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Computer majors?
- Thread starter Rob587
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jeremy.king
macrumors 603
Rob587 said:
I'm curious what you consider "good money." There are a millions things you can do with computers. You can build them, fix them, support them, teach others about them, program them, enhance them, etc... A statement like "I like computers" is so generic and doesn't really give me an idea as to what you like about them, besides music.
A friend of mine is a tech, of sorts, for a broadcast company in chicago and he really enjoys it. He went the CS -> MCSE route and now supports the computer systems that basically runs the entire station (4 to be exact). He says its cool and rewarding and pays alright.
Me, I went the CS/Math double major route and ended up in consulting. I work mostly in web based applications written in Java and I must say that although the work is difficult, the pay is quite good (for my age - 27). Now of course my dream job would be game development 😀
Now some people go the Cisco route, which from what I understand requires some good math skills, but the pay is very very good (even initially). Any cisco engineers out there?
My only advice to you is to tell you that you won't get the job of your dreams out of school, so the key is to build the skills AND relationships that will let you grow as you get older. If you plan to do anything with computers, I would suggest some sort of degree in computer science or related field. Certifications may also help you find a job too.
Good luck.
slughead
macrumors 68040
Rob587 said:
Get a BA degree in Computer-Aided Design from the University.
AND
Get an Associate's degree in some computer-related thing from your local community college (preferably before).
That way you're not wasting as much time, you'll have a university degree, you wont be overqualified, and you'll be able to do what you want to do when you're hired.
Rob587 said:
im in grad school right now and i am an instructional technology major... i work with multimedia stuff photoshop, flash, director, illustrator, premiere, fcp, authorware etc. to name a few. It also involves instructional design and project management. you should see if your school has and ITT dept or it maybe called educational technology. I enjoy it a lot.
oh yeah i do most to all of my work on macs! get a job at the school newspaper too... all macs!! thats what i did
Timelessblur
macrumors 65816
The best advice I can give you is say screw worrying about how much the degree pays.
First things first. Do something you love to do and enjoy doing. If something pays well but you dont love doing it you are not going to do well in therefor not excell at it and not make money. Plus you hate you job and the money is not worth it
Now if you love what you do but it does not pay as well you do well at it get hireup and earn more. Plus you will like work.
I myself am choosing to be civil engineer. Among the lowest paid of the enginees but I enjoy the stuff so the money will come later.
Money NEVER be part your what you want to major in.
First things first. Do something you love to do and enjoy doing. If something pays well but you dont love doing it you are not going to do well in therefor not excell at it and not make money. Plus you hate you job and the money is not worth it
Now if you love what you do but it does not pay as well you do well at it get hireup and earn more. Plus you will like work.
I myself am choosing to be civil engineer. Among the lowest paid of the enginees but I enjoy the stuff so the money will come later.
Money NEVER be part your what you want to major in.
Well, an East coast possibility for you is Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. I will shortly be entering my senior year there. They have a couple different programs for those who want to do creative computer work rather than coding. E-Media (my major), Interactive Digital Design, and a couple others that are in Liberal Arts (e-media is in communications).
Here's a page on the emedia program (yes, it is listed here as a Graduate program, but it is also an undergrad program. IN fact, I got in the very first year they offered as an undergrad major).
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1055.xml
Here's a page on the emedia program (yes, it is listed here as a Graduate program, but it is also an undergrad program. IN fact, I got in the very first year they offered as an undergrad major).
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1055.xml
MacFan26
macrumors 65816
I'd suggest a computer science major since it's a pretty broad major that has a lot of different possibilities for work. If you end up not liking programming, you might want to switch to something else, but in general, computer and some business majors all require at least a little programming. I'm a CS major myself, and while I don't want to spend the rest of my life programming, I'm having a lot of fun with it so far, even though it can be quite stressful at times. Unless you're truly dedicated, I'd suggest against a double major. Programming takes up a lot of time, and a lot of people have ended up regretting tacking on the second major. As far as west coast goes, the University of Arizona has an awesome CS department, of course, I'm biased on the issue, but I like it there 🙂
iShater
macrumors 604
Decide on what you like to do with computers, if it is programming, graphics design, etc. Then look at different majors and see which one mostly matches what you like to do.
Remember, you can always take extra courses that compliment your major or add to your skills that your major will not cover, and you can always do a masters or certification in addition to your degree.
Remember, you can always take extra courses that compliment your major or add to your skills that your major will not cover, and you can always do a masters or certification in addition to your degree.
Earendil
macrumors 68000
MacFan26 said:
Another Biased Opinion! don't forget The University of Washington (In Seattle). I saw a list last year that put U of W at #4 in the CS department (under grad or grad I dunno). For reference Stanford was #7, and MIT was #1 (dur 😉).
