Computer Science Senior Survey

Before you leave Oberlin, the Computer Science Program asks that you complete this questionnaire. Its purpose is entirely to help the Program understand how its majors view computer science and their careers as computer science majors. Using your responses, the Program hopes to be able to make its curriculum more valuable and effective. Your name will not be attached to any report generated from your responses. We estimate that it will take about 15 minutes to complete this questionnaire.

Date:  

  1. What course or courses have had the greatest impact on you as a computer science major? Why?
  2. What changes in course selection would you make if you were to begin the major now?
  3. How do you plan to use computer science in the future (please check one)?
    Not at all    
    As a hobby    
    As a tool used in another profession    
    As a teacher of computer science or another subject    
    As a professional scientist    
    Don't know    
  4. Do you plan to go to graduate or professional school? If so, in what area?
  5. Please check any of the following activities in which you participated:
    Grading    
    Tutoring    
    Social Events    
    Visiting Lectures    
    ACM Programming Contest    
    Majors Committee    
    Communication Skills
  6. To what extent did your computer science major involve you in significant experiences with written communication (e.g., papers, group projects, grading, etc.)?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
  7. How much do you feel the clarity and precision of your writing improved at Oberlin?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
  8. To what extent did your computer science major involve you in significant experiences with spoken communication (e.g., presentations, group projects, tutoring, etc.)?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
  9. How much do you feel that the clarity and precision of your speaking improved at Oberlin?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
  10. Please check any of the following that you found particularly useful in improving your communication skills.
    papers    
    presentations    
    group projects    
    grading    
    tutoring    
  11. To what extent do you think your experiences as a computer science major contribute to the improvement of your communication skills?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
    Comments
    Problem Solving
  12. To what extent did your computer science major involve you in significant problem-solving experiences (e.g., homework, exams, projects, competitions, group work, etc.)?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
  13. Please check any of the following that you found particularly useful in improving your problem-solving skills.
    homework    
    exams    
    projects    
    competitions    
    group work    
  14. How much do you feel that your ability to attack and solve problems improved at Oberlin?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
  15. To what extent do you think your problem-solving experiences as a computer science major contribute to the improvement of your problem-solving skills?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
    Comments
    Research
  16. To what extent did your computer science major involve you in research experiences (e.g., independent projects, honors work, private reading, summer jobs, summer programs, etc.)?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
  17. Please check any of the following that you found particularly useful in your understanding of the nature of research.
    independent projects    
    honors work    
    private reading    
    summer jobs    
    summer programs    
  18. To what extent at Oberlin did you gain an understanding of the nature of research?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
  19. To what extent have your experiences as a computer science major contributed to your understanding of the nature of research?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    
    Comments
    Impact
  20. To what extent has your study of computer science influenced your thinking outside of computer science?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    

    Comments
  21. To what extent do you feel that you have an understanding of the place of computer science in the world, i.e., in a historical, cultural, social, economic, philosophical, and/or aesthetic sense?
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    

    Comments
    Quality of the Major
  22. Please rate the quality of the advising you received as a computer science major; about course selection, career plans, and graduate school opportunities.
    None    
    A Little    
    Somewhat    
    Fair Amount    
    A Great Deal    
    Don't Know    

    Comments
  23. What do you see as strengths of the Oberlin computer science major?
  24. What do you see as weaknesses of the Oberlin computer science major?
  25. What is your overall rating of the computer science major?
    Very dissatisfied    
    Dissatisfied    
    Neutral    
    Satisfied    
    Very satisfied    
    No Comment    

last modified May 12, 2006 by rms@cs.oberlin.edu