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i want to go into either computer science or engineering, but many people discourage me, saying all of those types of jobs are being shipped off to india and china. Indeed they have a point, there was just an article about this in my local newspaper about how grads in tech fields are having trouble finding entry-level jobs. How grim is the situation? should i look for a career in one of my other areas of interest?

By Becks777 (Becks777) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 08:11 pm: Edit

Yeah- same problem here. I hear stories like that too. But the 2 good things are

1. Computer Science, as i have been told is a ver broad field with lots of specific programs. So you can always research and find a field in demand an go with it
2. U can always change your major in college in case u become sure that its not worth it. Probelm with that is CS is the hardest major in most colleegs and hence most competitive: so Selecting CS is taking risk. similarly transferring to CS is not easy either.

Accpeted- UIUC- Computer Science

By Wdlynn (Wdlynn) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 09:01 pm: Edit

Well, for a very long time (since 7th grade) I've planned on going to college for computer science. I enjoy programming immensely, and I've focused my high school curriculum as much towards computer science as possible, taking both parts of the Computer Science AP course (both in C++ and Java) along with quite a few other business-level computer courses.

Of course, for a while computer science was THE hot field. Unfortunately, quite a few people were attracted to the field because of this, and when the dot-coms exploded there were quite a few comp sci majors who were put out of work.

The major problem, in my opinion, with going to school for computer science or computer engineering at the moment, is that when you get out of school you're going into the job market (a job market where experience is a very valuable commodity) competing for jobs against people who lost their jobs to the tech-crash and therefore have that work experience on their resume which you won't. Many jobs, as you said, are migrating to India and elsewhere, and someone who has experience in the field and has worked in a business environment is going to be hired over someone fresh out of college hands down.

Another problem I've realized with computer science is that I personally don't want to spend my career sitting behind a computer in a lab or cubicle with little to no human interaction throughout my workday. While I know that computer science is often a team-oriented occupation where you operate in a software team on certain projects, the truth is that many days are spent staring at a computer monitor debugging someone else’s code (your first few years in a computer science related job are bound to require this sort of tedium). While I used to be very passionate about this type of career, I've realized that I'd prefer something more business (and human) oriented.

So personally, I have begun to look towards other majors. I have still applied to the University of Virginia Engineering Department, where I would go into Computer Engineer if I am accepted and choose to attend. I have also applied to the College of William & Mary, among others, where (if I am accepted and choose to attend) I hope to major in business and minor in CS.

I’m not sure how relevant this is to your question, but I thought I’d share my circumstances as someone who has also a large degree of interest in computer science. Good luck.

By Becks777 (Becks777) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 09:38 pm: Edit

A minor in CS is not a bad idea at all
Another problem with the major is that, once u garduate u get a great job with a great salary. But after 4-6 years the things you learnt become old- new programming language/technology/ softwares come in and companies then recruit fresh graduates who have learnt all the new stuff. holding onto your job is not that easy then.

By Kyle8744 (Kyle8744) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 10:23 pm: Edit

becks: thats why you gotta keep up the latest trends i guess.

from what i've heard, the people with masters and sometimes BSes in compsci do the higher level logic, while the more tedious programming is delegated to computer programmers with associates degrees.... not sure if thats true though...

while i do enjoy progreamming very much at the moment, i'm scared theres one day where i will get bored of it... so thats why i was considering computer engineering, because that deals with some of the hardware/electrical engineering aspect as well.

I don't know how all of this is going to work out. Although i've taken almost no business courses (business classes are a joke in my high school, guaranteed A with no effort required) i am very interested in business and if the computer science related job market implodes while i'm halfway through college, i would like to become a financial analyst (not sure what i would major in to do this) and minor in CS/CE.

Another option which someone suggested to me, is to specialize in network engineering or robots, both of which require on-site expertise and cannot be easily outsourced. what do you thinkg of this?

By Becks777 (Becks777) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 06:08 pm: Edit

Haha- we had a seminar in school today and the speaker ( very well known and respected) told us that the top three jobs in demand in 5-6 years are gonna be that of anAccountant, Nurses, and IT ( or anything related to computers)

And one more thing: people look down upon IT jobs since most of them are held by immigrants. But the fact is that IT people make tons of money. My dads one, and yes hes an indian immigrant but hes making well over 100000 a year

By Digmedia (Digmedia) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 06:32 pm: Edit

I still remember a guidance counselor telling some (not college-bound) students: "Computers are the future. And computers can't work without punch-cards. So if you want a job that doesn't require college and you want that job will be around for a long time, learn how to use a keypunch machine."

Now only people as old as I am even KNOW what a keypunch machine is (was).

Programming - as an end in itself - is, I think, a non-starter. Programming people are a commodity, and many of these jobs are being outsourced. I lump a lot of CS into two types of people: those who USE the tools and equipment being designed and developed vs. those who design and develop the tools and equipment. I have done a lot of programming in my career, but I've always gone after the research and development jobs. To me, it's a lot more fun to write a compiler than to use a compiler.

One exception I had until recently had been in the creative area - digital art and media (animation, etc). But I think a significant portion of these jobs will be outsourced as well. But designing the TOOLS for these jobs will continue to keep you on the bleeding edge ... and employed.

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 11:13 pm: Edit

Digmedia:

I do know what a keypunch machine (and punchcards) are... but then again, I'm the proud owner of a slide rule and a Smith-Corona typewriter.

By Kyle8744 (Kyle8744) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 12:54 pm: Edit

well, if i end up majoring in CS, then working for a few years only to find that there arent any good jobs, i can always go back to school for a couple years and get an MBA or somesuch...

By Becks777 (Becks777) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 03:20 pm: Edit

And spend some more 50000-100000 dollars!

By Kyle8744 (Kyle8744) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 04:38 pm: Edit

wow, does graduate school really cost THAT much?

By Kyle8744 (Kyle8744) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 04:40 pm: Edit

o well, if my mom found a way to pay for 4 years of college and then 4 more years of medical school, i'm sur e i could find a way to pay for it. plus, the MBA thing assumes i would work for a few years in the CS field before deciding that there was no future there for me.

By Rnwillits (Rnwillits) on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 11:53 am: Edit

How is the market in CS for a female in the future? I might get a MBA to go along with the major in CS.