I'll go off on my own tangent here...
I'm a home schooled kid that took a year off to travel the world alone (highly suggest that to ANYONE), so now I'm 19 and heading off to Whitworth College in Spokane WA, with plans to transfer to U of W my junior year (even a great scholarship only gets you so far at a 30k a year college 🙁 ).
I don't care so much about money, what i care about is what are the REALISTIC job opportunities.
For example, I live in the Columbia Gorge, a place where Californians come to retire (if any CA people are listening, I'll be happy to let you know they all hate it here, so don't come 😉). A lot of computer design teams are based here, as well as Freelancers, and people able to work there tech related jobs remotely from where ever they like.
Having grown up in a rural area, with mountains and country and a lawn big enough to actually kick a soccer ball around in, I have this fear of having to live in the city. While I'd like to think I could move back out here with some high paying job, and work from home, I fear that is going to be like winning the lottery, and in reality I'll be behind a desk in some sky scraper, programing away at some mundane task under florescent lighting (similar to Mr. Anderson), because that is where all the jobs are going to be.
The Artistic side to computers, for whatever reason, doesn't give me that same fear. Perhaps because artist would never allow them selves to work under florescent lights 😉 So currently I'm taking classes for each, very different, Major.
Does anyone know if my fears have any ground? how lucky would one be working for a small business, or working for a small firm? What type of major, or what departments would give the most flexibility for none cubical work? How are the outlooks on those types of jobs? Are they in demand? increasing in demand?
How about a BA vs a BS in CS? I'm not too afraid of the BS, but it would be nice to know if it is required for. If the majority of CS majors are all BAs, and all the BS go on to do work at NASA, then perhaps there isn't a reason for killing myself for a BS in CS, and perhaps double majoring with a BA in an art related computer field.
I grew up under the computer boom, my love for computers and high interest has always been praised by my elders, who always told me there will be a great need for people that know computers. Unfortunately I fear I may be late to that game. With the dotcom collapse, and every kid my age and older coming out of college with a BS/BA in computer fields, will there be any demand at all? Will I need to do graduate work in order to have the edge needed to keep from getting paid min wage? Are there emerging fields in computer work that I could aim for?
That's all for now 😉
Tyler
Earendil
- Hoping OSX will take over the world, and all of us here at Macrumros will be getting paid 200K a year because we're the only ones that know what OSX is.
MacFan26
macrumors 65816
Earendil said:
I'm going for the BS in CS. I don't see as much value in the BA since it seems like most companies require a BS or an MS. As far as a demand for CS majors, I think it's kind of hard to tell. Some people say that the demand for computer programmers is going to be the largest growing demand over the next decade, and others say that there will be no market for it. While it does seem like everyone has a computer related degree, far less are actual CS majors. There are more business oriented computer graduates out there like MIS or CIS. I think there will still be demand in computer fields, since computers aren't going anywhere, and more and more people rely on them everyday. But then again, what do I know?
Earendil
macrumors 68000
übergeek said:
Yeah, I didn't know there was a BA in comp sci either until I looked 😉
Actually, I'm not at all thrilled about all the Math classes I need for the BS 🙁
I ask because a double major sounds to me, right now, as a possibility. I programed C/C++ from the ages of 12-15, but had crap happen as a 16 y.o. (school became hard, got a job, still didn't have a gf, lost all my friends) and so by the time I got my life together didn't pick up programing, but instead messed with Macromedia Flash and Web Dev through 17 and 18. Now as a 19 y.o. I've fallen in love with Photography, and so have taken the time to dig deep into PS.
So though I think Comp Sci would more naturally to me (always been more math/logical minded than artistic), My current passion is in Animation and Digital image manipulation/Photography.
A BS in Comp sci leaves very very little room for other classes in the arts. and if a BA is good enough, I'll take the BA in Comp Sci, and work on a BA in Graphic Design (or the like) as well.
But that's just what I *LIKE*, I don't have a friggin clue what I want to do, or even what my options are!
All else failing, I'll take a BS in whatever, and go to Medical School 😉 😀
Tyler
Earendil
spaceballl
macrumors 68030
I'm an electrical engineering major at UCSD. Out of college, these are some of the highest paying jobs. However, engineering salaries top off in the low 6 digits. And **** taking the hardest major at the school. It makes life a bitch. I'm a semester away from graduating and my advice is that unless you are very passionate about digital logic, analog circuits, and class averages of 35% on exams, don't be an EE major.
