Really, I don't. Once upon a time, I gave it serious thought. Of course, that was back in the days when I thought the <blink> and <marquee> tags were the coolest thing since America Online 3.0. Now, I don't know what the hell I want to do with my MIS degree when I graduate, but I do know this: I don't want to be a web developer!
**bangs head repeatedly on his desk before cramming some more knowledge into his worthless brain**
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Web designer is, like, at the bottom of a very long list of occupations that MIS degree grants access to.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
I'm really just having fits about the MIS class I'm taking this semester. It's the program's weed-out and gateway class. Most MIS students change majors because of this class; everyone has to pass this class to go on to the senior level MIS classes. I'm really not feeling the love from it right now. It's three weeks until the midterm and I don't feel like I know enough to pass it based on my performance on the old copies of the exams.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
What's the class?
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
The class is called Transactional Processing I. Provided I pass this class this semester, I get to take part two in the spring (which I've been told is a lot easier).
The bulk of the class is client-side web development. HTML, JavaScript, and VBScript are the core of the course, although we also spend a good amount of time on Java applets, CSS, and XML. In addition, we hit the very basics of ASP, ADO, cgi, PERL, PHP, and DHTML.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Ahhh, DHTML. My old nemesis...
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
and here I thought that was Jeff....
My friend went from a wanna ba web designer to a router tech for XO, with XO providing the schooling, and makes good money....
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I'm ever so glad that I stick with the design side of web development. I'll design you a cool looking, well organized, professional site... but I couldn't code my way out of a plastic bag.
Dreamweaver is my friend.
Posted by TheWoozle (Member # 929) on :
That's actually the sad aspect. Somebody with Dreamweaver or Frontpage can whip-out a slick-looking web page inna couple days and get the job (for less money then a qualified professional), while an actual schooled professional is still learning how to do it the long way, expecting a top dollar job.. making the same results. I know, that's cynical and a professional can do a lot more, but.. here's the story:
A Highschool friend of mine went a little off the deep end and after getting a BS in Theology, he ran off to find God in Heroin and dissapeared for a decade. LAST YEAR, a mutual friend found him (homeless and scruffy) and cleaned him up, and him Dreamweaver. Within a few months, he got a $50K job, designing web pages. He doesn't know diddly and constantly calls and emails with questions, but he's turning-out results.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Designing webpages? Or churning out cookie cutter crap? There's a difference. I can't code, but working with a programmer, I can still produce a better designed site than an addict with no design skills who learned Dreamweaver. There's a difference between a qualified web site designer and a qualified web site developer.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
I had an epiphany last night doing massive amounts of samples on building forms and getting VBScript and JavaScript to play nice with them. I think I may actually somewhat kinda sorta understand that at the moment.
I've played around with Frontpage and Dreamweaver before; I didn't really like them too much for reasons I can't put into words very well. **shrug** With time and some frustration, I can get pretty okay looking webpages churned out. The graphics work I completely suck at, but I'm fortunate that my grade in this class isn't based on my artwork.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Oh, a simple answer to you is: Then don't.
I've played with Dreamweaver and FrontPage, and liked Dreamweaver far, far better. Cleaner coding by far.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
Go Live, anyone?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Notepad.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
How Microsoft has justified bundling that sorry excuse for a text editor with Windows for a decade now is beyond me. Doesn't even do word wrap properly. Get Metapad.
Of course, if you intend to do any actual coding, Crimson Editor is, like, cool.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Hotdog....
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Eh, I don't mind toughing it out with Notepad. It's the only program I've ever used when it comes to building webpages (minus the few times I played around with Dreamweaver and Frontpage).
I used to have a progam called Textpad on my laptop that served the same purpose. We used it in the Java class I took over the summer. It was an all right little program, but Notepad does what I need it to do at the moment.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
" How Microsoft has justified bundling that sorry excuse for a text editor with Windows for a decade now is beyond me. Doesn't even do word wrap properly. Get Metapad."
I don't see why a plain-text editor should need to do anything more than Notepad does. I use it all the time. If I need to do something more, I use something different. But, for the stuff I do with Notepad, anything more would be overkill.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
For me it's UltraEdit. Granted, most of the time I'm in Notepad-emulation mode anyway, but the functionality (regexes and other cool nerd stuff) is there when I need it.
[ October 05, 2003, 06:27 AM: Message edited by: Cartman ]
Posted by Daryus Aden (Member # 12) on :
Ever considered being a lumberjack?
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
And get chronic sinus inflammation and migraines from prolonged exposure to resin fumes, like my finnish friend? No, siree, sponge-diver here. It's healthy, trendy and fun. Like sex!
Well, the best job would be a well-paid Tai-Chi instructor. Get paid to stay in shape.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Plus the girls all love those sponges for bathing.... Make great gifts they do...
You should be a farmer....
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Times like this I wonder if I should have dropped out of high school and stayed at home on the couch sucking off the teat of the American Taxpayer.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
or find someone to sue and make millions....
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Update time.
I'm not entirely stupid because I made an A on the midterm. One of about twenty-five. Professor made us all stand on the stage and introduce ourselves to our classmates. Apparently, coding for a couple hours a day as well as devouring any scripting tutorial I came across helped (unlike my constant panicking).
I still don't want to be a web developer, though.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
SO teach....
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
I'm still thinking about it, Ritten.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
I forget what the average number of times a person changes career fields in life are, so don't worry yourself about it too much, chances are you will do something different in 5 to 10 years anyway....
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Time for an update. A happy update. The grades for this class were posted outside the professor's office this afternoon. I pulled off an A for the course, and I was one of three people to get a 100% on the final exam. For the first time in a pretty long time, I feel smart again. Time to celebrate feeling smart again by consuming large amounts of alcohol. Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
Beer makes you smart, beer makes you smart.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Actually... Posted by Jack_Crusher (Member # 696) on :
quote:Originally posted by Siegfried: I'm really just having fits about the MIS class I'm taking this semester. It's the program's weed-out and gateway class. Most MIS students change majors because of this class; everyone has to pass this class to go on to the senior level MIS classes. I'm really not feeling the love from it right now. It's three weeks until the midterm and I don't feel like I know enough to pass it based on my performance on the old copies of the exams.
That's why I am glad I took Intro to Computer Science this past semester... I now know that I do not want to be a code-monkey for a living.
*Shudders* C++...
I like Economics better . If you do not make the cut in your MIS classes, try taking some Economics courses. Since you already have your bachelors in business (I assume because IS is under the business catagory at my college) that you have at least taken intro Micro- and Macro- Economics classes, so yuo will know already how much you like them.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Acutally, Jack, I don't have my BBA quite yet. However, I am oh so close to getting it. I'm down to the final six classes; I should be out of here in August.
From what the MIS majors further along than I am tell me, the courses get much simpler now that this killer class is out of the way. And, I'm actually starting to enjoy the work I've having to do. I've only really been exposed to Java and client-side web development so far, but I've got a database class and a networking class coming up this spring. Should be fun.
As for changing majors, I really don't think it's an option at this point. I've already been in school long enough to have gotten both my bachelor's and master's degrees. I started as a music education major and switched to management information systems two years later. Anymore jumps and my parents are liable to skin me.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)