My CS Degree Journey

 Part 1: Final Research Video Project Planning Collaborating on our Final Research Video Project was a dynamic and mostly smooth experience, thanks to the tools and strategies we used to stay connected and organized. Most of our collaboration happened over Zoom, where we held regular meetings to brainstorm ideas, assign roles, and check progress. These live sessions were essential for real-time feedback and coordination. Outside of Zoom, we relied heavily on Discord for daily communication. It was a central hub where we could casually share updates, exchange ideas, and upload draft files or reference materials. For document sharing and group editing, Google Drive and its suite of tools (docs, slides, and sheets) were incredibly useful. Having the ability to co-edit files in real-time kept everyone on the same page and eliminated version control issues. We aimed for consistency in the video production aspect by using the same virtual background across all our individual recordings. ...

Part 1: Help Your Teammates to Develop Capstone Ideas Our team met last Friday during our regular team meeting to discuss possible capstone ideas. One thing that stood out during our conversation was how diverse our individual skill sets and career goals are. I am primarily focused on software development - especially full-stack applications with database integration - while my teammates are leaning more toward cybersecurity. This difference in focus has shaped the direction of our initial brainstorming. While Jose mentioned ideas related to cybersecurity applications, such as tools for detecting threats or simulating phishing attacks, my interests lie in designing and building scalable applications with a strong backend. Maria hasn't finalized her ideas yet, but her interests seem to align closely with Jose's. Despite these differences, I see a great opportunity for collaboration. I suggested that if we decide to pursue the capstone as a team, we could create a project that br...

Introduction For this assignment, I interviewed Richard Madrid, a Senior Software Engineer at CONNECT by American Family. I chose to speak with Richard because I eventually replaced him in my current position when he transitioned to his new role at CONNECT. I found it valuable to learn from someone who previously held the same responsibilities and has since advanced into a senior role in a larger organization. His journey and experience offer insight into both where I am now and where I might go professionally. Summary of Key Takeaways Richard shared that his path into software engineering was not traditional. He graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering, which focused more on hardware, circuits, and mathematical concepts than on software development. After experiencing a personal loss, he decided to remain in the Central Valley rather than relocate, and he began his career as a Database Developer. He taught himself SQL and programming fundamentals on the side, eventually landing...

 Part One: Support and Comment on Teammates' Goals My first comment is here and the second one is here . Part Two: Possible Capstone Ideas Three possible capstone projects I might pursue include a web-based incident reporting system, a performance tracking dashboard, and a scheduled report delivery platform. The incident reporting system would allow users to submit, review, and manage incident reports through a secure web interface. The performance tracking dashboard would present key employee or departmental metrics using interactive charts and tables, helping managers analyze trends over time. The report delivery platform would let users configure recurring report schedules and automatically generate and send formatted reports via email. Each project would be built using modern web technologies and structured to support real-time data interaction, role-based access, and reporting capabilities. These ideas would allow for the creation of functional, scalable systems that address r...

 Part One: Set Your Educational Goals My goal is to graduate from the CS program with a strong understanding of core computer science concepts and score above the national average on the Major Field Test. I want to strengthen my skills in algorithms, systems, and software engineering so I can grow in my current software development role and take on more advanced projects with confidence. Part Two: Set Your Career Goals My career goal is to move into a senior or lead software engineering role within the next few years. I want to become someone my team can rely on for architecture decisions and mentorship. I can picture myself leading major projects, making technical decisions, and helping others grow. Part Three: Take a Wild Guess of Your Percentile I feel reasonably confident about taking the ETS Computer Science test in 18 months. Based on the sample content, I'd probably land around the 75th percentile.  I already have a job in software development, and with continued learni...

    Part 1: Effective Time Management Strategies The AcademicTips.org website offers a variety of helpful resources on academic skills, such as time management, focus strategies, memory improvement, and productive study habits. A standout feature is its section on note-taking, which shares useful techniques for organizing and retaining information more effectively. One method discussed is the 2-6 format, where the page is split into two columns - a smaller one for key points and a larger one for supporting details - making it easier to review and identify main ideas. Another approach, called the Split Page Method, encourages combining lecture notes with textbook content on a single page for a more connected understanding. The site also stresses the value of reviewing and refining notes shortly after class to help reinforce what was learned. I think implementing these techniques should significantly improve my note-taking skills, leading to better comprehension and academic suc...