Week 4 - Goals!

 Part 1: Set your Educational Goals

My educational goal in the CS program is to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a strong understanding of software development, systems architecture, and AI systems. I hope to continue to maintain a GPA of at least 3.5 or above, complete internships, and build a portfolio of coding projects. I will work to improve my problem solving skills and work well with my team members on projects. This goal motivates me to keep pushing because it goes further than graduating, it is the start of my life, my career. I will track my progress through grades, internships, and my ability to apply what I have learned to the real world.

Part Two: Set your Career Goals

My career goal is to become a systems architect at the well-known company, NVIDIA. Working on the design and optimization of hardware or software integration for AI and GPU based systems is a dream. I can see myself contributing to the next generation of computing solutions, where they push boundaries and have a high-performance rate. To reach this goal I will gain hands on experience by applying for internships, developing strong programming and math skills, and utilize what I have learned on new technology. Although this may be a challenging goal, this path excites me because I will help continue shaping the future of computing.

Part Three: ETS Computer Science Test

If I had to guess my percentile for the ETS Computer Science Test, I would hope it would be around the 75th percentile in 18 months. I feel fairly confident in the basics of programming, algorithms, and data structures, but I know there are still areas like discrete mathematics where I can improve. I think after more experience I will be able to aim even higher.

Part Four: Review

This week’s readings have taught me the importance of setting clear, written goals for academic and career success, while also highlighting that not all goals are reliable. I learned about the ETS Major Field Test in Computer Science, which evaluates students knowledge in areas such as programming, discrete structures, algorithms, and software engineering. The test uses standardized pseudocode to assess problem solving skills and understanding. Overall, this week emphasized the importance of having clear goals and how assessments measure our understanding in computer science education.

Comments

  1. Faith ThomasMay 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM

    Hey Sami, I really liked your goal to aim for NVIDIA. That’s huge and super motivating. I can tell you’re serious about putting in the work with internships and projects. We have different end goals, but we’re both trying to apply what we learn in real world ways. You might want to consider building a public portfolio site to show off your progress! You’re on the right track and I think you’ll get there. Keep going.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LuisMay 30, 2025 at 8:39 AM

    It great to see your clear objectives; to graduate with a bachelor's degree in computer science. Then you add in a goal to maintain a 3.5 GPA or above as motivation to require yourself to apply your efforts. I had not thought about setting a GPA goal and now will also set a GPA goal to ensure that I am also demonstrate the effort in learning and not just completing the bare minimum. Your continuous dedication will not double see you grow professionally. You also have clear goals on the steps to take toward your career path. You are doing a great job with your plans.

    ReplyDelete
  3. PerstnJune 2, 2025 at 7:55 PM

    Your goals are awesome and well-defined! 3.5+ GPA while balancing internships and portfolio projects is impressive and disciplined. I love how you tied each academic milestone to practical experience - building a strong foundation in software development, systems architecture, and AI will serve you well. Aiming for a systems architect role at NVIDIA is ambitious and visionary, and your enthusiasm for pushing the boundaries of GPU-based computing is palpable. Your plan shows both passion and determination, qualities that will get you there. Keep that excitement and discipline, and you’ll go far. I’m sure you’ll make big contributions to the future of computing and hit every milestone you set.

    ReplyDelete

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