Common Misconceptions about a Computer Science Course
( Debunked)

Misconception
Simple Explanation
"I'm not going to be an engineer, don't want to major in computer science, and only take math because I have to."

What if you'd be great at this and you never knew it? Sad. I have convinced many kids over the years to sign up who were hesitant at first. You're taking many courses right now and probably won't specialize in many of those subjects - your goal at this young age is to expose yourself to a variety of things. Haven't you had enough Math, Science, Art, English, etc. by now to know if you're excited about them? Do you really want to wait until college to try something different that might excite you - if you do wait, you're likely to find it twice as hard, fast, and difficult if you have no background? Try something radically different right now and give yourself a chance at being good at it while the pace is slow and enjoyable.

The point is, until you try it, you just won't know. It is unlike anything you've ever studied before.

"I have to be an internet junky to do well in this class." While it is perfectly fine to know a lot about how the internet works and how to use software programs on your computer, it is not necessary to know any of those things for a computer science course. Everyone comes into the introductory class with the same pre-requisite knowledge - logical thinking and problem-solving ability, an open mind to new ways to solve problems, and a sense of adventure!
"This is a course for geeks who can play video games all through the night and program their TI-84+." Again, nonsense. While there are clearly some geeks in there, just like the instructor, being able to program a TI or play video games or configure your hard drive or tweak your operating system will be of NO use in the course. Again, you all have the same pre-requisite knowledge - logical thinking and problem-solving ability, an open mind to new ways to solve problems, and a sense of adventure!
"Girls don't have a logical mind like the boys - this class is harder for the girls."

Well, I would not have told that to Grace Hopper. And I sure wouldn't tell that to Carnegie Mellon University's Computer Science Department or the Woman's program at MIT. Nor would I tell that to GirlTECH. And I surely (unless I wished a quick death) would not tell that to my colleagues at the College Board's AP Computer Science reading each year - we high school teachers and professors alike meet and grade AP exams for a week each year - more than 50% of the readers and leaders are women - both at the collegiate and high school level. I also wouldn't tell that to the ladies in my courses over the years - who, by the way, have consistently led the boys in average course gpa each year.

It's unfortunate but I've actually heard this statement uttered by a "professional" in the field. Sad and unbelievable in 2007 - but I'm sure this individual has been, and will soon be again, shown the ropes by some tech-savvy female!