I'm so bored. I honestly have no idea what to do with my summer. I applied to every shop in my town but none of them want work just for the summer. No one responded to my internship or camp counselor or guided reading applications. Basically I got shut down across the board. I have nothing to do and I desperately need to fill me day with something. Please help?
Lets talk about what I have going for me. I'm three classes away from finishing my ba in mathematics and I've taken a slew of stat and or courses. My gpa's good. I have a good amount of work experience but all of it is academic (tutoring, mentoring). Also I know some java (lol, like a childs amount really). I've got two years of uni behind me; I've been spending time on yahoo answers is there anyway I can get paid to do peoples online hw for them?
What else... I alternate running and lifting but that only fills up two hours of my day. I would gladly do manual labor but I can't find any work (we have a large immigrant population in my town that eat up odd jobs and hired hands).
So what does that leave me? I can't play sc2, my computer had finally given up on it and I don't have the income to get a new one. I can basically only play games made before 2008, I wouldn't want to spend my whole summer playing games but its better than nothing. I could play bw but I don't have the motivation anymore, I mostly just dick around in campaign if anything. I would like to learn on my own but textbooks are expensive. I'm thinking of buying a text on rigorous probability anyway (built up with measure theory, if anyone has a recommendation that's readable and hold your hand through the measure theory please let me know!).
I'd also like to program, I took a first course in java but I'd like to hold off learning data structures since I'm taking it next semester, I might as well get my moneys worth. So what else is there? I guess I could learn the basics of ruby and python, is that helpful? Google has that intense python class, I'm gonna try that out. I know there are a lot of comp sci people here, whats interesting?
Other jobless, internship-less people. What are you doing with your summer? I have a grim 100 days ahead of me. Anyways not to be totally selfish prick, if anyone is taking a summer class and needs help on calcs 1-5, elementary algebra/combinatorics/probability/statistics please feel free to drop me a pm or post. I will happily provide any assistance I can (or sympathy). I'm that bored
After I read that you were finishing a BA in Maths, I was going to suggest that you pickup programming. Since you're already interested in it, my suggestion to you is to spend your summer learning how to program.
Ruby, Python and Javascript are the most popular languages for the web right now. I would recommend learning one of those three, due to their simplicity for beginners, as well as their practicality. I would avoid Java for now.
Regarding courses: take a look at coursera, khan academy, MIT open course ware, code academy. Stop wasting money on local university courses, unless that's the only way you learn. The web sites that I listed are fantastic for learning computer science and programming.
on the same boat as you brother, in uni myself. basically running/lifting then gaming at home and reading visual novels. trying to find a job myself keke
could always plan outings with your friends, like paintballing
Programming is not really a thing of learning, it's mostly just doing and experience. Learn the basics of a language you like (syntax, concepts like OOP, library basics) and then pick a project (like a simple IRC client) and try to figure stuff out, learning the necessary things along the way.
Only once you move on to bigger projects, get yourself some information on software design and architecture, but that should not be your main concern right now.
As for the language you choose: It's really just a matter of preference. I personally always like Java, it forces you to program object oriented and there is a lot of learning material out there. The standard library is very good, you won't need anything else for most things and if you do, there is plenty of libraries out there. What I like most about java is not the language itself (it's rather verbose), but the IDE Eclipse. It really helps beginners with features like auto completion, auto format and the integrated javadoc. The most important thing IMO is to choose one language (whichever it may turn out to be) and then just stick to it until you have a really good grasp. Languages are just the means to an end, once you know one very well, picking up others (except if you choose exotics like LISP or OCAML) is a cakewalk. It's thinking like a programmer that is hard to learn, not all the different languages.
Have you tried looking around on freelancing sites? You might be able to find some stats consulting or matlab coding and maybe even land a job with a decent hourly rate.
