Computer Science Without Experience...?

<p>Hey guys, I've recently been pondering what kind of engineering discipline I want to pursue. Right now I've been in ChemE, but after taking organic chemistry I can't imagine going any further. I ended up with a C in orgo, and I've always loved chemistry up to this point but I wish to pursue it no more. I've been thinking about mechanical engineering, but I was never good at physics in high school (at least kinematics, electricity was more straight forward for me), so I don't know if it's a good idea. </p>

<p>Another alternative I've been thinking lately is computer science. The innovations that have been made in the field excites me, and I want to be a part of it. I have no experience with programming, which is why I'm writing this for help. I'd particularly be interested in software engineering or game design. I've always loved watching behind the scenes videos of game development and seeing how they're made and it's just so fascinating to me. Software engineering on the other hand is much more broad, leaving lots of opportunities. Any comp sci majors/grads that can help me out?</p>

<p>Another option would be to stick to chemical engineering and just tough it out...all of these are good degrees and all interest me and I would appreciate opinions :)</p>

<p>Any advice? Take some programming courses before you decide. It’s not for everybody. </p>

<p>How far along in college are you? What are you doing this summer? Can you take a programming class this summer at a local community college? Or else find an online class, or just self study? </p>

<p>One thing to note. Ochem isn’t the entirety of chemistry. Like everything else, thats just one branch of it. If you don’t like ochem, fine. But don’t give up on the degree just because you don’t like one class. Many ChE don’t even touch chemistry (very much) after graduation. </p>

<p>Based on your skill set, you might want to try Electrical engineering involves E&M phenomena. </p>

<p>Computer science, I second colorado_mom. The logic can be very difficult. Not only do you have to know how to do the task logically, you have to write it in a way, the compiler and thus the program understands. Its long process and may not be for you.</p>

<p>Some introductory CS textbooks that you can self-study and do the examples and exercises in to see how much you will like CS:</p>

<p><a href=“http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/”>http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://composingprograms.com/”>http://composingprograms.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>As noted above, EE may be of interest to you if you like the E&M part of physics.</p>

<p>If what you made it through organic, you made it through the toughest part. Don’t give up now. . It gets better. Next class should be Physical Chemistry which I found to be much more enjoyable than organic. </p>