Student Profile

"I had a great teacher who really challenged me, and I challenged him back." -- Rediet.

Rediet T. came to the U.S. at the age of 18 as an international student from Ethiopia. Everything was new. The country, the educational system, even the communication was hard. Living and going to school in a different country was scary. She didn’t know a lot of people, and Rediet was away from her mother, her center of comfort and stability since the age of 3-and-a-half when her father passed away from cancer.

The school system in Ethiopia is completely different. There, the schedule is set for students, and they have limited choices. After high school, students take a test similar to the SAT, and they need to score high enough to choose a certain major. Rediet earned a good GPA in high school but she still didn’t get into the university she preferred. She ended up studying at Arba Minch University but really wanted to attend Addis Ababa University because that’s where she grew up. Then Rediet obtained an international student visa to study in the U.S. and came to San Diego City College.

Job Demand for Computer Science Majors

If you want to land a high-paying job after graduation, major in computer science. A spokesman for Microsoft said the company has 6,300 job openings and 3,600 are in computer science and engineering. What can you expect to earn? Most of these jobs pay $100,000 and up in salary and benefits. Want a Job After College? Major in Computer Science appeared in the "U-T San Diego" on Feb. 2, 2013.

picture by Antony-22

Also, if you're thinking about earning a Ph.D. to teach in academia, How Many Ph.D's Actually Get To Become College Professors? from "The Atlantic" breaks down the percentage of graduates who obtain a tenured college teaching position by major. The article was forwarded by John Gradilla.

Math Advice



picture by Rovnet

"Math does not have to be intimidating." -- Victoria Phung.

Here is an interview with City College Math Professor, Victoria Phung, who is teaching Math 38 this semester. The actual interview took place in the fall of 2012, but we thought it would be appropriate to post it at the beginning of the semester. 

What classes are you teaching this semester?

-I am teaching Math 38, Pre-Algebra.

How long have you been at City? 

-I've been here for at least 10 years.

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of teaching math?

-Help students come to understand mathematics.  It is very rewarding when I see that they get the concept and the students themselves are excited that they get it.

In our global society, why is it important to have a strong foundation in math?

-Because math is everywhere, all around us.  Understanding mathematics enhances your reasoning and problem solving skills.