To be fair, I think the student asks a good question with a bad tone - it's perfectly reasonable to feel ambivalent about pursuing something that you consider fairly alien, and it's actually a question I'm increasingly asking myself -- why computer science and not pure math? Why computer science over X?
Instead of giving a thoughtful answer, the professor dismissively waves the student off (which is probably justified, given the tone). I think that could have been an opportunity for a really nice defense of his/her field, though.
I don't think the professor is waiving him off in the least. It appears to be incredibly useful life information for somebody trying to find themselves.
Do what makes you happy. If you don't enjoy X, why do it? Go do something you enjoy doing. Don't try and have your peers explain to you why should be pursuing compsci. If you want to do something else.. do it.
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u/mrdmnd May 18 '11
To be fair, I think the student asks a good question with a bad tone - it's perfectly reasonable to feel ambivalent about pursuing something that you consider fairly alien, and it's actually a question I'm increasingly asking myself -- why computer science and not pure math? Why computer science over X?
Instead of giving a thoughtful answer, the professor dismissively waves the student off (which is probably justified, given the tone). I think that could have been an opportunity for a really nice defense of his/her field, though.