Zach Vanderveen's Guest Lecture on Mar. 6, 2000
email address: zxv100@psu.edu

Zach graduated from Wyomissing Area High School in 1999. He excelled in Basic Programming and AP Computer Science Using C++. He earned a 5 on the AP Computer Science A Exam, won the Senior Computer Programming award, and received the WAEF Solomon Frank Peters, Jr. Scholarship of $1000. Here are some general comments that he made in response to questions that were posed by the Wyo computer students during his guest lecture:

Major: Computer Science

Zach said that CSE 103 and 120 really only covered the same topics that he studied in AP Comp Sci at Wyo except to more detail. All programming assignments so far have graded based on whether they execute or not with no partial credit. The professors assume that students cheat so assignments count for approximately 12% of the overall course grade with exams making up most of one's grade.

Zach highly recommends taking AP Physics at Wyomissing if you intend to major in engineering or any science. He recounted how the average midterm exam score in his Physics 211 course was a 53%. By the way, there were over 512 students in that course split over two sections. Zach and Avi K., another Wyo grad who took AP Physics at Wyo, both earned 90% on the exam!

Zach explained that AP Calculus I at Wyomissing covers about half of what is studied in Math 141 Calculus II at Penn State.

He explained that there are 4 branches of computer science at PSU and that computer science majors must choose one in their Junior or Senior year:

• database
• numerical analysis
• general programming & systems
• computer engineering/architecture

He plans to concentrate in the computer engineering/architecture branch when he is a junior because of his interest in computer graphics, which is often tied to the architecture and hardware of the computer.

When asked if it is wise to have a laptop versus a desktop computer he said that he doesn't know anyone who really uses a laptop. Besides, you can sign out laptops at the PSU library at no cost (besides tuition.) He uses telnet to log onto the PSU network to work on assignments from his dorm room.