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I can't help but feel that this really isn't Google's fault. A simple heuristic to make recruiting grads simpler is to restrict yourself to the top universities

by CHY872 12y ago

I can't help but feel that this really isn't Google's fault. A simple heuristic to make recruiting grads simpler is to restrict yourself to the top universities (most companies do this) - but I bet that the CS programs for most of those universities have similar statistics. As one datapoint, the program I'm on has a 8:1 male-female ratio, and of the 80 or so students on it, I believe that there is one black student. It's a problem with all of CS - and Google have decent initiatives to help turn it around, but it's going to take time - more CS education in schools, more access programs to help those from deprived backgrounds get programming - and that'll sadly happen slowly. Perhaps it's different in America (where one need not choose CS before university starts).

jsolson 12y ago
> Perhaps it's different in America (where one need not choose CS before university starts). Not really related to the original article, but this stood out to me as not quite accurate. Even within the US, this actually varies from school to school. My university required you to declare a major before you started, but the average student changed majors at least once in their college career (I changed twice, landing in CS). Other schools require you to start undeclared and declare at some point, as your comment implies.
- CHY872 12y ago
  Ah, ok. I guess I meant that you didn't have to choose the major you'd graduate with. To give a comparison (for the sake of where I was coming from) I'm in the UK, where you apply for a specific course, you take no minors, and once you arrive, at most universities it's impossible to change course beyond that without massive special dispensation (and usually a requirement of starting the degree again).
  - dredwerker 12y ago
    Not true for me. I did two majors and changed to another minor in a proper UK university not those polyversities;)

by CHY872 12y ago

jsolson 12y ago

> Perhaps it's different in America (where one need not choose CS before university starts). Not really related to the original article, but this stood out to me as not quite accurate. Even within the US, this actually varies from school to school. My university required you to declare a major before you started, but the average student changed majors at least once in their college career (I changed twice, landing in CS). Other schools require you to start undeclared and declare at some point, as your comment implies.

CHY872 12y ago
Ah, ok. I guess I meant that you didn't have to choose the major you'd graduate with. To give a comparison (for the sake of where I was coming from) I'm in the UK, where you apply for a specific course, you take no minors, and once you arrive, at most universities it's impossible to change course beyond that without massive special dispensation (and usually a requirement of starting the degree again).
- dredwerker 12y ago
  Not true for me. I did two majors and changed to another minor in a proper UK university not those polyversities;)