Advice to software students
A student wrote to me: “I am a second year student in the Software Engineering program. This program has so many materials as compare with others and I feel exhausted. I also worry a lot about homeworks and reading assignments. I feel unsure about my decision as the program requires so much time to study. I had this feeling last year but hoped that it will be gone in the second year but today I still have the same feeling of being overwhelmed. I do not know what to do. Please advice.”
Answer: You are not alone since most software students also have the same feeling of being overwhelmed when they are studying a fast changing field like Software Engineering or Information System Management. As more technologies are being created, more things they must know and students are often overwhelmed. Few years ago, knowing how to write code and conduct software tests were enough to get a job but today these skills are NOT enough as the software industry demands more. With mobile platforms, cloud computing, big data and faster computer, more things will be added and more skills will be needed.
Fortunately, today’s college students are not the same as students ten years ago. Many are already familiar with smart phone, laptops, tablets, and the Internet. Therefore they are better prepared than previous generations in the acquisition of knowledge. To succeed it is important for software students to change their study habit and prepare themselves for the integration of these technologies; else they may miss a good opportunity.
Software students must understand the entire software development lifecycle in details, from early conceptual to system maintenance. They must have knowledge of several software methods and tools. They must have both project management skills and soft-skills and they must learn all of these when they are in school. More than that, career-focused students must NOT depend on the school to provide them the needed knowledge as most universities have NOT been able to catch-up with industry's demand. Career-focused students must fill their knowledge with extra readings and learning on their own. It is important for them to take additional trainings from online courses to broaden their knowledge and pursuing summer jobs in the industry to gain experiences. That is a lot to ask for college students and that is why so many are feeling overwhelmed.
To succeed in this fast changing world, they must change their study habit. Studying hard is NOT enough but they must study smart. They must be prepared by reading materials before going to class so they can use class time for discussion and further learning. They must learn to organize and manage their time effectively. They must learn to apply concepts to solve problems instead of just memorize few formulas or equations. They must be active in their learning by reading more about technical trends. These are not easy as most students are unfamiliar with this type of learning but they must overcome these challenges in order to succeed. Only by then they can build a solid career foundation and ready to open the opportunity doors.
As a software engineering student, you have selected the best field of study, one of the fields that have the highest demand, highest salary, and highest growth potential. You have made the right decision but you must overcome the feeling of uncomfortable or overwhelmed to adapt a new feeling of lifelong learning. Few years from now, after graduate you will see the difference in what you can do. You have a bright future so you must learn to be patient in your efforts to pursuit your education goals. Do not let anything distract you from achieving your goals. Do not let anyone persuade you to change your course. In just few years, you will see the difference and in the future you will look back and happy with your choice.
Have you ever asked yourself why students with a bachelor's degree in other fields only make about half the salary of students with a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering or Information system management? According to the industry report, the average salary a software graduates with a bachelor's degree is $85,000 to $95,000 a year (2011 data) when other graduates in business, accounting, or architect only make $55,000 to $65,000 a year (2011 data). Have you ever asked why so many college graduates could not find job after graduated? Many college students often select the easy fields, something that they do not have to study very hard so they can enjoy their time in college but they do not know that they have to struggle to find jobs after graduated. Have you ever asked why there is a shortage of computing skilled workers in the world? Because many students gave up as they could not overcome the challenges. Have you ever asked why spending the same amount of time in university but some would make much more money and receive several job offers when others are having difficult time to find job?
Last year, a graduate explained this in a simple sentence: “Either you work hard in four years then enjoy the rest of your life or you enjoy four years then work hard to find job for the rest of your life. It is your choice.”
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