-Kevin
-Kevin
iShater
macrumors 604
übergeek said:
I got a BA in Comp Sci, I still took the programming classes, math, etc. but I also ended up taking classes in Political Science, History, Religious Studies, etc. So it allowed me to do the techie stuff I love as well as experience a whole bunch of other classes that made the learning experience fun. A lot of times a BA is offered from smaller schools with a small number of students in a class, allowing you more time with the teachers, etc.
As for computer jobs being the biggest thing in the future, well, yes and no. There is a big movement to outsource pure technical jobs, like programming, however, having the abilities to be a good programmer analyst are still needed, that means managing projects, doing the design and analysis for a project.
I don't see or hear much of outsourcing in creative areas that use computers like gaming, graphics desgin, and so forth.... yet. 😀
Earendil
macrumors 68000
iShater said:
If you don't mind me asking, how has the BA worked out in the real word as far as finding a job? Many people turned up their noses in disgust at a BA, or are you finding that where there is an open job, they want you no mater what? Perhaps it's somewhere in between.
I'm going to doing near the same thing. Whitworth has 1700 or so students, and though they offer a BS, it is really intensive, and won't leave time for anything besides the core classes.
PM if you'd like to answer my questions about job seeking, but don't want it public knowledge.
Tyler
Earendil
jeremy.king
macrumors 603
Earendil said:
I have a BA in CS and Math and had no problems finding a job. In my experience, I have never had a company balk at my resume because I had a BA. In fact I am on my third job since graduating in 99. I started in consulting, then left for a full time software position, and decided I like consulting, so I went back.
I wouldn't be too concerned, in fact, IMO a BA shows you are more well rounded. Heck my school only had 1200 total enrolled - although its quite well known in the well-to-do (aka yuppies) circles.
Feel free to PM or email me if you have any questions.
übergeek said:
it may be a little rural for you but Virginia Tech is a great school if you're thinking that way. It's not ivy league, but it is esteemed, inexpensive, and in a great setting with low crime. Not to mention the party scene is off the wall and it's an ACC school.
Phonemonkey
Rob587 said:
If you want to do law, I'd suggest you do history (worst case scenario, Jimmy Buffett and George W. Bush majored in history, if that gives you any idea where you could possibly wind up if you decide after the BA or BS to be neither a historian nor a lawyer...point being that you can get into just about anything) and/or political science. The most math you'd run into while going towards a history degree might be statistics. And if you do okay on an LSAT, law school awaits, and beyond that (God willing) the most money you can get outside of the hectic world of public relations for persuading people for a living.
iShater
macrumors 604
Earendil said:
Nobody looked at the BA vs BS when interviewing me. I had a CompSci degree and that is what they looked for. You have to keep in mind, that in addition to your degree, work experience in school (computer center, library computer, unix admin, etc. etc.) also scores good points on showing your abilities.
I am on my 2nd job since graduating in 1998 (ok, i finished a semester early in Dec. 1997), been in this one for 6 years now. Hmm... maybe it is time to move.
😀
I was searching on google for information on computer orientated majors and I stumbled upon this thread. I'm going to be a senior next year at my high school and recently I've been trying to figure out what it is I want to major in exactly. The two areas I am most considerate of are: computer programming/computer systems analysis and journalism. Would it somehow be possible for me to persue both interests? I love computer programming.. but also I love building computers and working with hardware components.. but then there's also software development.. oh yeah then there's journalism.. I love writing and reporting and so on.. I just don't know what to do.. any suggestions?
Atleast I have it determined this far though I guess, heh.
Todd
Atleast I have it determined this far though I guess, heh.
Todd
MacFan26
macrumors 65816
ToddS05 said:
Computer Science is probably the most broad major. It will be mostly programming, but if you end up not liking that, you can switch to Computer Engineering and probably will have already completed some of your necessary courses. If you want to be a journalist, you could write about computers 😀 😉
Don't assume you have to make a once in a lifetime decision and stick with it forever. Explore all your interests. For the particular ones you mention, it sounds to me as if you'd like being a researcher/reporter for a computer-oriented magazine. For Macs, it could be Macworld Magazine. They get prerelease hardware and software, try it, take apart hardware, run software through its paces, and then write about it to let the rest of us in on what they find, both online and in print.ToddS05 said:
People will debate endlessly about whether programming alone is a good enough skill on which to base a future job, so let me make a less extreme claim: that having some programming skill will give you a better understanding of everything computer-related you'll deal with, from the operating system to the applications you use and from your own computer to the servers you use on the Internet. So take advantage of the classes your high school offers, and include both computer classes and journalism.
If they dare to offer you only one major or the other, write down your own cross-major description (stating your interests and the specific classes you'd take in both categories) and walk in to the counselor's office with your own proposed major. Or try and squeeze in the classes for a double major.