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advice_column [2018/05/19 12:43] – [On grades and cheating] editadvice_column [2019/04/23 14:04] – [What courses to take] edit
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 You might be tempted to think by overloading you are getting more “units” per dollar (of tuition) out of CMU.  Don’t confuse that with how much learning and retention you are getting for your dollars.  Overloading is not worth it. You might be tempted to think by overloading you are getting more “units” per dollar (of tuition) out of CMU.  Don’t confuse that with how much learning and retention you are getting for your dollars.  Overloading is not worth it.
  
-=====What courses to take=====+=====What courses to take (updated 4/23/2019)=====
  
 There are so many different courses you could take as an ECE undergrad at CMU. This can get really confusing. The suggestions below are simply a representation of what “I” would have taken had I been an undergrad in ECE today. There are so many different courses you could take as an ECE undergrad at CMU. This can get really confusing. The suggestions below are simply a representation of what “I” would have taken had I been an undergrad in ECE today.
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 There are still the Free Electives. They should not all be technical, but it does give me the time to take a few more courses (without overloading).  Here are examples of some courses I would consider choosing from (as a student interested in computer architecture). There are still the Free Electives. They should not all be technical, but it does give me the time to take a few more courses (without overloading).  Here are examples of some courses I would consider choosing from (as a student interested in computer architecture).
  
-  * 18-340:          Digital Computation                                                                        +  * 18-340:          Hardware Arithmetic for Machine Learning                                                                        
   * 15-411:          Compiler Design   * 15-411:          Compiler Design
   * 18-422:          Analysis and Design of Digital Circuits   * 18-422:          Analysis and Design of Digital Circuits
-  * 18-441:          Verification of Computer Hardware Systems                                        +  * 18-740:          Graduate Computer Architecture                                                     
-  * 18-643:          Reconfigurable Logic   + 
-  * 18-740/1/2:          Graduate Computer Architecture                                                    +I would be tempted with  
 + 
 +  * 18-330 Introduction to Computer Security 
 +  * 18-349 Introduction to Embedded Systems 
 +  * 18-403 Microfabrication Methods and Technology (this I actually did as an undergrad) 
 +  * 18-461 Introduction to Machine Learning for Engineers 
 +  * 18-464 ULSI Technology Status and Roadmap for System on Chips and System in Package
  
 I would make it a point to take a few fun, non-ECE courses (freshman-level intro courses are just fine).  I would make it a point to take a few fun, non-ECE courses (freshman-level intro courses are just fine). 
  
 I would also include a senior project.  If I were interested in going to graduate school, I would start my senior project the summer before the senior year.  I would not try to do undergraduate “research” during the semester with a full course load.  Lastly, I would do a technical internship in the industry the summer before my junior year. I would also include a senior project.  If I were interested in going to graduate school, I would start my senior project the summer before the senior year.  I would not try to do undergraduate “research” during the semester with a full course load.  Lastly, I would do a technical internship in the industry the summer before my junior year.
 +
 +I do not recommend undergrads (especially if heading to PhD) to hurry into or take a lot of graduate courses.  You do want to take THE one in your specialization (18-740 in my example) before you apply. May be just one more (18-643).  As IMB, I trust you are mature enough to pick what you need and what is good for you for whatever you have planned for your own future.
 +
 +I do not recommend undergrads (especially if heading to PhD) to hurry into or take a lot of graduate courses.  You do want to take THE one in your specialization (18-740 in my example) before you apply for PhD. (Okay, may be just one more, 18-643.)  As IMB, I trust you are mature enough to pick what you need and what is good for you for whatever you have planned for your own career future.
  
 Again, this simply reflects what I would have done as an undergrad. If you don’t like what you see here, don’t be shy about asking another professor closer to your area to tell you what he/she would do. Again, this simply reflects what I would have done as an undergrad. If you don’t like what you see here, don’t be shy about asking another professor closer to your area to tell you what he/she would do.