<p>My mom seriously wants me to pursue a computer science major for college. However, what she doesn't seem to understand is that I AM NOT INTERESTED IN THIS FIELD. I really want to major in accounting/finance because I do really well in math and because this field has a huge job availability. My mom however argues that when the eoon goes down, these jobs are the first to be laid off. What she doesn't realize is that computer science is one of the hardest fields out there and not only am I scared of the rigorous amount of work involved in that field but I'm also just not interested in computer programming. Moreover, competition is extremely competitive within this field. If i were to pursue comp sci, my mom wants me to go into georgia tech (which is notoriously hard in obtaining a decent GPA). My mom says that by choosing accounting and finance, i am choosing the "easy way out" of life. However, finance and accounting may seem relatively easier compared to computer science, but it does not make it easy. My dream school is to pursue finance and accounting at Boston College. I have the grades. But my mom wants me to spend my years of hardwork pursuing a different passion that I never even enjoyed. Maybe I am being a bit biased because I never actually took a computer science class, but I know from experience that programming and science both don't interest me as much as business and math. This isn't the first time my mom has chosen a path for me. She made me play the piano and violin, while I wanted to play cello. I'm going to be an adult in about a year and I really want my mom to stop dictating my life and constantly making me feel guilty for choosing finance and accounting as my desired major.</p>
<p>Also, she’s really bitter about my preferences. So talking to her nicely won’t work out. Heck, talking to her at all about this will get her to scream at me. My dad doesn’t care about what I do because he just doesn’t care about the family at all. Ultimately, whatever my mom says goes. </p>
<p>Tell her a lot of programming jobs have been sent overseas and a lot of the ones still here are given to H1-B visa workers.
However, how about taking an intro programming class now (online in HS) to get exposure anyway? Even if you go into accounting or finance, knowing how to program is always an advantage. From your post I have a feeling that you are biased against CS because your mom is pushing it; if you like Math I think you won’t find it that hard.
Edit to add: I suggest taking an online (free) programming course as a strategy to lessen the conflict between you and your mom and as a way of you getting more evidence to support the argument that it is not the field for you.</p>
<p>While it’s good to consider practicality, one also should consider their interests. If a career choice is going to make you miserable during half your waking hours on weekdays, then that misery is probably not going to be worth whatever the difference is in salary or job prospects is over accounting/finance. If the college doesn’t admit by major, you might compromise and choose a college that offers majors in both finance/accounting and CS, take intro classes in both fields, and after having that experience decide which field you’d prefer to pursue. </p>
<p>While in college, you might also find you prefer something completely different from these 2 areas, perhaps a field you didn’t even know existed while in HS. A very large portion of college students end up entering a completely different field than they had planned on in HS. For example, the numbers below show the difference in career plans between Harvard’s freshman and senior surveys:</p>
<p>Top 4 Fields in Freshmen Survey (expected field 10 years after grad date):
Medicine/Health – 24%
Government/Politics – 15%
Technology/Engineering – 11%
Business (non–entrepreneurship) – 10%</p>
<p>Top 4 Fields in Senior Survey (expected field 10 years after grad date):
Medicine/Health – 16%
Academia/Research – 11%
Entrepreneurship — 10%
Technology/Engineering – 9%</p>
<p>Looking at just these two lists, one might assume the surveys were taken at different colleges due to the drastically different results. A good portion of Harvard students seem to decide on a career in academia or entrepreneurship while in college, while a good portion changes their mind about their plans to enter government/politics or medicine.</p>
<p>Have you taken any programming classes? You might like it more than you think, or you might hate it just as much as you expect. I hated it, but my two brothers loved it. I don’t regret taking a comp sci course in college at all however. I suggest you attend a college where both majors are available and as Data10 suggests perhaps some other ones you haven’t even thought of yet. Don’t close doors while you are a freshman, keep your options open. I think good comp sci people will be in demand for a while, but it is true that many of the jobs have gone overseas. I think that accounting has the same potential to get shipped out as well. Both fields are pretty hot right now.</p>
<p>I think there may be other things that are bothering your mother right now. I suspect that Boston College is a lot further away than Georgia Tech for you and that it’s likely to be a lot more expensive. Your mother may not want to admit that’s part of what her concerns are.</p>
<p>I’m a CPA and my S just started a career in accounting and it is not an easy way out. And my S had a number of fine job offers to choose from after he graduated. (warning you do need 150 credits to be a CPA now so many go for an extra year to get a masters degree) </p>
