Hello all,

No, this is not a joke at FSU's expense; I suppose I could think one up
if there is wide-spread disappointment :)  One of our medical equipment
technicians has decided to go after a bachelor's degree in CS; he's a
good guy and deserves good advice.  He likes to eat and have a place to
live, and has a good job at our teaching hospital, so he looked for
after-hours options that would allow him to stay in Gainesville.  He (I
think wisely) rejected some of the obvious certification mills and
associate degrees from a local community college.  I suggested enrolling
here, but he previously checked and found that he would need to take day
classes, interfering with his work.

The next two decisions are less clear to me.  First, he chose an online
degree program.  What are your thoughts?  Something about them seems
questionable to me, but maybe I just do not know enough about them.

Second, Florida State turned up as what he thought would be his best
option.  I recall a talk Alan gave at Stanford - I wasn't there, but saw
video.  The line that sticks in my head is "What happened to the mighty
Stanford?"  His objection, which I have heard elsewhere, was/is that
every other CS program (or there abouts) has morphed into a technology
certification program.  Opinions are welcome.  Any ideas on which side
FSU finds itself?  How would one figure that out?

I suggested that he talk to undergrad advisors at UF and our community
college, stressing to the latter his desire to get a BA/BSE/etc.  They
should respect him for that, and might have some good insights.  Am I
missing anything?

Bill



Wilhelm K. Schwab, Ph.D.
University of Florida
Department of Anesthesiology
PO Box 100254
Gainesville, FL 32610-0254

Email: bschwab at anest.ufl.edu
Tel: (352) 273-6785
FAX: (352) 392-7029