EPTI'd like to share a part of my story too. It is about my path to software engineering. You may be able to help me or just comment.
Introduction
Long story short, I'm from Bulgaria and I finished a language school in 2011 with intensive studying of English and German as a second language, but truth be told, I know almost nothing in the latter language.
I can't exactly remember when I have become truly determined to study abroad but it should be near to my 1st or 2nd year in that school which should be 8th-9th grade. So the application process began in late 2010 for me, I was required to get an English certificate (I picked TOEFL because it was popular back then), but IELTS could have been just as good. By this time, British members on TL may already have an idea which country I have chosen. Well, the United Kingdom. Of course, I also had to maintain a certain overall mark for my diploma in order to enter university. In particular, University of Liverpool. I had an unconditional offer to study 'Computing With a Year In Industry' in some time of summer, but I changed it to 'Software Development' at the end of my 1st year.
Currently...
Well, I'm currently in year 3 still as 'Software Development'. This is my final bachelor year at university so I think about my future career from time to time. If everything goes well, I hope I can be a good software engineer one day. However, I'm still unsure if I pick modules right, so I'm going to give you quick recap of what I've studied as modules. I'm only going to list the names to make it shorter. Note that we mainly use Java for programming assignments unless the module itself is about a different language.
Year 1 (no optional modules)
COMP110: Professional Skills in Computer Science
COMP101: Introduction to Programming in Java
COMP102: Introduction to Databases
COMP103: Computer Systems
COMP104: Operating System Concepts
COMP106: Human-Centric Computing
COMP108: Algorithmic Foundations
COMP109: Foundations of Computer Science
COMP118: Logic in Computer Science
Year 2
COMP201: Software Engineering I (mandatory)
COMP207: Database Development
COMP208: Group Software Project
COMP213: Advanced Object-Oriented Programming
COMP220: Software Development Tools
COMP211: Internet Principles
COMP212: Distributed Systems
COMP281: Principles of C and Memory Management
COMP282: Advanced Object Oriented C Languages <--- 1-2 weeks of C++ and the rest 3 weeks for Objective C.
Choices: Internet Principles + Distributed Systems or Artificial Intelligence + Scripting Languages.
I picked the former.
Year 3 (currently)
Semester 1:
COMP319: Software Engineering II (mandatory)
COMP327: Mobile Computing
COMP329: Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Semester 2:
COMP310: Multi-Agent Systems
COMP313: Formal Methods
COMP318: Advanced Web Technologies
All year long:
COMP390: Honours Year Computer Science Project
I'm unsure if picking 'Formal Methods' would be beneficial if I don't plan to be in the security sector. At least for now but I didn't want to pick 'Semantics Of Programming Languages' because the lecturer i) writes only on blackboard, ii) doesn't give handouts/uploads lectures, iii) I don't feel like taking notes, iv) I have to study Maude again which isn't appealing and v) I can't miss a single lecture as a result of i) and ii).
Also, I'm not sure if 'Advanced Web Technologies' would help me. I, honestly, don't understand what syllabus could teach me: link to module
Anyway, here's a full list of my degree's modules:
http://intranet.csc.liv.ac.uk/teaching/programmes/programme.php?pcode=G610
Finally...
So after I finish my BSc in Computer Science, I think I should get a masters degree as well to be more employable and better paid. However, I've recently heard that there is no loan from SLC (Student Loan Company) for MSc. If this is the case, then I think I can't afford it. So I either need to have a gap year to earn some money or to go to USA and get a loan (if possible) there to study masters. Are there any other options?
Finally, I feel like UK can't be my place for permanent living (food, weather, etc), so I'd rather live in the US or somewhere else as long as it's an English speaking country. I've heard that there is a lack of people in the IT department in the US and that is it well paid, so that makes it even more appealing for me.
So that's it. I hope you express your opinion and/or give advice. If you have any questions, just ask.
Thank you for your time!
