11/7    I hate math 55. If CS is an extension of math 55, I'm gonna drop out.
        \_ if you don't like math 55 you are better off doing something else
           with your life.  You will not be happy as a programmer.
           \_ I don't think math55 is a good measure of what a career in cs
              is like.
              \_ career in CS or a career in programming?  they are not the
                 same thing.
                 \_ *sigh*
                    \_ well, obviously if you just want to be a code monkey,
                       you don't need to be able to grok math55.  hell, you
                       don't need to go to college either.
                       \_ What's your definition of a code monkey?
                          \_ me.want(obBanana);...
                          \_ well, if you have a million monkeys sitting in
                             front of a million terminals for a million years..
                             \_ You end up with many dead monkeys?
                             \_ UCB undergrad CS labs?
            \_ Definitely, most CS majors have no pure theoretical interests,
               they are looking for a well paying job; math 55 will definitely
               help sharpen certain mental attributes, but most of CS is long
               work at the lab and understanding of the theory in 170 series..
               \_ false dichotomy: pure theoretical interest vs. looking for
                  well paying job. there are many cs research areas that are
                  not theory and some (not many) theory-type jobs that pay
                  well.
                  \_ Well, I think the really smart ones go out and get high
                     paying theory type jobs. The fact of the matter is that the
                     average CS graduate (undergrad) is not going to be the next
                     brilliant theory head, and will just want a good salary and
                     a good work enivironment.  Oh yes, btw, I think you have to
                     be absolutely brilliant to do theory type jobs, I dont
                     think most people fall into that catgeory either.
                    \_ The really smart ones format their motd entries
                       correctly.
        \_ there are certainly CS areas that don't need as much discrete
           math, e.g. AI, information modelling, or networking even.  but if
           you hate continuous math (calculus, series, etc) too, then give
           up now!  any heavy CS requires a math strength _somewhere_..
           \_ Um, graph theory is used pretty heavily in the above disciplines,
              and Math 55 is a great introduction to graph theory.
           \_ AI doesn't need discrete math?  I see...
              \_ Well... it depends how intelligent you want it to be.
                \_ no, it doesn't. AI needs as much combinatorics, graph
                   theory, and numerics as any other aspect of CS. you're
                   deluded. if you don't understand math 55, you don't
                   understand algorithm. if you don't understand algorithm,
                   you're doing something else. and you certainly don't need
                   to know what they teach you in university to do those things.
                   \_ that was sarcasm, but thanks for the rant.
        \_ I feel for ya. I hated Discrete Math as well (even though I didn't
           take it at Cal). There're many things in life that won't require
           Discrete Math and don't let that intimidate you from pursuing CS.
           Besides (this is going to totally invite spam), you don't always
           get to work in fields that you majored in. Most people would take
           a job in fields that they're "trained" on; whether trained in
           school, internship, etc. AFAIK, system administration doesn't
           require Discrete Math. But at the same time, when you commit
           yourself to CS at Berkeley, you're setting yourself up for research,
           software/system development or teaching.