Cheat Engine

[Falc0n]

Is reverse code engineering any way related to Computer Science? Or is it like the darker side of Computer Science?

Just some minor questions because I've been recently rejected for an interview and the University said that I didn't seem like I was suitable for the course.

Holy shit, they must really hate reverse code engineers or ethical hackers or something.

Or maybe the University just hates hackers because they had been hacked by their own students a few years back? All my other University applications had been successful, just not this one.

[Slugsnack]

It's related. As far as I know it is usually discouraged in academia. However there are certain projects that require use/knowledge of RCE at some more advanced stages of CS. When I applied to uni for CS I also had a lot of RCE experience but decided against putting that on my application. It is not a mainstream practice and although RCE itself is not so bad, it is usually associated with the cracks and warez scene. I recall rephrasing and paraphrasing such that I demonstrated the knowledge I'd gained from RCE yet it was not immediately obvious that knowledge was obtained from RCE itself. However during my interviews I was asked twice whether I am a hacker and in both instances I said no. This seems to have worked out okay for me.

IMO it really wasn't smart for you to mention RCE/hacking in a uni application in the first place. It's not particularly impressive since people that don't understand it (which is most likely the case in academia) will make incorrect associations.

[Cryoma]

Dude that's like applying to be a babysitter and telling them you're a convict.

[kls85]

Reverse Engineering: A nerd committing a crime!

[Falc0n]

I phrased it as though I told them of what I learned from reverse engineering games and learning from their algorithms and data encryption routines.

: /

I also learned about how a lot of the gaming industry works : /

Also I said ETHICAL hacking. That immediately means it's goody good LOL.

:/

Anyways, I'm kind of stuck with a "NOT THE WORLDS BEST" uni now.

I'm a UK Citizen,

If anyone wants to help, pm me and tell me which of these Uni's are best for Computer Science? My current best choice is Warwick.

University of Warwick,
Durham University,
University of Manchester,
University of Liverpool

I don't like Manchester's PHD projects, I plan on working onto a PHD because my father also worked his way to his PHD.

And, the one I got rejected from was "Cambridge".

Kind of harsh, if they gave me an interview they could have understood me better instead of immediately rejecting me. I also take Further Maths at the moment which is one of the subjects which classifies you as "extra nerdy" : /

But I guess I understand that this year was one of the most competitive years they've had in a while since Cambridge "beat" Harvard?


P.S. holy shit, wow just because the phrase "hack" comes up doesn't immediately classify you as "illegal" because you hack.

Hacking doesn't always mean gaining control of something.

Sometimes I just think that... You're NEVER going to gain the whole world's of knowledge in a subject you love unless you go through means of "stealing" or "dissecting" other people's work.

P.S.S. It's funny how you also said "some people don't understand it". I'm starting to think "Will ANYONE understand it?" :/

Before this stage of life, I always thought that someday, some people, somewhere will be able to cherish and appreciate the same things that I do.

------

p.s. I always thought of RCE as a way to LEARN. :/ I know some things aren't meant to be LEARNT but we have to go through means of RCE to learn some things which cannot be taught by a school. :/

[Slugsnack]

I'm from the UK and currently studying CS in a Masters degree so have a decent understanding of your situation given what you say. Unless you are able to substantiate your terms 'ethical hacking, blah blah' with a shitload of associated knowledge you gained from doing it you should not have put it on your personal statement. It's easily misunderstood as it is. Another reason to not include RCE/'hacking' on your personal statement is that unless you can justify why you picked this route instead of the conventional routes, it's only going to look bad.

AFAIK, whilst the universities above you have mentioned are not completely shit-tier, none of them are considered particularly prestigious in the UK for CS. If pushed, I guess Warwick would seem like the best choice in terms of league tables. You should always consider course content, environment, etc. etc. as well though. You seem to be under an illusion that one university is categorically better than another.

Further Maths is fast becoming an expected subject in many top universities doing CS now. With the least amount of offense intended, you come across to me as nothing more than an immature kid who has failed to grasp the understanding that your viewpoint might possibly differ to others'. Many of the points you state so seemingly as 'facts' are nothing more than opinions based on misinformed assumptions. The point of X university beating Y university is 100% irrelevant to anything you need to consider especially for the reason you gave. You can do a PhD anywhere after you have done your undergrad course. Not liking a uni's PhD projects is no reason to not apply for the undergrad course. If you were truly smart you would think about what interviewers would be looking for and give them that instead of assuming something you have partial knowledge of and view as 'cool' is considered an acceptable or encouraged practice in academia. It's fine to have your own mindset or whatever but you need to be aware that right now you are the one essentially looking for something from someone else (offer from unis) so go eat some humble pie and feed them the shit that they want to hear.

[Falc0n]