Why I Love Combinatorics

[komodo9mm]

It's the first math class I've had where the emphasis has been on model building vs. problem solving.  I say this because although we solved tons of problems (and I will continue solving them into winter break as I am just NOW getting caught up), but all of these problems can be modeled in at least five different ways, though technically three of

Comments

[broken_cynic]

When I was on my second college search I desperately wanted to go to Colorado College for their Very Very Math Heavy CS degree... not much use to you if you're looking for a grad degree though. =) MIT?

[komodo9mm]

Quite a bit of the reason I love the math part is the personal challenge. But I want to leave the possibility of a PhD open, so yeah, that DOES shade my outlook, but since I'm going to be concentrating on infosec, I'll have to have background in cryptology. Which means the cutting edge is elliptic curve cryptography meaning I'll need to have a good grasp of abstract algebra.

I've mapped a plan that will give me a triple graduate specialization; Computer Graphics, Algorithms, and Software engineering. (No extra classes, just some of my undergrad courses I'm taking next year count as grad courses.) I've been talking with the head of the IA part of the college and though he champions the new IA degree in development, he does concede that the better computer scientist you are, the better off you'll be. He does say that I won't get any policy or regulations, but I fail to see where a college course will prepare me for policy when policy is readable in a book.