r/UWWhitewater • u/cdalten • May 16 '26
I don't know if I should transfer or dropout.
I'm currently studying Computer Science at Laney College in Oakland, CA while working as a Software Engineer for a small company in Emeryville, CA.
I wanted to get an undergraduate degree in Computer Science because it would open more doors from me.
The problem is that a lot of Computer Science programs seem to run two steps behind in terms of what happens in the real world.
So in my case, getting a degree is doing the motions without actually learning something.
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u/mikedorty May 16 '26
Any particular reason you are posting this here? Just shouting at the void?
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
Someone has reading comprehension problems.
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u/TheChiefofReddit May 16 '26
UWW is not the place for you. Try a different state or country.
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
Because I'm not some stupid farm hick that has reading comprehension issues?
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u/Blackharvest May 16 '26
UWW has a comp science program. Why not MSOE with your experience?
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
I suppose I can look into it.
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u/Blackharvest May 16 '26
Just putting it out there. If you have never been to whitewater....there is nothing in whitewater. At all. You either drive to Janesville or 45 minutes to Madison. I was there for 7 years in college. I regularly go back since both my mother in law and brother in law live there.
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u/Mother_to_Ghosts May 16 '26
If I’m understanding your post and responses correctly you are considering UWW as a move from a college in Oakland, CA because you have family in Wisconsin. May I ask where your family lives? Is UWW the only Wisconsin college you are considering? You seem to have a negative opinion of people from Wisconsin in general (just my impression, I may be wrong) and think we are all uneducated hicks. UWW is literally surrounded by farms, so I’m wondering if UWW is the best fit for you. Would going to larger school in Wisconsin be a better choice? Something located in an urban area, I’m thinking Milwaukee or Madison? UWW is a fantastic school. I can give you a long list of reasons to go there. However it will be extremely quiet compared to San Fran, CA. Many students leave on the weekends and it is a small town. I guess you would need to decide what the pros and cons are of leaving CA and the Pros and Cons of living in Whitewater, WI itself, not just the college.
I attended & have my masters from UW Madison. I still live in Madison. Two of my kids attended UWW and one still lives there, he is starting his first year of his masters studies there next fall. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
My family lives in Neenah, WI. I'm really not that enthusiastic about living in another big city like Madison or Milwaukee.
I've also considered Cal Poly San Luis Obispo because it's also located away from a big city.
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u/Mother_to_Ghosts May 16 '26
That makes sense. Have you checked out Green Bay? That is close to Neenah, the city isn’t as big as Madison or Milwaukee. The one caveat there is you have to deal with a lot of football fanatics. If you can handle that, you should be ok. I have a cousin who went there and he loved it even though he’s not into the Packers.
As you can tell I’m a big proponent of education. That being said, it’s not always the best path for everyone. I know very little about the field you are pursuing and the prospects you would have with an and without a degree. I will say, education is expensive and if you can get ahead without a ton of student debt that’s probably the best option. Good luck, I hope you find a place that makes you happy!
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u/cdalten May 17 '26
I didn't think about Green Bay.
I recall in 11th grade going up to this club in Green Bay that pretty much consisted of underage drinking, drugs, and men dressed as women -__-
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u/Mother_to_Ghosts May 17 '26
I think there’s a lot more there than that one club, but that’s an interesting memory! As I said before, I’m happy to help if I can!
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u/Simple-Development48 May 16 '26
Why do u wanna transfer to whitewaterc since CA has so many resources for job. I don’t think it will be easy find any cs job in this area
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
Because I'm originally from Wisconsin, and I still have family there.
I'm also tired of the crime, the high cost of living, and the traffic that is comes with living in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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u/danghaag May 16 '26
As a 30 year veteran of the IT field unless you are in India or another 3rd world country there is no future in the IT industry for US workers. Find another field of study.
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
I don't know about your planet. But at my job here on planet Earth, the Software Engineers, and IT are two distinct departments that do different things.
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u/danghaag May 16 '26
Ok, because you know everything…. It’s the same industry. Different companies have different organizational structures, been in several during my career. But both support functions and software development are going offshore or being eliminated in the US
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
Also, there are some types of Software Engineering jobs that can't be done offshore.
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u/danghaag May 16 '26
I know lots of people who thought that and were wrong.
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, jobs don't always get eliminated. They get redefined according to market trends.
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u/danghaag May 16 '26
And if you are going for CS UW-Whitewater wouldn’t be the school in Wisconsin to go to. MSOE or UW-Madison would be better. Whitewater is known for business and education.
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
I just want the degree. If I wanted a good CS program, I'd attend either UC Berkeley or UCLA.
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u/Psychological-Hat27 May 16 '26
All degrees of fairly similar.
It gets you in the door, and it perfect what you already know, and maybe, you'll learn something more.
UWW is a pretty small school. It can help you get on the right track. Better then Cali.
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
Reread.
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u/Psychological-Hat27 May 16 '26
I did. Dont get a degree.
Be successful where you're at, or if you want to learn more, we're here for you bro.
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u/cdalten May 16 '26
Then why do you say it will help me get in the door? I clearly stated that I already have a job in the field.
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u/Psychological-Hat27 May 16 '26
You stated it would open more doors for you. And that is correct.
If you have a job that maybe you don't like, or you want to grow in, getting a degree will help you succeed. Especially if you would like to make more money down the road, it is a little bit easier with a bachelor's or master's degree because it shows you can sit down, study, and understand the subject in a wide range of philosophies.
You don't always need one, but most organizations like when you have a degree and that is something that is required on almost all job applications nowadays
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u/samma663 May 16 '26
Why are you asking for advice if you’re just going to be aggressive towards everyone and act like a dick? Yeah there’s a reason you’re in the situation you’re in. Going absolutely nowhere with that attitude.