And if you're looking for some learning material you could do worse than looking through the list on http://www.class-central.com/
Start your own company. Pick up programming and make a product by the end of the summer. Its absolutely doable and will springboard you faster than any shitty in town job/camp counselor ordeal.
On June 01 2012 02:27 n.DieJokes wrote: Other jobless, internship-less people. What are you doing with your summer?
Pretty much nothing except learning some dota2. Same boat as you, except I didn't really try to get a job at a department store/grocery store/other simple town job for just the summer. Part of it is my laziness, part of it is I don't really see why working at Walmart or something should help you get a job in my major (nuclear engineering), and part of it is that my parents are okay with me not having to do much this summer. Just finished my second year at uni.
I guess I'm just trying to relax and enjoy myself, and I should learn some C and maybe Fortran for my future classes. I don't even know if I need fortran though lol, but one person said I might. I'll review some of my textbooks and stuff so I can be well prepared for next semester.
I would say try to hang out with friends. My family moved after I graduated high school so I hardly know anyone where I live. I'm just sitting around all day, but am enjoying it for now.
On June 01 2012 03:56 N.geNuity wrote:part of it is I don't really see why working at Walmart or something should help you get a job in my major (nuclear engineering)
It doesn't, it gives you income. For someone in your position, all income is disposable income, and disposable income is great.
To be honest, I've got the same problem. I'm studying mathematics too ( 4th semester ) and each summer I got nothing to do.
I find it weird that you haven't learn any programming language in uni, you should definetly learn one by yourself. I think you should start with some procedural language such as Pascal or Fortran ( both easy to learn ) and then "transition" to an objective oriented language whichever you like. Personally, I got motivated to program by trying to make some simple games. If you're not interested in such, you can always find interesting programming problems on the internet so you don't get bored while learning all that language syntax and stuff.
http://www.essex.ac.uk/maths/people/fremlin/mt.htm <- Measure Theory by Fremlin, downloadable from his site ( Of course there are A LOT of other books, you can easily google it... http://mathoverflow.net/questions/11591/suggestions-for-a-good-measure-theory-book I found about Fremlin here. ) or An Introduction To Probability: Theory And Its Applications by William Feller This book is obviously more general and is really good imo, the second volume has a bit of measure theory in it. ( You can probably find a free downloadable pdf )
On June 01 2012 02:36 CTStalker wrote: After I read that you were finishing a BA in Maths, I was going to suggest that you pickup programming. Since you're already interested in it, my suggestion to you is to spend your summer learning how to program.
Ruby, Python and Javascript are the most popular languages for the web right now. I would recommend learning one of those three, due to their simplicity for beginners, as well as their practicality. I would avoid Java for now.
Regarding courses: take a look at coursera, khan academy, MIT open course ware, code academy. Stop wasting money on local university courses, unless that's the only way you learn. The web sites that I listed are fantastic for learning computer science and programming.
I hadn't heard of code academy. Looks very promising, thanks a lot CT!
On June 01 2012 02:50 Ushio wrote: on the same boat as you brother, in uni myself. basically running/lifting then gaming at home and reading visual novels. trying to find a job myself keke
could always plan outings with your friends, like paintballing
lol I wish. I was always introverted but now all my friends are from college. I kinda sorta let my highschool friends fall by the wayside, -.- If any hs senior is reading this, don't do this! Hs friends are important, take care of them!
@MaGariShun This is what I should do but its hard for me. I know all the basics of java up to Objects (and eclipse is very awesome) and I want to do something big, this semester I was trying to code simplex for a lark. What frustrates me isn't running into things I don't know, I like to think some of the ways I fit together code is quite clever. Its running into things so far out of my sphere I don't even know what question to ask google or why I can't get it.
I really don't have a good understanding of computers and how stuff fits together which frustrates me because, from a math background, I find it very uncomfortable to do something without understanding. Like when I was working on simplex I eventually gave up because I couldn't figure out of how to get java to read in a matrix in a sensible fashion. The best I could do was let the user pick the dim. and input one spot at a time. It sucked, I suck lol So yes, this eventually but not yet.
