A Recipe for Success: UF Online Student Shifts from Culinary Arts to Computer Science

Investing in His Career Change

Before enrolling in UF Online, Carter had built a successful career in the food industry, working with major companies like Chick-fil-A and Disney. He took an entrepreneurial leap, launching his own catering and private chef business. Despite his culinary accomplishments, he recognized that his true passions lay in mathematics, problem-solving, and continuous learning.  

“I prefer to find an environment where I am constantly challenged to try and learn something new rather than demonstrate mastery over a single skill,” he said. 

Carter decided to pursue a computer science career and started searching for a bachelor’s degree program that aligned with his goals. As he explored options, he prioritized outcomes and value. “I conducted my research, and UF Online had the highest post-graduate success rate in terms of job placement and starting salary compared to other similar programs offered by UCF, FSU, and USF,” he said. “It was also the most affordable at the time.” 

Carter knew that fully committing to his career shift required temporary sacrifices for lasting fulfillment. “I needed to prioritize my academic success to maximize my long-term salary potential,” he said. Carter dedicated himself fully to his studies and achieved the highest GPA of his life with UF Online. With the flexibility to occasionally work part-time at a bakery or host private dinners for extra income, Carter’s main focus remained on academic excellence, ensuring that he set himself up for a brighter future. 

CyberGator: Building Connections and Breaking Ground in Cybersecurity 

One of Carter’s favorite aspects of UF Online is the strong community of like-minded, non-traditional students he found and collaborated with in his courses. “My peers and I share knowledge of how challenging the world can be and how crucial it is to achieve success in our degrees so that we can lead more balanced and healthy lives,” he said. That sense of shared purpose and collaboration extended into his course work—most notably through a groundbreaking research project that brought his classroom learning to life. 

As part of his senior design course, Carter participated in a research project called CyberGator, which was originally developed during the Cyber Resiliency and Measurement (CRAM) Challenge sponsored by the United States Naval Surface Warfare Center (NAVSEA) Dahlgren in Virginia. The challenge tasked student teams with designing an application capable of assessing the cyber resiliency of cyber-physical systems using artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms. 

“Our research focused on developing a tool that integrated three major methods: Bayesian networks, finite state machines, and fuzzy logic,” Carter said. These approaches allowed the team to simulate and score how well a system could withstand, recover from, and adapt to cyberattacks and environmental stressors. 

Carter led project planning and contributed to the Graphical User Interface (GUI) design, working with classmates across Florida, Brazil, and his home in New Hampshire. “I am pretty proud of the way we found ways to collaborate remotely to create something spectacular and useful,” he said. Carter’s highlight of the project was presenting their work to the U.S. Navy and fielding questions about scoring algorithms and data modeling. “It was fun and intriguing to consider how our work could immediately impact national security,” he said. The experience helped fuel his confidence in mission-driven software development and opened doors to job interviews and career opportunities. 

Coding His Future in Computer Science 

Studying computer science demands self-discipline and independent learning, a shift from the collaborative, fast-paced environment Carter was used to. “In the past, in kitchens, I would be surrounded by folks who would mentor and pressure me to absorb the material,” he said. “However, as I now work alone at my desk, I have had to learn to structure and manage my time effectively without supervision. This has made me more balanced and productive, enabling me to complete tasks early and without stress.” 

Carter encourages future students to approach the online computer science program with curiosity and a willingness to learn from others. “Learn so that you can leave a better impression on code in the future, something that is more organized and user-friendly,” he said. He recommends setting aside time to carefully read documentation, understand how information is structured, and consistently practice writing code. The effort is well worth it, as these habits help students build a deeper understanding of the material and produce cleaner, more efficient code. 

Looking ahead, Carter is eager to apply the knowledge and work ethic he developed during the program to his new career after graduating in Spring 2025. “My goal is to secure a position as an associate project manager with a technology company in or around the Greater Boston area,” he said. “I am at my best when I am problem-solving with a group and leading a team, organizing protocols so that shareholders can remain confident in the work my team is capable of delivering.” 

With graduation on the horizon and job applications in motion, Carter proved that it is never too late to change careers and invest in a future that you’ve always envisioned. His journey shows determination, adaptability, and the pursuit of balance and growth that all Gators can achieve.