Another curriculum-based problem

school

4 comments

2010/03/15
200 words
by Fredrik Olsen

I’ve just started a new school period. Courses at our school are most often over 7 weeks and on the 8th week we have an exam, exams were last week. So right now I’m taking “Entrepreneurship and sustainable development” (environment stuff) and “The Finite Element Method” which is sort of in between math and computer science; something I really like.

I have the option of taking a third course as well, it’s completely voluntary and seems very fun. It’s called “Algorithm implementation”, and the course book is called “Writing Secure and Efficient C Code”. So it’s about writing super-optimized algorithms in C. The course is super-nerdy and I’ve had the lecturer on a course in C before and he’s totally kick-ass; like a nerd god!

I really want to take the Algorithm course, but the FEM-course seems quite large and complex and I really want to learn it thoroughly since I’m thinking of specializing in scientific calculation and simulation in my final two years.

So the questions is this. Skip the C course and focus on FEM and understand it really well or take both courses and maybe not understand the FEM as well and have a heavier workload? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

4 comments

http://eferm.com Emanuel

You will forget it eventually, might as well add as much to your curriculum as possible.

But then again, perhaps an easy-going spring could be enjoyable given your upcoming departure.
René

My suggestion is “Skip the C course and focus on FEM and understand it really well”, the market is crowded with people that are rather good at something, but the people who get the opportunity to do the really fun stuff are according to my experience the persons who are the best and the market for the best is global.
Dxe

Skip the C course, you probably get another chance someday to do that!
David

As Dxe said, my tought was, could you take the course on C dev next semester when you’re back home?