Computer Science and Statistics, Engineering, or Fiance/Economics and Stats/Computer Science?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Indiana University - Bloomington
1

I’ve really been struggling with picking a major in college. I am a rising sophomore, and I am considering a major in Computer Science and Statistics, Engineering, or Fiance/Economics and Stats/Computer Science?

I really like the idea of computer science, but I have never programmed before (I am using sites like code academy to teach myself but I’m really bad at learning by myself). I feel like there are so many opportunities/way one can apply his/her knowledge of computer science that by picking that major I’m not limiting myself.

On the other hand, I really like the life sciences. I was a premed major up until this summer when I realized there was no way I could become a doctor (and I’m not that passionate about the medical field in general). So I was thinking about switching to engineering. I would only go into electrical engineering, computer engineering, or biomedical engineering because that’s where my interests lie. I really enjoyed AP physics in high school because it REALLY challenged me and I saw the everyday applications in real life, which was very cool to me.

I am afraid that if I pick computer science over engineering, I will lose that life sciences knowledge that I really enjoy and will end up hating my job because it might be mind numbing/tough to keep up with new languages.

To be honest I can see myself as an engineer but I know that I will have to work really hard to get there because I am a slow learner. I am okay at math (above average, but not spectacular); I took Calc AB in high school because Calc BC was too hard for me. It was easy to get an A in Calc AB, but in Calc BC I would always get C’s… so it was one extreme or the other.

My last option was Fiance or Economics with a Dual degree in Computer Science or Statistics. I REALLY want to start my own business. That is my ultimate goal in life, but I’m just not that passionate about business as a degree. I want to be looking at my own financials, not other companies’ financials and trying to invest based off the stock market. On the other hand, having a bachelors degree in a business area would probably help me understand how to set up my own company and how to make my own investments. Another good point about business is that I live in Chicago where that culture is huge, so there are a lot of jobs.

I don’t know. Any advice would help.

2

I think that a Bio-medical engineering degree would be most suitable. You can certainly get some exposure in business related courses. You should look into the combined degree/program opportunity in Purdue University.

3

IU has a pretty good Public Health program, and depending on how you put it together, Biostatistics (may be in Indianapolis as graduate) may be doable.

Depending on how good you think you can get with programming, and assuming you’ve been a regular at Jordan Hall for a while, you could continue on biology and focus on Computational or Systems Biology. I think more of the work is in Indy but at the undergrad level (whether Informatics side or Biology side) should be doable in Bloomington. Check this professor for example: http://www.bio.indiana.edu/faculty/directory/profile.php?person=mwh

Be prepared for a super long time in school as CompBio jobs require a graduate degere of some kind, but it’s cutting edge stuff. Also, to get better at coding, try the Coding Bat site, it’s pretty good.

The triplet of focus in Comp Sci, Statistics, and Life Sciences also leads one to Analytics for health care, another good area of focus. My wife spent 15 years working in Life Sciences software and analytics, with degrees in both CS and Stats. Adding Bio to the mix will make it even a better mix.

4

IU-B doesn’t offer electrical engineering degrees, so you’re sadly out of luck there. Purdue (or IUPUI) could do that for you!

However, IU just christened a new Intelligent Systems Engineering degree program.
https://www.engineering.indiana.edu/
They do have a bioengineering focus. However, I’m unsure whether the program is accredited. It certainly doesn’t have a track record.