Suggestions of unformal study prior to a BS in Software Engineering

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makmak

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#182509 18-Oct-2015 23:31

Hey I will be studying a BS in Software Engineering in 2016 with Brigham Young University - Idaho. I am wanting to know of any recommendations of different material I can pre study to get a head of my studies next year.

Are there any students who have completed a similar degree who didn't get into work straight out of University because some type of certificate or work experience was required with a particular software or additional study or certificates to support your application for employment?

With Google you can pretty much search and learn anything at your fingertips. I’m not too familiar with the material that will be covered but was looking at stuff like C++ or C# or Java and all this stuff I have searched and have found a lot of interesting stuff that I figure will help if I learn a little now in preparation for the BS in Software Engineering.

Any suggestions will help so much,

Thanks in advance.

timmmay

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#1408971 19-Oct-2015 08:41

Perhaps, English. "Ahead" is one word, and you mean "informal" not "unformal".

C++/Java is coding, that's the easy bit of software engineering, but you need to get good at that before you can move onto the hard parts. Learn some of whatever language is being taught. Read the syllabus, read what you can to get ahead, it will save you time later. You might also benefit from learning about cloud stuff - AWS is well documented and has plenty of materials online. EC2, S3, EBS.

Hard parts of software engineering include security (code level, infrastructure level, architecture level), architecture (which you need at least few years programming to even understand why it's important), contract negotiations, estimation, team management, development metholodogy. Forgotten parts include testing (functional, performance), and infrastructure can be forgotten sometimes. Security would be a great field to specialise in, huge demand that's only going to get bigger.

makmak

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#1409090 19-Oct-2015 11:07

Thanks for your corrections and recommendations for study. A lot of information and learning ahead which I am looking forward to.

jpoc

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#1409379 19-Oct-2015 17:16

Perhaps Geography too.

BYU is in Utah.

I take it that you are a member of the LDS?

(If not then you will be in for a surprise.)

It is an absolutely gorgeous area, breathtaking scenery, friendly locals, masses of great cheap diners.

The NSA has a huge data centre just up the road so security would be a good line of study.

Very limited access to alcohol but plenty of rattlesnakes.

Lots of guns too. When I was there, one local Walmart was causing huge upset. The manager was trying to ban customers from openly carrying firearms in the store. There was talk of a boycott!

makmak

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#1409504 19-Oct-2015 22:14

There is indeed a BYU in Utah, but there's also one in Idaho and one is Hawaii. I will be studying at the BYU in Idaho, Rexburg. And yep member of the LDS Faith!

I remember being in Utah a few years ago, and its nice, good for hiking. Beautiful views out there.

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

jpoc

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#1409515 19-Oct-2015 23:08

makmak: There is indeed a BYU in Utah, but there's also one in Idaho and one is Hawaii. I will be studying at the BYU in Idaho, Rexburg. And yep member of the LDS Faith!

I remember being in Utah a few years ago, and its nice, good for hiking. Beautiful views out there.

Awesome, sounds like you have it all sorted.

I'd not worry about finding work after graduation. I've worked with folks from one LDS staffed IT business in Utah. Straightforward, hard working and successful. I expect that the BY network will be able to connect you to plenty of opportunities with businesses like that.

All the best.