My CS Studies

School

2~3 Years of CS Ed, 2h per week. Bubblesort, 3NF, etc. Rather theoretical.

I was good but not able to program on my own.

I generally had very good grades.

2016-2019: Cooperative Degree Business Informatics (Duales Studium Wirtschaftsinformatik)

"Duales Studium" := half the time studying at university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), half the time working in company.

Roughly a third of the degree was dumbed down CS.

During studies I learned Java, Algos like Dijkstra, a bit of Web Programming, 1~2 hands on programming projects.

At work, I learned a lot:

• First HTML, PHP, JS; Learning Effectiveness
• then Java Backend + Angular Frontend; Learning Structure
• then ABAP; Learning A weird Language and the Value of Tool Mastery
• then Hadoop / Sysadmin Stuff; Learning Scripting

2019-2022: RWTH Aachen

Could not get into the good CS Master Programs with my BizInf degree, thus a second B.Sc. it was. I Considered KIT, Darmstadt, Aachen due to perceived prestige. TUM was not a consideration due to Munich's high rent.

The Basics / "Grundstudium"

Besides the studies, I worked in Industry for semesters 2, 3 and at the Symbolic Execution Group of Faculty IV for semesters 4 and 5, where I also wrote my thesis.

Skipped

Since I already had a degree, I was able to skip the following courses:

• Introduction to Programming
• Software Engineering
• Minor (e.g. Business, Math, Physics, Chemistry, ...)

Math

I was doing (comparatively) fine but did not enjoy them.

• Analysis (Calculus?)
• Discrete Math (LA0)
• Linear Algebra
• Stochastics

Theoretic CS

The first three where interesting, the last one too math-y.

• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Formal Languages, Automatons and one Lecture about Petri-Nets
• Computability and Complexity
• Mathematical Logic

Scientific Writing & Presenting

I did well. I enjoyed reading scientific literature and presenting, writing was a bit of a chore.

• Proseminar
• Seminar

Practical CS

I often disliked the teaching style (Way too little programming IMHO), but very much liked the contents.

• Technical Foundations of CS
• Operating Systems and Systems Programming
• Communication Protocols
• Databases and Information Systems

Programming Projects

I loved these courses.

• Systems-Programming Project
• Software Project

The Electives

• Computer Graphics 1: Nice but too much Linear Algebra
• Compiler Construction: Not-so painful theory and nice programming exercises <3
• Communication Systems Engineering: Wow, they mention Linux Kernel stuff <3
• Implementation of Databases: sadly it was mostly theory (i.e. categorizations of concepts)

Courses I dropped:

• Computer Vision: Too many greek letters, I don't understand the Hessian, not so good programming exercises.
• Advanced Internet Technology: Not that interesting
• Concurrency Theory: painful theory

Thesis

I chose an implementation-heavy topic. I loved the programming, evaluating was a bit stressful, writing still a chore.

Tried to extend into part of publication, but the results didn't work out.

2022-2025: Master's at TU Berlin

I wanted to leave Aachen after my B.Sc. since I had little connection to the city due to the pandemic.

My girlfriend studied in Magdeburg, Berlin was the closest TU9. The course-offering looked nice. I also liked that Apache Flink was from DIMA. I was also able to move in with a friend, i.e. finding a flat was not a blocker.

I continued to work at Aachen until 2024-02. Starting to work at DIMA on 2024-04.

In the following, the courses are ordered by how much time I spent with them.

1. Semester

• Robotics 1: Very cool robots, and I understood the LinAlg / Jacobian (a bit).
• BsPrak (Implement mini-OS on ARM): Loved it, as soon as I didn't have to read the ARM manual anymore.
• DBTLAB (Implement mini-DBMS, DIMA): I loved it.
• ACA (Advanced Computer Architecture / How a modern CPU-Core works): Suboptimal lecture, but interesting. Could have been more hands-on / programming.

I dropped Machine Intelligence 1. I didn't have the time to fight the greek letters.

2. Semester

• IISC (Implement service for A/D-CTF): Loved it, but don't know much about security.
• CARE (CompSec Seminar): Got a very good topic related to my B.Sc. thesis, loved reading literature, writing was fine, presenting nice.
• Sociology 2: Loved it. Though-provoking. Shit I now quote way too often.
• DMH (Data Management on Modern Hardware, DIMA): Fitted nicely after ACA, was really interesting.
• IsabelleLab (Proof-Assistant Theory and Practice): Liked it, but was only interesting in the practical parts.
• TUB4F (Lecture series on climate): Very interesting, easy 3 CP.

I also considered Fog Computing, but liked the other courses more.

3. Semester

• ROC (Research oriented Course on Databases, DIMA): Loved it. Technically even contributed to the eval of a publication.
• WSoz (Sociology of Science): Loved it.
• ADS (Algorithms for Distributed Systems): Was ok. Felt a bit like eating my veggies.
• Sociology 1: Like Soc2: Loved it.
• TUB4F: same as last semester

Stuff I considered / started but dropped:

• Sociology of Knowledge
• Sociology of the Anthropocene
• Cloud Computing

4. Semester

I only have "Freie Wahl" (free electives) left. I intend to do more Sociology seminars and maybe TUB4F.

5. Semester

Thesis, probably at DIMA.

Summary

Follow the fun but plan ahead.

• I like programming, especially systems programming.
• I always checked out more courses than I intended to do at the beginning of the semester.
• I dropped courses to manage my workload.
• I got jobs at the chairs where I intend to write theses.
• Step by step I got into databases, now considering a PhD. Alternatives academic Areas I might have gotten into, given the offerings: Programming Languages, SymEx / Fuzzing / Systematic Testing, Systems Stuff. Else I'd have probably focused on finding a nice student job in industry for my masters.

Btw: check the statistics on how long people usually take for their degree.

Aaaand here's a list of all Chair