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I also think that there should be softer mathematics courses taught. For example, something like “the history of mathematics” or “the mathematics of space” or something like that where the course content is more exploratory, assignments look more like essays or poster boards, etc.
I wonder if showing students calculus (in a light-hearted way) before they fully grok algebra or geometry might have an accelerating effect? I don’t know if this is a great analogy, but many find it easier/quicker to learn a framework/tool, not for the sake of learning, but because it’s standing between them and a goal.
I am in a daily competition with my peers at a very competitive university in the bay area. Stats are posted after every exam and most homeworks--so you see exactly how you compare to everyone else. It can get distracting if there's no perspective.
As far as your colleagues go, I'd bet some non-trivial percentage of the perceived skill gap is illusory. It's easy to think someone else is smarter/faster; it's even easier to let others think that you're the one that's smarter/faster.
For me, the best way to level the field is to ask questions. I often find people don't know as much as they let on (unhelpful). Or the person does know a lot, (helpful) then I'm picking their brain. I like to think of this as sharpening against others instead of competing.
What I do to maintain optimal performance/memory/recall:
Prioritize sleep. I shifted my day to the left. I wake up at 5 and I use my "best brain hours" on priorities. I am a night owl, but giving that up seems to have helped my memory/study habits.
I practiced these two things without knowing: spaced-repetition and active recall. Learning about them prompted me to begin a more structured approach.
If there's something I need to learn well, I want to pile as many sleep intervals on top of it as possible. I don't know if there's science for this, but I feel as though more sleep on a topic helps me consolidate the memory.
Slow is often fast, but fast is helpful too. If you're going to make a fast pass over material, then let it be just that--a fast pass. Then make a slow pass. Try not to build up "pressure."
Sometimes anxiety can set in and it is a drain. I also think it may even distort the perception of time. So, you may not even be spending as much time trying to grok something as you might think. Set a timer, and do twenty (or whatever) minute intervals. My goal is to always work until I surprise myself.
A hurt ego favors downtime and often wastes time. Have a plan in place for when you do get frustrated. When you're rolling up on gridlock, have a couple little side streets you can detour on. That is, maybe try to have some related topic to work on that's in a similar domain. This way, you're still moving forward; getting another win can boost confidence and might give you some inspiration.
Yeah, like I said in the beginning I had expected it to read something like, "...and I can't get a job..." I am in classes with students who think being in the mean or below it means they'll _never_ get a job. I know we're likely at very different places career wise, but damn I'd like to be the slowest coder at a firm ha, you know? Been working my ass off to become a good engineer and contribute.
Another thing that helps me is maintaining a beginners mindset; I try to not be offended by something I don't know or have forgotten. It's hard, but not carrying that weight means I can focus better.
--rant-- I am currently at a large university in the bay area. The competition is pretty tough. "CS" is a heavily impacted major and many schools have instituted gpa caps (while simultaneously espousing that equity and equality are of utmost importance).
So what are we all competing for exactly? I am not sure. I do not like the system; as it stands now it often feels like we are all competing for some sort of raffle ticket that we can then go door to door––company to company––asking "did I win," "did I win?" Many of my peers are confused as to why I dislike a system that we are benefiting from. My answer is that it seems off––something just doesn't feel right.
Companies save time and money, by not only feeding off of university pipelines, but also avoiding many smaller schools. I can understand the rationale. They seek skills––algorithmic and programming ability––perhaps also the ability to adhere to a factory environment.
I can see the rigor gap between my coursework and that of my friends at various other universities. I witness many talented students who struggle to find internships. I also see many students with tons of algorithmic ability, but cannot begin on a project of their own or contribute elsewhere.
I find it very odd that people (Tim or whoever) talk about not needing a 4-year degree, while possessing a 4-year degree. Likewise, as others have noticed, where are all of the mentoring programs?
To tell younger students that they do not need a 4-year degree is misguided if not negligent if not dangerous (that is under the assumption hiring/mentoring practices do not change).
I believe part of the problem is that Computer Science (or Software Engineer) has become the new "doctor"––except that you're out of the pipe in four years.
But of course, this (Tim's words) is just lip-service. What Cook and others actually mean may be two things––(1) they want talented people, period (2) they want to pacify those they will reject.
I agree with motohagiography, "there is no incentive for people with an education to criticize it." If I drop out and criticize the system, I'd probably be seen as "a sore loser." If I stay I am a cog.
I'd love if what Tim and others said was a truthful representation of reality. But the fact still remains, the fancy school name on my resume gets far more looks than a lesser-known school––what would it get if no school were listed? Hmmm, don't know. I do know that my linkedin profile got way more traffic when my school changed...
Lastly, I feel like Computer Science (and the degrees offered under this title) are meant to pipeline someone into a masters--->phd and not necessarily software engineering. You might be able to say that CS is a superset of software engineering, but even this is somewhat wrong.
I've been doing some soul searching lately and I'd appreciate advice. I see everyone in my community working so hard; for all the work to culminate in selling people things, ads, and maintaining the freemium-universe we live in seems... kind of dark. I know this isn't entirely the case, but yeah. --rant over--