[kamaal]

Adding to that its not ever worth that much trouble.

    1. Master algorithms.
    2. Get a job at <insert a big famous web company>.
    3. ???
    4. Get rich.

What exactly is 3) ???.

Really if you are joining a big company. Whatever that company is. Way to financial safety is not mastering algorithms and data structures. Its more like knowing how to do politics, being your manager yes men etc.

And very rarely are you ever going to get some work where its going to demand some algorithms mastery.

[rdtsc]

For CS graduates from some big name colleges that go to work on Wall Street or other "finance" it is:

   1. Master algorithms
   2. Get a job at <...X...> & Co.
   3. Use Excel all day everyday
   4. Get rich.

[taude]

I interviewed at 7 investment banks on Wall Street after college. Never took any of the jobs, however, I had friends who worked on Excel spreadsheets that managed 100s millions in capital. This always amazed me.

[rdtsc]

They just want smart people in general. CS or not doesn't matter. It still baffles me that they ask algorithms and CS questions then sit in you front to Excel.