Subj : Re: Screens Distract Stud
To   : Rob Mccart
From : Dr. What
Date : Sat Apr 05 2025 10:19:32

-=> Rob Mccart wrote to Dr. What <=-

 RM> Part of the problem is you don't know ahead of time.

Yes.  And no.

When you go into college, you should have a pretty clear career choice by then.
 So you should have a good idea what classes would be beneficial to your
career.  Anything questionable should be easily explained by the department
heads.

Ex: I had to take a class in programming in machine code (the real "it's all
1's and 0's programming).  But I would never do that in my career simply
because it's too expensive for a company to produce software like that.

But the dept heads said that was helpful to understand how things work at that
level.  And they were right.

But no one could explain how the Economics classes would help me in any way.

 RM> Even though I was exceptional at it I figured Algebra (and Calculus)
 RM> would be a total waste of time in real life, but later found myself
 RM> writing computer software
 RM> with as many as 20 levels of parenthesis.. Run-away Algebra..    B)

I took math all the way through Differential Equations. I even took an elective
in Celestial Mechanics (now **that's** some complex math).  And never used
anything more than the Algebra that I learned in the 8th grade.

About the only thing the higher level math helped me with was getting more
through Bruce Schneier's books on cryptography.  But that's more of a hobby.

 RM> But taking Automotive Repair and Electronics came in handy too..

Certainly.  But like you said above, we don't know what the future will bring. 
I took classes in both auto repair and electronics later in life.  But more for
hobby use and never used them in my work.


.... A lawyer's opinion is worth nothing unless paid for.
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