<p>My advice would be to start off the next discussion by looking for common ground. You can make it clear that you understand the need to find a major where you can get a good job after college. You can suggest you start of in a business program where you will take classes in both accounting and information technology and that will give you a chance to see where your interests and abilities lie. </p>
<p>And I agree that I would ask if finances should be a consideration when choosing a college.</p>
<p>I was a math major. While I never took a CS course in college, I picked it up very quickly while on the job. Programming (language) is just a tool to help you solve business problems. If you can express it in a mathematical formula then you can do it in a programming language.</p>
<p>Just so you’re informed, CS is the easy way in life. Jobs are very plentiful, and will have better hours. Although, why wouldn’t you want to take the easy way in life? No one wants to work hard, it sucks. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how your mom can choose your major for you. Once you are in college, she can’t sign up for your classes, can she? Are you in-state for Georgia Tech? Why not study accounting there? I would be happy to have my kids go into either CS or accounting/finance. Is she saying she will pay for CS but not accounting/finance? If so, I think she is being unreasonable. Ask her to start trusting you to make your own decisions for your own career/life. If she screams at you, print up your original post and give it to her to read. It is not like you’re giving up CS for a field like philosophy or art (nothing wrong with those if that is where your talents/interests lie) in which employment prospects are slim.</p>
<p>I also don’t know how your mom could pick your major for you.
D2 is a philosophy major. I did get her to take one econ course, and the only course where she got a B. After that, I stayed out of her course selections. </p>
<p>You should not expect that Finance/Econ will be easier than Computer Science or CS to be easier than Fin/Econ. Both will have very difficult courses that require a lot of work and a strong background in Math/Calculus. You should definitely pursue a major that interests you. If you try to major in something you are not interested in you are more likely to struggle.</p>
<p>Forgot to mention that one of my kids was a philosophy major, another is studying art, 3rd is CS. 4th switched from CS to undeclared (interests are in art/film/music). They will all make a living somehow. (Yes, I would prefer that #4 would stay with CS, but not my decision.) </p>
<p>yes. Mine who is majoring in philosophy is also majoring in math. Though, roll eyes, she is going to then go be a chef. “The Philosopher Chef” my oldest has dubbed her</p>
<p>Finance can be really heavy in math and statistics, but undergraduate finance majors often are not. If advanced math and mathematical finance are of interest, consider a major in applied math or statistics with appropriate finance and economics electives. Actuarial careers may also be of interest to you; see <a href=“http://www.beanactuary.com”>http://www.beanactuary.com</a> .</p>
<p>Accounting does not use as advanced math. However, note that sitting for the CPA exam typically has a prerequisite of five years of college course work (including a bachelor’s or higher degree).</p>
<p>Enter college as an “undecided” major. Take a class in CS and a class in accounting. Decide which you like better and in which you get a better grade. Then talk to your mother. I think you are worrying about this way too soon. </p>
<p>I feel for you, I really do. I’m 54 now, but my Dad insisted (paid 100%) that I only study to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer of accountant. None of them interested me. But since I was intimidated by him, I decided to study accounting as I did like Math and it seemed the easiest (which is true, of the 4). Well, I never liked it enough to pursue my CPA, but did go back later and received my MBA. To this day, it is just a “job”, never has been a passion and one I never really pushed or truly excelled in. I have worked hard and am a dedicated employee for 27 years in a Financial Reporting department of my company. However, I often wish I could have pursued or found out what I truly wanted to be and sometimes still wish for that…something I had a passion for. I understand where he was coming from…he wanted me to have a “trade” type job where I could always support myself if need be. But…sigh…at the end of the day it might have been nice to do something that I loved and pushed myself at.</p>
<p>Hi OP, just a note of encouragement to say I think it’s great that you are taking a proactive approach to your college search and inviting other opinions.</p>
<p>You have rec’d some good feedback here.</p>
<p>I just want to say, don’t set your heart on BC. Not that it’s not a great school…the point is, don’t set your heart on any one college! It is so important for you to continue what you are doing now, defining your area of study (note: I did not write “major”), your financial possibilities and your geographical range. Creating a balanced list will come later. If you have the grades and are sure that you are committed (and can afford it) BC does have some wonderful merit awards by the way, tho applying early action is key.</p>