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What should I do after high school?

 
 
Luay
 
Reply Thu 23 Aug, 2018 02:01 pm
I am in my final year of high school. I plan to pursue cryptography in university. However, it seems like the only country offering cryptography courses in Africa is South Africa. I am from Kenya which boasts of having the eighth best university in Africa yet even they don't offer cryptography. What should I do? I personally met with a software developer today and he told me to pursue a degree in maths and computer science (combined) then pursue a degree in cryptography. I feel like that would be a waste of time and unnecessary since I don't believe that the syllabus would overwhelm me without the background in maths and computer science as he suggested. Our high school syllabus in itself is very broad and difficult yet I manage to score A's in most of the subjects I take. What should I do? I am open to any suggestion.
 
jespah
 
  3  
Reply Thu 23 Aug, 2018 02:58 pm
@Luay,
How about taking an advanced math class but not a degree in it? See how you do and if you can keep up with the work. Cryptography, I imagine, won't be much easier so it could be good discipline for you.
cicerone imposter
 
  1  
Reply Thu 23 Aug, 2018 03:32 pm
@jespah,
https://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Cryptography
0 Replies
 
maxdancona
 
  1  
Reply Thu 23 Aug, 2018 04:26 pm
@Luay,
I am a software engineer. I have worked quite a bit with cryptography (as a user not a designer). I agree with the advice you were given.

Cryptography as a specialty is highly mathematical. The people who are experts in cryptography all have PhDs in mathematics and are experts in advanced topics in mathematics. If what you want to do is design, test, analyze and produce usable encryption... mathematics is the place to start.

If you want to be a software engineer who uses encryption designed by the Math experts, you still need to understand some of the math (math is all over software engineering). But in this case you might start with programming and computer science courses.

In general, in software engineering, the more advanced (and higher paying) the job, the more mathematics you need.

My advice, learn to love mathematics. The good news is that the more advanced you get, the more interesting the mathematics becomes.
0 Replies
 
 

 
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