One of the main challenges of being a computer science or software engineering student is to deal with the misconceptions people have about these subjects. Here are a few questions that you all have to answer if you are a student of one of these degrees.
- I want to hack a Facebook account; can you help me?
The most common misconception about computer sciences students is that they can hack the accounts of other people. So, you will find someone randomly asking you if you can help them hack the account of a person. After all, you are a computer science student.
- I am having a bug in my phone; can you fix it?
Can you fix this bug in my phone? Another very commonly asked question. The bugs in your phone can surely be fixed by a technician. But they might ask are you any different from a computer technician? This is how much they know about a computer sciences degree so no wonder why they are asking such questions.
- How are you a computer student if you cannot fix my computer?
Yes, they can be computer scientists yet not know how to fix a computer. Studying software engineering or computer sciences does not make them capable of fixing problems related to hardware. I think every student has faced such questions. Even your parents and siblings don’t leave you.
- Can you help me hack the data of a person?
Another misconception, can you help you hack the data of a person? They are not hackers. Every hacker is not a computer science or software engineering student and everystudent of these degrees is not a hacker. Believe me, these degrees don’t have any module by the name ‘hacking’ so stop asking this question.
- What do you know about artificial intelligence? Can you make robots?
This is the thing that everyone is confused about. People think software engineers know all about artificial intelligence and robotics. These are different fields. They might choose to go for degrees like robotics during their masters but this degree is not about it. Please check some websites of a program and learn more about what they teach them.
- You keep on sitting in front of a computer the whole day, how can you get tired?
Of course, how can they get tired when all they have to do is sit before a computer the whole day. Believe me, they are doing the most tiring work of all. And the screen time they have can make you hell tired that you cannot imagine. So please take care of their sentiments before you say this.
- Are you a real engineer?
In our society, there are real engineers and there are fake engineers. So, when someone is working in the field doing a typical engineering job, they call them real engineers. When it comes to software engineers, they are the fake ones. You will find many people asking you how can you be an engineer when you do nothing like that.
- You must know how to make games, right?
They are not the masters of the whole computer world. Every degree has a defined range of modules and it does not teach you everything at once. If you have seen someone making games, it would be their domain of interest and learning.Not every CS student can do this.
- Can you build a website for me?
Just like questions with games, there is this misconception about websites. People nowadays are very interested in online business and stuff so they just need any CS or software engineering student to ask them if they can make their website.
- This is such an unvalued degree; how will you get a job?
People know very little about these degrees. Some have very high expectations and in Pakistan, most people think it is an unvalued degree. Well, it has a very good scope even in Pakistan and also abroad. They are going to be good earners, so you should worry about yourself instead of them.
