| Orzel |
| anyone have any opinions or experience? |
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| TrevorK |
quote:
Originally posted by Orzel
anyone have any opinions or experience?
What exactly do you want to do when you graduate?
That might help us tell you whether you're in the right program or not - as with the variety of computer-related programs at NAIT, a lot of people get caught in the wrong program (IE: CST grads that just want to administer networks). |
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| Orzel |
| Id like to design software and hardware for computers, and program. I would also like to go to the UofA after NAIT if it helped me in my career, but I wanted the hands on stuff first. |
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| TrevorK |
quote:
Originally posted by Orzel
Id like to design software and hardware for computers, and program. I would also like to go to the UofA after NAIT if it helped me in my career, but I wanted the hands on stuff first.
Do you want to program applications? Websites? Databases?
As well, if you plan on going to the UofA, you might as well go there first. I'm not sure you'll get much in terms of advance credit for the courses you'll have taken at NAIT. |
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| Anonymoose |
quote:
Originally posted by Orzel
Id like to design software and hardware for computers
You're going to want Computer (or Electrical) Engineering from UofA. Theres probably transfer programs available from Nait and GMCC.
Odds are you won't get a design job without an actual degree unless you have years of experience. I'm talking on the hardware side here. |
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| fawker |
| Or Computer Science from UofA to do software programming. |
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| Jord@n |
| I'm currently taking CST (Computer Systems Technology) at NAIT. If you are interested in that it is mostly computer programming. |
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| TrevorK |
quote:
Originally posted by Anonymoose
You're going to want Computer (or Electrical) Engineering from UofA. Theres probably transfer programs available from Nait and GMCC.
NAIT doesn't offer a transfer program to the UofA for any of it's computer offerrings, I know that one.
NAIT is coming out (At least I don't think it's out yet) with an actual degree (not an applied degree) the computer people can get.....It'll end up being something generic, like a Bach of Technology.
GMCC is also applying for degree granting status, but I don't know anything about that.... |
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| PraxRX7 |
I took that course, along with 35 others.
Out of all of them, 2 got jobs in the area they wanted.
The course covers MOSTLY hardware. It doesnt cover hardly any software at all, the basic of basics in programming at best.
Also NAIT's hiring policy is pretty horrible for their teachers...we had a teacher that couldnt get us to understand what he was talking about because his english was so bad.
BOO Nait...go to university. |
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| Insomniac |
quote:
Originally posted by PraxRX7
I took that course, along with 35 others.
Also NAIT's hiring policy is pretty horrible for their teachers...we had a teacher that couldnt get us to understand what he was talking about because his english was so bad.
BOO Nait...go to university.
Ha, UofA is even worse for proffessors. They, generaly, really suck. Piss poor attitudes and too much engrish. Most proffs are interested in their research, and see teaching as a burden. I took engineering btw, not comp sci |
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| Orzel |
| Well Im already enrolled lol, so hopefully I make the most of it and it takes me somewhere higher than just having a high school diploma. I do intend to take engineering at the UofA down the road, so hopefully this can only assist on my route of experience. |
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| TrevorK |
quote:
Originally posted by Orzel
Well Im already enrolled lol, so hopefully I make the most of it and it takes me somewhere higher than just having a high school diploma. I do intend to take engineering at the UofA down the road, so hopefully this can only assist on my route of experience.
If you plan to take Comp. Eng. at the UofA right after, it's a giant waste of 2 years of your time. |
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| Orzel |
| So is there any benefit at all to going to NAIT. Cause I was kinda lead to believe that the hands on is a great thing to have, so that when you finally do decide to go to a higher level like the UofA you have some skills embedded that others wouldnt. |
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| TrevorK |
quote:
Originally posted by Orzel
So is there any benefit at all to going to NAIT. Cause I was kinda lead to believe that the hands on is a great thing to have, so that when you finally do decide to go to a higher level like the UofA you have some skills embedded that others wouldnt.
Go straight to the UofA if that's your goal.
The education at NAIT will get you a job, no doubt. But so would your education at the UofA.
Once you've left school and started working, it's extremely hard to get back into it. Especially taking 4 years off to get a degree.
NAIT would be perfect if your ultimate goal wasn't UofA. |
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| Anonymoose |
I agree. You'll get two completely different jobs going to NAIT versus UofA with very little overlap. Also, I believe when "transferring" from NAIT, the UofA will not acknowledge any of your courses, meaning you're starting from scratch.
As for the hands-on stuff, thats what labs are for. Every course pretty much has one and by your 4th year you get to do some pretty fun stuff (I had a project creating an Alcoholitron - an automatic drink dispenser that mixed drinks from a selection of liquors and mixes and turned off when your glass was full.)
The only downside was that you needed fairly high marks coming out of high school to get into University (83% for my year I think). And after first year you needed a relatively high average to get into Computer Engineering (6.3 - compared to other branches of engineering.) I don't know if its changed much since they seemed to triple the number of people allowed into the program the last few years. |
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| Jord@n |
They are 2 different paths. UofA looks better on a resume. NAIT is easier and IMO a bit more hands on (Not to say UofA isn't hands on).
Usually NAIT's programs are shorter as well.
Experience and contacts are what will get you good jobs - as long as you have some knowledge/education to back it up. |
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