Going into CS/SE

[Fasih]

So this fall, I will be going to either CS or SE (Software Engineering)... haven't decided yet. What I was wondering is, for anyone who is currently in university in either the CS or SE program, is the amount of people with significant programming knowledge from the start of the year.

I have a fair bit of knowledge in Java, and can easily transition most of that into C++, but my fair bit of knowledge only goes to classes basics in Java and up to file I/O in C++.
I have a couple of months till I start university, and I want to be really prepared in C++/Java, but more emphasis on C++ as that is the most commonly used language in the workplace (to my knowledge). I am taking Computer Science at my high school currently, so I do expect myself to get more knowledge of Java from that. My other question is, in CS or SE, what is the primary language the professors teach with? I am mainly speaking of Waterloo and McMaster. Also, what would be the best method of "self-teaching" myself? Just some tips is all I would need on that part .

Thanks

[unoho]

for CS, you wont even do c++/java..you'll do Scheme.

For SE (Im a SE student at uWaterloo), we did C in first semester and C++ in the 2nd semester(right now).
you could go ahead and learn any language you want. but you'll see a big difference when you come to uni that they don't focus on language..rather they focus on different ways of doing things (aka algorithms, data structure etc.) C++/C is a tool that you use to develop/make those algorithms execute.

Also, first semester, we had a lot of kids who knew a lot of advanced stuff. but now, we are more or less on the same level.

My suggestion to you would be do those CCC questions if you can. Also, if you want to learn and practice C++/C, pick up a book (or get it online ) and do some practice questions on loops and stuff. Dont worry about objects and classes, you'll learn it in 2nd semester

[Tony]

don't worry about specific languages. UWaterloo CS starts out Scheme/Python/C and then 2nd+ year it's pretty much up to the prof as to what they want to use. Some C++. Java is still big. Various flavours of assembly. There is at least one hardware course where you implement programs by drawing wires. Some let you pick out of a set of "supported languages", while others introduce a class with "this class is normally taught in X but personally I'm most familiar with Y, so that is what we'll use. If you don't like Y, you can retake this course in another term."