead of just minoring in it and it's all done and paid for. Cost me about about $70k but well worth it.

I have definitely researched all the prereqs from both schools and knew that on paper I was fine. But an online-only degree, while technically valid, is a factor that is subjective. I worked through lunch today so I couldn't call the admissions office but am going to tomorrow and find out exactly how they would view my situation.

I agree with the person who said the GRE is really important. They are going to view my TESC grades as a question mark, probably lean more towards "it's a fake school, probably everyone gets As". If I pull off a high quant score (I pulled off a 170+ on the LSAT so I know I can handle verbal with ease) then that should remove a lot of doubt.

I'm going to call TESC about the graduation requirement tomorrow. If I do my degree in a year it seems like total BS that when my final class is done that I have to re-enroll to technically graduate. I've never had a school like that, it was always take the write classes, pay and graduate. WE'll see what happens.