@Hypercube Cool, I'll look into it. Thanks!
@RoyGBiv_13 Programming is still a very abstract idea to me but yeah, this is a good goal to aspire towards. Thanks for the input!
@N.geNuity I feel you man. I'm just a restless person, mostly I want a crappy job just to have something to do. Also I think it'd be a good experience, in my mind the perfect job would some sort of grueling slop work fifteen hours a day, six days a week. I'd like to be exhausted. Dota2's looks fun, maybe I'll pick it up.
Did you really think that 'holy fuck' as a good title? Rofl
It gives no indication whatsoever of what this is about.
Regarding boredom, think of it as a luxury rather than a curse and go from there. Boredom = opportunity. Boredom also means you aren't way too busy to get done the stuff you need to get done. Being the opposite of bored due to being too busy sucks.
On June 01 2012 04:43 micronesia wrote: Did you really think that 'holy fuck' as a good title? Rofl
It gives no indication whatsoever of what this is about.
Regarding boredom, think of it as a luxury rather than a curse and go from there. Boredom = opportunity. Boredom also means you aren't way too busy to get done the stuff you need to get done. Being the opposite of bored due to being too busy sucks.
haha yeah. My last title wasn't attention grabbing so I didn't get any traffic. This seemed to work better.
I want a productive life not a luxurious one. I get it though, I really do; three weeks ago when I was taking finals reading this would have made me green with envy. Now that I'm rested I want to get back to work
On June 01 2012 04:24 CoughingHydra wrote: To be honest, I've got the same problem. I'm studying mathematics too ( 4th semester ) and each summer I got nothing to do.
I find it weird that you haven't learn any programming language in uni, you should definetly learn one by yourself. I think you should start with some procedural language such as Pascal or Fortran ( both easy to learn ) and then "transition" to an objective oriented language whichever you like. Personally, I got motivated to program by trying to make some simple games. If you're not interested in such, you can always find interesting programming problems on the internet so you don't get bored while learning all that language syntax and stuff.
http://www.essex.ac.uk/maths/people/fremlin/mt.htm <- Measure Theory by Fremlin, downloadable from his site ( Of course there are A LOT of other books, you can easily google it... http://mathoverflow.net/questions/11591/suggestions-for-a-good-measure-theory-book I found about Fremlin here. ) or An Introduction To Probability: Theory And Its Applications by William Feller This book is obviously more general and is really good imo, the second volume has a bit of measure theory in it. ( You can probably find a free downloadable pdf )
Ooh, good post. I found a free pdf, looks very good! Thanks a lot man, I hope your summer goes better than mine
On June 01 2012 02:27 n.DieJokes wrote: Other jobless, internship-less people. What are you doing with your summer?
I guess I'm just trying to relax and enjoy myself, and I should learn some C and maybe Fortran for my future classes. I don't even know if I need fortran though lol, but one person said I might.
I think you should start with some procedural language such as Pascal or Fortran ( both easy to learn ) and then "transition" to an objective oriented language whichever you like.
Fortran is seriously the worst thing ever. A programming course I took required it and I couldn't even find a compiler for it that worked with Windows Vista so I had to install Linux on my computer. The compilers the computers at our school used followed the FORTRAN77 standards strictly. In Fortran77 you actually have to put 6 spaces in front of every line of code, and variable names can't exceed 6 or 7 characters. Everything in Fortran77 must be written in caps lock, and all variables must be declared at the TOP of the program. Also you cannot exceed 72 or 80 characters on a single line of code.
I realize there have been updated versions of Fortran and better compilers exist, but I just can't recommend that anyone ever learn Fortran based on my experiences with it.
I bought a Korean book off Amazon, going to be spending my time working on that. A past blog that I can't find recommended this book, though in first edition:
EPT
. 
