The question of choosing a university for a future programmer

Question

JavaScript

Good afternoon!
I am sure that there are many people here who have received a specialty related to computer science. Therefore, I want to ask your opinion about the current education in Moscow universities.

I am 27 years old. I have one technical education in the field of Optotechnics. Now there is a desire to start mastering the additional path of a programmer. Since I need not just a slope from the army :-), but real knowledge, I asked myself the question of choosing an alma mater. I'm still having a hard time with a specific specialization. At the moment I'm leaning towards information networks.

Tell us which universities to pay attention to when choosing? And can anyone share information or experience about the higher education already received in some higher institution?

Answer 1

The best programmers have ALWAYS been mathematicians (like Donald Knuth). Therefore, if you want to become a programmer, not a technician, go to a mathematical specialty. Well, all sorts of java script, php, python, bullshit, ... can be mastered by reading the appropriate books + practice.

Answer 2

I share the opinion of NiceForce in terms of the "try first" scheme. IT is rapidly developing, the university will only provide a foundation, everything else will have to be mastered by yourself. In addition, having some base (albeit a very mediocre one), I'm sure it will be easier to learn. If you are not going to completely go into programming, then it is better to do self-education (fortunately, all kinds of online courses and learning resources make the task much easier).
If you decide to become a real programmer, then I would advise SPbAU. Reviews about it can be found on Habré. One of the pluses (especially in your situation) is that they offer a master's program. Those. you will spend at least 2 times less time, having received a very decent education. Traditional schemes of 4+ years duration seem to me redundant and useless in your case, since they give part of the general (and therefore useless, like stories, cultural studies and obzh), part of very outdated knowledge. At some universities there are “faculties for retraining specialists”, where, it would seem, everything necessary will be told in the same year. But I can’t say anything worthwhile about such people, I haven’t heard “success stories”.
More detailed information about admission to AU can be found here.. Please refer to the Exam Question List. There are indicated both the topics and the books in which these topics are described. If you suddenly find that you don’t know much, don’t be scared, it’s not so scary. Well, you want knowledge :-)

Answer 3

I am a systems engineer by profession (2201), I studied at MIEM (now it is HSE) and I still work as a programmer :) I have two young colleagues at work who graduated from MIEM this year, both love and know how to program. But… if I didn’t self-educate myself, just like my colleagues, after the university, only a useless diploma would remain, as a monument to wasted time.
Considering that you already have an engineering degree, expand your knowledge with the help of online courses . If the second education is a fixed idea for you, then turn your attention to German or American universities.

Answer 4

If you firmly decided to go into programming, then without self-study there is nothing at all. Be prepared for the fact that you will have to engage in self-development and training a lot.
Freelancing: for example, for a junior position in a team or just as an assistant to an experienced freelancer. The main plus is learning on real tasks, and the opportunity to learn from more experienced people. An additional plus is the ability to work anywhere where there is electricity and the Internet and at a convenient time for yourself. Minus - unpredictability / instability of income. Sometimes you have to work for months without days off from dusk to dawn and the rest of the time, but sometimes there is a lull.
Most universities almost never teach programming for well-known reasons. And IT is developing at a tremendous speed - everything changes very much in a year. Classical university programs of study became obsolete ** tsat years ago, and for the time of training you can lag behind the whole world for a few more years. So constant self-study and “hand on the pulse / eyes on the hub” allow you to stay abreast of what is happening in the world.

Answer 5

Judging by the programming world championships, math-mechs from St. Petersburg State University and ITMO will provide the most fundamentally correct training. But at the age of 27, the brain is no longer reflashed, alas. And it is unlikely that the author of the question wanted to become exactly the god of programming. So, probably, we should look for something more focused on applied tasks. I would recommend trying one of the “upgrading programs” at the classic old universities, it can be quite budgetary and at the same time make it clear what is definitely not needed.

Answer 6

The most effective are internships in companies that are professionally engaged in development. True, there is already a narrower specialization, but more in-depth. There you are under the constant and vigilant supervision of a coach who always knows the best way to solve the set task. True, in order to get into such an internship, you need a very good amount of knowledge and experience behind you, plus you will have to complete test tasks. But it's worth it. I tried both universities, and advanced training courses, and independent study, and such an internship. Definitely an internship drags!