<p>After a lot of thoughtful thinking of what to pursue, I've decided that since I LOVE computers, I figure I'd do either Comp Eng, or Comp Sci. However, I find programming extremely boring, which could be a problem. Maybe I just had a really boring APCS teacher?</p>
<p>One of my main concerns is salary. Generally a good comp eng makes something around 100k, but that's not enough. Which is why I was also considering doing investment banking, or get my MBA, or do international business since I'm fluent in english and japanese. </p>
<p>Could I double major in comp sci/eng and some sort of business management? and then be able to do computers and business, perhaps work my way up to upper management?</p>
<p>I'm really confused as to what to do. I'd really appreciate some insight or advice!</p>
<p>^ If you don’t like programming, both majors will be pretty painful. Sad, perhaps, but true. If you want to work with computers in industry, either as a comp. eng. or as a comp sci. or soft. eng., programming is going to be part of the job. Be thankful if you have a job the worst aspect of which is that it can be boring.</p>
<p>$100k is not enough? Wow. Well, you’d want to move into management then. I would suggest doing either comp. sci. or comp. eng. (doesn’t much matter) and then think about a big-name MBA or something. It might be beneficial to work for a while and then get into the management fast track before starting your MBA studies, but others will have more experience with this. I would definitely think that a big-name MBA will be more valuable to you than a double major at this stage. If you decide to go this route, make sure you check the requirements of some big-name MBA programs and take all the required coursework.</p>
<p>If you plan to specialize in something computer-related for your MBA, those courses will be more of the information systems-type courses (databases, networks, knowledge management, etc) and less of the foundations-type of computer science courses.</p>
<p>As a persective college student going to be major in EE, I too have the same delimma. I like circuitry and programming but from what I hear, engineers have little room for growth in term of salary. It’s not that engineers doesn’t make enough for a healty living, but knowing the fact that the possibility is limited by your profession is quite discouraging.</p>
<p>Not to hijack the thread, but I wonder how long does it take to get a master in engineering and then a MBA? Is it worth it or the higher degree in engineering is just a waste of time and will not have much use after getting a job in management.</p>
<p>I don’t know how it is in the other engineering areas, but as far as salary progression in Computer Science/I.T., there are a few things to note:</p>
<p>1) Work on defense contracts that support INTEL agencies like FBI, CIA and NSA. The security clearance you need will give you a $20,000-$40,000 boost alone.</p>
<p>2) Piggybacking on #1, if you are a good enough expert in a certain area, you can be an independent contractor and bill at $90-$120/hour ($180,000-$240,000 yearly).</p>
<p>3) Mid-level management in more and more tech firms now make the same or even less than the senior, principal and chief engineers.</p>
<p>“Which is why I was also considering doing investment banking”</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, why? I did some research on this job and it seems like an awful job. Super hard to get into, super long hours, basically a highly glorified salesman. Obviously you’re going to tell me for the money, but there’s great money in other fields (and other fields within Finance too, ones that sound like much better jobs overall and can actually put an engineering degree to work). And I can’t really imagine the type of person who is considering middle-management in an engineering company, or investment banking, they are complete opposites.</p>
<p>Once some of these management-aspiring folks actually do engineering/I.T. management, they will be begging to go back to being a grunt engineer. My senior director keeps sending out an e-mail asking if any of us wants the technical management position (which is a lateral move…you are just not billing clients) and has no takers. The former tech manager went back to designing networks.</p>
<p>…and now we get fresh grads to do project management. PM’s have to set up meetings and work 10-11 hour days (and only paid for 8 hours). Senior tech folks with kids and other obligations rather do 8 hours.</p>