Computer Science

[Ameenah Ghoston]

Hi, everyone!  I have been watching the newsgroup for a while, and the 
computer science topic grabbed my attention.  I am at the University of 
Illinois, and the computer science department teaches you theory along with 
programming.  In fact, the first CS. course you take, you are using Java to 
learn concepts such as recursion, and other basic concepts.  The next 
course, you are using C++ to learn data structures such as link lists, 
AVLTrees, and so on.  After that, you can pick 300 level courses to try and 
focus on a certain aspect of the Cs. field such compilers and programming 
languages, operating systems, and the list goes on.  There is a hardware 
component to being a CS. major where you are using UNIX based program 
to  design circuits, and you even get to do some assembly programming.  If 
you want to be strictly hardware, then, you just major in engineering.  You 
have the choice of being a CS major which is very rigorous, and is similar 
to the engineering program.  The other option is to be a CS-statistics or 
CS-mathematics major.  All of the option depends on what you want to do, 
and also, how good your grades.  The standards here are very high.  The 
difficult part is trying to stay in the program.

  What makes this school so great in the field of CS is that you learn more 
theory then anything else.  You may leave this place not knowing how to 
program the best in the world but you will know the theory behind all the 
concepts.  No class is taught with specific focus on a operating system or 
programming language.  You get a very broad education when it comes to 
CS.  Our program is equivalent to MIT but a little cheaper.
   There have been a number of blind students who have gone through the 
department, and are doing very well for themselves.  While accessibility is 
an  issue, the professors here are willing to work with you. 
Furthermore,  since the programs we use are all UNIX, then, you do not have 
to worry about screwing with windows and JAWS.       I am actually a 
computer science minor and my major is history.  I have taken all the 
courses that every CS. major has to take.  I am not trying to force my 
school upon any one who is considering college, but nevertheless, I 
strongly recommend that you consider this university.
Well, that is all I have to say.  If you further wish to check out the CS. 
department go to
http://www.cs.uiuc.edu