Computer Science Center. Year number two

Almost a year ago we announced the opening of the Computer Science Center . Today we are starting a new set, and this is a good reason to analyze our start.

Briefly about the center

Computer Science Center is a joint initiative of the Academy of Modern Programming , Computer Science Club at POMI RAS and the School of Data Analysis . The center offers two- or three-year full-time evening courses in three areas: Computer Science (modern computer science), Data Mining (data analysis), Software Engineering (software development). The training program was compiled in collaboration with universities and large IT-companies in St. Petersburg and is constantly being finalized. More about the center.

What we did

• We scored 93 people in 4 groups. 78 of them continue training.
• We read 18 semester courses (finish some in April).
• We have published 140 video lectures , and this is not all for this semester! (our partners Lektorium.TV have already written about this
• We conducted work on 20 educational projects in practice . And this is only for the fall semester (the results of the spring semester will be presented on May 15-16, examples of projects are here and here ).
• We checked out more than 1500 homework, colloquium and quiz solutions. About retake just keep silent.
• We have worn out nearly 2,500 boot covers, filled out 56 markers and an indefinite amount of chalk.
• We awarded 2 scholarships to CS students, the rest of the students in this direction can apply for a trip to a scientific school or conference.
• We spent 1 holiday in honor of the end of the semester ( photo in evidence).

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What has changed

New recruitment stage - written exam

Why and why?
Recall that last year there were only two stages of recruitment: a test on the site and an interview. The test on the site turned out to be a very bad filter of candidates; it did not reflect the real baggage of knowledge, so a huge number of interviews were conducted in a short time. 209 meetings with candidates. This is too much even for experienced recruiters, what can we say about the CS center curators. This year we have decided to introduce a written exam in the good old tradition of AMSE .
How will be held and how to prepare?
We will conduct the exam on the basis of FML 239 , where almost all the lectures of the center are given. Tasks are common to all areas, you can not use auxiliary materials. To prepare for the exam, we suggest using the program for admission - it is similar to the program of the Yandex Data Analysis School .

Decided to limit the age of applicants from below

Candidates for admission must be at least a second year of study at the university at the time of application.
What for?
As we wrote above, now only 78 people are left to study, 18 somehow were deducted (or were expelled). Many leave for various everyday reasons: work, family, passion for other topics. But 6 expelled (or expelled) - students who at the time of admission were in the first year. It is difficult for them to study at the center with university and personal life; this is given hardest.
What to do?
We offer young people to become free listeners. Thus, they will be able to try to study with us without prejudice to their basic education. If it works out, from the second semester we will accept them as students.
Loose listening, what is it?
Anyone can be a free listener (but the number of places is limited and there is also a competition, according to the essay). Free students can attend any classes of the center, in coordination with each teacher and seminarist to take homework (check, but last). We do not provide the opportunity to practice and research, do not check attendance and do not follow the fate of a free listener.
Why not limit age from above?
Officially, we do not yet declare a restriction, but, frankly, adult candidates (we consider university graduates as such) we recommend a free hearing. Why? Again, statistics help us: most of these students fall off after 2-3 couples from the course.

There are new partner companies

EMC and HP Lab have become partners of the center since the spring semester. With their arrival, a pool of projects was added to the practice for students, and from the fall semester new courses will appear.

What is it, a new set

Stages

• Questionnaire on the site (accepted until June 15, 2012 , the questionnaire contains questions about the candidate and the task).
• Written exam (preliminary dates: April 14, May 19, June 20 , invitations will be sent to each candidate on a specific date after filling out the questionnaire).
• Face-to-face interview (we will invite for a personal meeting the best after the written exam).

Presentation
On April 14, you can get acquainted with the curators of the center at 17:00 in FML 239 (assembly hall, building 2). We will tell about the center and answer questions. Free admission! We invite everyone.

- CS center curators