Program compiles but I think switch is ignored. - c++

Question

I am currently studying c++ but I fell behind a little bit, so I apologize if my question is obvious.
I have to create a program that asks for a student's name, GPA, Year of admission, and get a random 5 digit number generated for that person. The number of students will not exceed 42.
My program compiled (somehow) and I am able to get the error for invalid menu selection, however, whenever I give a valid selection (currently 1) nothing happens.
Maybe I am missing something, this is why I need help.
Here is my code.
#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
using namespace std;
//print all the menu options
void print_menu()
{
cout<<"\nRCNJ Registrar Menu:"<<"\n"
<<"\n"
<<"[1] Add a student"<<"\n"
<<"[2] Display all students"<<"\n"
<<"[3] Display by year"<<"\n"
<<"[4] Display statistics"<<"\n"
<<"[5] Quit"<<"\n";
}
//get and return the student's name
void get_name(string& student_name) //call student_name after that.
{
cout<<"Please enter the sudent's name: ";
cin >> student_name;
cout<<"\n";
}
//validate and return gpa
double get_gpa()
{
double student_gpa = 0;
cout<<"Please enter the GPA: ";
cin >>student_gpa;
cout<<"\n";
while (student_gpa > 4 || student_gpa < 0)
{
cout<<"Please enter a valid GPA for the student (0.00 - 4.00): ";
cin >> student_gpa;
cout<<"\n";
}
return student_gpa;
}
//validateand return year
int get_year()
{
int student_year = 0;
cout<<"Please enter the year: ";
cin >> student_year;
cout<<"\n";
while (student_year >2016 || student_year <1972)
{
cout<<"Please enter a valid year (min 1972, max 2016): ";
cin >> student_year;
cout<<"\n";
}
return student_year;
}
//generate the student's R#
int generate_number()
{
int r_number;
srand (time(NULL));
r_number = rand() % 89999 + 10000;
return r_number;
}
//save info. Include get_name, get_gpa, get_year
void input_new_student()
{
string student_name;
double student_gpa;
int student_year;
int r_number;
int s_name, s_gpa, s_year, r_num;
get_name(student_name);
get_gpa();
get_year();
generate_number();
}
//display all students in the proper format
void print_all()
{
}
//get a year as selection and print all students that are the same year
void print_by_year()
{
}
//display statistics based on entered students
void print_statistics()
{
}
//validate and return the menu option selected by the user.
//it should call print_menu defined earlier
int get_selection(int menu_choice)
{
menu_choice = 0;
cout<<"\n"
<<"Selection: ";
cin >> menu_choice;
cout<<"\n";
while (menu_choice > 5 || menu_choice< 1)
{
cout<<" Menu choice is invalid. Please re-enter (1 - 5): ";
cin>> menu_choice;
cout<<"\n";
}
return menu_choice;
}
int main()
{
string student_name;
double student_gpa;
int student_year;
int r_number;
int menu_choice;
int s_name=0;
int s_gpa=0;
int s_year=0;
int r_num=0;
string nameArray[42];
s_name++;
double gpaArray[42];
s_gpa++;
int yearArray[42];
s_year++;
int ramapoArray[42];
r_num++;
print_menu();
get_selection(menu_choice);
switch (menu_choice)
{
case 1:
input_new_student();
nameArray[s_name] = student_name;
gpaArray[s_gpa] = student_gpa;
yearArray[s_year] = student_year;
ramapoArray[r_num] = r_number;
break;
}
return 0;
}

Answer 1

I dont have permission to comment, hence adding it here.
In you main(),
get_selection(menu_choice);
switch (menu_choice)
You return menu_choice, but there is none to take the value, you end you using garbage value as it is uninitialized.
So two ways you can do it, either by passing the address/reference of menu_choice or by return value. try either of these it should work, though I have not gone through the rest of your program.
As suggested by others, try a debugger e.g. gdb?