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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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