I would chose C++. C# is basically C++ with microsoft extensions and a GUI wrapper. Visual Basic is great for writing quick junk in my opinion but I wouldn't use it for production quality software. You might also look at other languages like PERL, RUBY, PHP, JAVA(and JAVASCRIPT), along with the myriad of other funzie languages out there.

Once you get a good firm base in C++ then you should be able to pretty much pick up anything else out there. Most high level languages are similar enough that just learning a little syntax and the library calls is all you need to jump into a new language.

Something else to consider is, what is your target job market? Are you wanting to develop software for microsoft operating systems, embedded systems, servers? C++ is good for all of these. C# is more focused on microsoft desktop operating systems as is visual basic. Visual basic is targeted at quick throw together apps to solve a problem in a hurry.

Just my $0.02 USD worth.

Enjoy
Ray

It really depends on what you want to do. Especially if you're planning on a job programming after school.

If you're wanting to work mostly programming embedded systems or command line applications, C++ would be the way to go.

However, as much as it pains me to say this, if you're wanting to do desktop applications I would go with C#. I know my university is pushing C# more and more recently due to the corporations on our advisory board saying it was a needed skill now. Personally, at my job almost all applications are developed in C#.

And i'd say avoid VB. I'm sure some people will disagree with me though.

Really, i'd say learning both C++ and C# would be profitable in the long run. Its really your choice what order.

37 years ago, as a kid, I started in BASIC. I then spent a lot of time unlearning the bad habits it gave me. In many ways modern Visual Basic is different, but in some ways it's the same thing: its shortcuts can teach you bad habits, and when you're starting out you don't have a way to recognize the difference between good and bad. I'd recommend you avoid Visual Basic at this time. You can always pick it up later in life.

Both C# and C++ will be good commercially viable languages to learn. I learned C++ 16 years ago, and have been programming in it ever since.

C++ is more complex than C#, and has a more difficult syntax (syntax is the "details" of how you write code in a particular language), but it will teach you what a computer is really capable of. Out of necessity you'll be learning what pointers are, what allocating memory really does, etc. You'll leave with a lot of in-depth knowledge, but your programs will likely be simplistic, as you'll be spending a lot of time learning syntax.

C# will teach you effective application programming; because it primarily leverages other people's already existing code in the form of libraries and services. You won't spend as much time learning about computers as you will about solving real-world problems. Your programs will have more buttons to click on and do more things, but you won't have learned as much about the inner workings. At this point in your education, I think that's an OK tradeoff.

All that together, I would recommend starting in C#. You'll be able to spend more time learning about proper program organization (called "architecture") and less on struggling with the more difficult syntax of C++. Architecture is the single most important lesson you need to learn as you get going, regardless of what language you're learning. When the professor says "time to talk about 'Object Oriented' programming", pay close attention as it's the foundation of modern application development. Later on, you should be able to pick up C++ as you need to, and then you'll learn how to make the computer dance.

I would choose C++ because C# is very similar.This should cover a lot of professional scripts you must write.Visual Basic is very basic (duh),it is great for compiling something small but its not very 'clean'.