Well… I passed the UT Austin CS 307 – Foundations of Computer Science exam!! Yay!
That was a class that I actually took when I was a sophomore, and it the only AP test I have not received a 4 or 5 on (I got a 3).
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Ideas for Online Services
So after watching the Social Network, researching HouseSYSTEM, and talking to Paras Chopra about Visual Website Optimizer, I have become really interested in web applications that I can make money on. Originally, I had a not really that original idea to create an online system for the University of Texas that would allow a student to select college classes they were interested in, schedule blocks of time for whatever they want, and then add in parameters for their classes, such as the ability to minimize walking distance, or minimize dead-time in between classes, etc.
Pretty much I thought this was a brilliant idea until I found out that (at the moment), there is no way to access the catalog without a certified student login. Asking for those logins would raise a large number of privacy concerns, so the only way I would be able to get access to those logs would be to specifically ask the University for access to its catalog. This would require talking to them and the idea would likely be rejected or shut-down.
Just had another idea, combine this with something similar to CourseMash, and you would also be able to maximize classes with your friends.
So, what I want to do now is to find niches in the market that have not really been filled, or I can do a better job of, and I want to make some cool web applications that are either free, subscription based, or ad-based.
To give a little bit more background, I am not trying to find the "next big thing". I am trying to find a service that I can make modest gains on. A service that is currently not being met, or is not currently being met very well.
So, here goes for my idea dump.
- Course Scheduler
- This is the idea I described earlier. Basically a system where one would be able to log-in, select courses they were interested in, and be able to automatically, and in seconds, generate possible schedules. There would be a lot of functionalty, and I would probably try to market this as a subscription-based. I may do it ad-based, but I may just decide to give it away for free.
- To be honest, this is probably going to be the next project I do. I will have my system read and parse the Austin Community College schedule and it will work for that school.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Rejected from Turing + 4/3.5/3 Year Plan
1Well, I didn’t get in to Turing Scholars… Yeah, it sucks, but it is no big deal… I have a new plan. 8 Semesters, 4 of which are “full loads” (15 hours):
| Summer 2011 | 3 Credits | ||
| GOV | 312L | 3 | Texas Government |
| Fall 2011 | 15 Credits | ||
| CS | 313K | 3 | Logic, Sets & Functions |
| CS | 315 | 3 | Algorithms & Data Structures |
| M | 326K | 3 | Probability I |
| UGS | 302 | 3 | Freshman Year Signature Course |
| VAPA | * | 3 | Visual and Performing Arts |
| Spring 2012 | 15 Credits | ||
| CS | 310 | 3 | Computer Organization & Programming |
| CS | 336 | 3 | Analysis of Programs |
| EE | 316 | 3 | Digital Systems Engineering |
| M | 340L | 3 | Matrices & Matrix Calculations |
| ACC | 310F | 3 | Foundations of Accounting |
| Fall 2012 | 15 Credits | ||
| CS | 337 | 3 | Theory in Programming |
| CS | 345 | 3 | Programming Languages |
| CS | 352 | 3 | Computer Systems Architecture |
| SPN | 350 | 3 | Spanish Culture Topics |
| FIN | 320F | 3 | Foundations of Finance |
| Spring 2013 | 15 Credits | ||
| CS | 341 | 3 | Automata Theory |
| CS | 372 | 3 | Operating Systems |
| CS | 357 | 3 | Algorithms |
| SPN | 350 | 3 | Spanish Culture Topics |
| FIN | 320F | 3 | Foundations of Entreprenuership |
| Fall 2013 | 12 Credits | ||
| CS | 375 | 3 | Compilers |
| CS | 343 | 3 | Artificial Intelligence |
| CS | 347 | 3 | Data Management |
| CS | * | 3 | Elective |
| Spring 2014 | 12 Credits | ||
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| Fall 2014 | 12 Credits | ||
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| MKT | 320F | 3 | Foundations of Marketing |
| Spring 2015 | 12 Credits | ||
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| CS | * | 3 | Master's Coursework |
| MAN | 320F | 3 | Foundations of Management |
What is brilliant about this plan is this:
Normal Plan – If I get bored I can drop out of school in Fall of 2013, after 5 semesters with a Bachelors in CS.
BFP – If I want to, I can easily pursue Business Foundations. If I go for Master’s this is spread out, if not, I can graduate Spring of 2014 (6 semesters) with a Bachelors and Business Foundations certificate.
Master’s – The only thing I don’t like about this plan is that the Master’s will take 8 semesters pretty much no matter what. The CS department makes it hard to enroll in more than 12 hours anyway. At least with a Masters without BFP, I will take a lightened load almost every semester.
An overview:
| Hours | Semesters | Full Semesters | Avg Hours | |
| Regular | 66 | 5 | 2 | 13.2 |
| Regular + BFP | 78 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
| Integrated | 93 | 8 | 1 | 11.625 |
| Integrated + BFP | 108 | 8 | 4 | 13.5 |
And of course, this allows us to estimate the costs. My estimated are based on about $300 per credit hour, about $500 per semester in fees, $800/30 per hour for books, about $8,000 per year for housing, and about $5,000 per year for personal.
| Hours | Semesters | Tuition, Books, Etc. | Housing | Personal | Total | |
| Regular | 66 | 5 | $ 24,170.00 | $ 20,000.00 | $ 12,500.00 | $ 56,670.00 |
| Regular + BFP | 78 | 6 | $ 28,610.00 | $ 24,000.00 | $ 15,000.00 | $ 67,610.00 |
| Integrated | 93 | 8 | $ 34,535.00 | $ 32,000.00 | $ 20,000.00 | $ 86,535.00 |
| Integrated + BFP | 108 | 8 | $ 39,460.00 | $ 32,000.00 | $ 20,000.00 | $ 91,460.00 |
This is versus my estimate for the the FULL cost of attending (130 hrs, 9 semesters)… $ 105,700.00, and getting a Master’s would cost $ 126,250.00, so I feel like I am getting a pretty good deal. I am getting a Master’s in 4 years, saving almost $ 40,000 off of the normal price, taking a lighter schedule, and getting what is essentially a business minor.
Now, we estimate some income from summer internships (based on Microsoft, which pays 80% of a starting salary). I did my estimated based on hourly wages, which got me in the correct range, according to my sources.
| Hours | Semesters | Internships | Avg Wage | Income | |
| Regular | 66 | 5 | 2 | $ 32.00 | $ 20,480.00 |
| Regular + BFP | 78 | 6 | 2 | $ 32.00 | $ 20,480.00 |
| Integrated | 93 | 8 | 3 | $ 32.00 | $ 30,720.00 |
| Integrated + BFP | 150 | 8 | 3 | $ 32.00 | $ 30,720.00 |
So things look good.
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