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So I met this Professor in my campus recently.. This life-changing conversation followed :
Prof: What are you doing on your laptop?
Me: Sir, I am practicing some coding problems.
Prof : Coding problems? What's your branch?
Me: Electrical Engineering.
Prof: You aren't expected to code. And you aren't taught much coding in your coursework too.
Me : Sir, I take it as a passion and I did learn coding all by myself.
Prof : Rubbish. Learning coding by yourself is similar to saying that you don't require a Prof. to teach you. Just focus on your subjects and stop wasting your time.
Me :Good afternoon, sir. You're right, I did waste my time here.
*Grabs laptop and leaves,hoping he won't be taking any lectures in my next sem. *

Comments
  • 15
    That is so stupid. I've got a degree in electrical engineering but my career is in coding. All self-taught - don't let idiots hold you back.
  • 4
    I did coding, and the tutors weren't the best. However I've recently been playing with electronics, and building devices.

    Noone taught me what an oxyacetalyne torch or how you use it, but you just pick stuff up.

    Course I've never been taught how to use a flamethrower either, but that's another story entirely...
  • 7
    All academic personel is biased when it comes to this. Provided you have a shitload of free time you can learn anything from books. The only use of college is that they give you a piece of paper, and you get to practice in the lab. (okay okay, there is also networking.. )
  • 4
    @cantleave agreed, I've always been of the opinion that the best thing school does for you is teach you how to teach yourself. In the software field, that is a very important skill!
  • 4
    @xroad how did u end up with -21?
  • 3
    @xroad tell us about your sins xD
  • 2
    The only classes I've ever had in coding were woefully out of date with industry at the time. Keep at it, self learning is crucial in our profession!
  • 3
    Curiosity and self learning is so valuable in our profession.
  • 2
    Good Will Hunting quote comes to mind: "You dropped 100K on an education you could've gotten for $1.50 in late fees at the public library"
  • 5
    @chrome @cantleave: I made a comment about how OP should not write unreadable code and the next time I opened the app I was -35. Some people have too much free time. And too sensitive an ego
  • 2
    Majored in electronics and electrical engineering... Won several prizes in robotics building hardware... Leave all that once I fell in love with web hacking :) self thaught here too
  • 7
    This is what I hate about professors In my Uni.

    I'm taking Chemical Eng and I approached a professor about some complex heat transfer problems that I thought I could visualise using an intuitive web interface and some JavaScript to help students to learn and he basically told me: "You don't know what you're doing. Engineering calculations are done in Fortran and Matlab. Stop getting distracted and study your content for the exam."

    I have since quit Chemical Engineering.
  • 2
    funny thing is, very few of my professors are good coders. lol
  • 0
    at my uni, electrical and mechanical engineering student must learn how to code, its in their syllabus. Their professor is also good on programming. Mostly on C# , C++ and Java. Well maybe we're from asian country.. so differ from yours.. in terms of syllabus..
  • 0
    Same in the states. I don't know what kind of EE program wouldn't have some form of coding
  • 2
    Even though I have a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.Sc. in Computing Tech, the coding I learnt was mostly on my own...I find coding is better taught by yourself through trial and error and seeing what works and what doesn't on your own. I learned entire syllabuses in a matter of a couple of weeks. What most classes teach are the basics of the basics and don't really help much with your creativity. You want something done, you gotta do it yourself, also applies here. Best of luck on your journey and make connections with people who appreciate your efforts.

    On a side note, when I told my managers at work that I'll be doing an MBA part time (nighttime courses as to not interfere with work), they said "why? you won't need it in this line of business, or even in what you do"... So, well here I am still in it...

    All the best!
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