I'm pursuing a Masters in Information and Communication Sciences...
But what ELSE are you doing? What kind of projects are you involved in BESIDES the class projects? Those of us in the CICS program will all graduate with the same degree. Mine is no more special than yours or anyone else's. The key differentiator between CICS graduates is their resume. The only way to build on that resume is to do projects. Employers don't want to know what class projects you did because every other student in the program did that too. What did YOU do?
I recently spoke to an alum and he told me his biggest regret from studying at CICS was that he did not get involved in enough projects. I for one do not want to reflect on the whole experience on graduation day and think of things that I could have done and didn't do.
Don't get me wrong, grades are important. But what good are grades if the only technologies you have ever worked on were in a lab. What good are grades when the only knowledge you have came out of a text book or some junk you found on wikipedia. There is a BIG difference in technology fields between lab experience and REAL WORLD experience.
Go out there and get your hands dirty. Employers are looking for well-rounded individuals who have some education, but also know how to do a thing or two. Maybe someone could join my projects so I can delegate some work...
Comments
JG,
good post
with the credibility
builder of the alum's
testimony--a recurring theme with alumni, incidentally--"if I knew then what I know now" their CICS program awareness would have been different.
Good you are looking at it now in this light.
Good post.
We owe you a penny.
JEG
Posted by: Anonymous | December 10, 2006 11:37 PM