<p>Here is my background. I've really wanted to go to UCLA and I am content that I got in, except I am not thrilled about my major. I was accepted as a chicano studies major, and I really just decided to picked this major to have a greater chance of being accepted. I am will be switching it to statistics. However, my true passion lies in computer science, especially since I want a career in the software industry. I got accepted UCSC and UCSD as a computer science major, but I am not thrilled about attending these universities. I really wanted to go to UCLA because of a few reasons. The first reason is that my childhood best friend is attending UCLA. The second reason, I am a little embarrassed to admit, but I would be a lot closer to my crush. She works in the West LA area, about six minutes from UCLA, so communication would be a lot easier. I feel like going to UCSD or UCSC would kill my chances with her. I am content with studying statistics as long as it leads to to a career in software or CS grad school. So that leaves me with a few questions. Is statistics useful in computer science? In other words can it lead to CS graduate school or a job in the software industry. P.S., I am a transfer student. </p>
<p>You can become a software developer with a degree in anything, just be one bad*** coder and designer. I have hired senior developers and directors of software development. I cannot remember anything about the degrees any of them got in college. Their portfolios were out of this world, and the work they had produced was top-notch; that is what mattered.</p>
<p>Yes, you can become a software developer from any background through self-education of needed CS concepts.</p>
<p>However, self-education requires a reasonably strong self-motivation; if you are going to college anyway, it is advantageous to learn CS with the help of instructors to give you some structure in your learning, particularly if your self-motivation is not as strong.</p>
<p>Strong relationships do survive temporary separation due to school or professional residency.</p>