In case you missed it, Joel Spolsky has written another interesting article with advice for computer science students. An excerpt (emphasis added by me):

Learn C before graduating […] if you can’t explain why while (*s++ = *t++); copies a string, or if that isn’t the most natural thing in the world to you, well, you’re programming based on superstition, as far as I’m concerned: a medical doctor who doesn’t know basic anatomy, passing out prescriptions based on what the pharma sales babe said would work.

Hee hee. Joel rocks! :-)