I don't think you can learn to program anything related to "web-businesses" in University. I've done a MS in CS at OSU, and I always pitied the poor schlubs doi

I don't think you can learn to program anything related to "web-businesses" in University. I've done a MS in CS at OSU, and I always pitied the poor schlubs doing their undergrad. It's just a bunch of hoops. My recommendation would be that you pick up a beginner PHP book and learn to build basic websites. Beginner level 0. There was a link on HN about how browsers and html5 work, see that, or see diveintohtml5.org Then, if you see holes in your knowledge, look up something like stackoverflow.com -- SO also has a list of free CS books, look that up. To actually program, start with HTDP or similar, mentioned in the SO bookslist. That will get you approx 7.53 times further than sitting in some braindead Java class, struggling to get above a 3.0... Use your hard-earned money to spend on MIS courses. They'll get you a job out of school while a undergrad level java class won't. Don't do any of the courses you mentioned above either: DS, CO + asm (you're kidding!), SE. PS some of MIS is similar, you sound smart and motivated, so read the CS coursework books for fun if you want, buy them used. Kudos on the Stanford MIT stuff btw. I would recommend starting with something like the iPhone programming course on iTunes U -- fill in the gaps as you come across them (which is the big advantage of self-study.) Finally, CS has only one theory that you need to know; you'll like the title too. Google "shtetl optimized complexity". SO has some articles on it too, and codinghorror tried explaining it once at http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2008/11/your-favorite-np-complete-cheat.html http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2008/11/your-favorite-np-co... PS Feel free to ping me offline if you wish.