CS or Engineering?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hi</p>

<p>I'm having trouble trying to decided what to do. I like computers and spend a ton of time on them, but after trying to learn programming I'm not sure I have the right type of brain for CS. I seem to get bogged down by the very logical way of thinking that it requires (not that I'm dumb) I just don't know if I have to try harder or if it's that my brain isn't wired that way. Has anyone else experienced this? I always thought that people who are meant to be good CS majors take to programming like a bird to flight, you know?</p>

2

<p>i love the “very logical way of thinking that it requires”</p>

<p>it’s like solving logic puzzles. the only difference is that, programming assignments are not usually that hard of a puzzle compared to those in the puzzle book. </p>

<p>and it’s very gratifying once you solve it.</p>

3

<p>What do you like about computers?</p>

<p>CS isn’t really as much about computers as you’d think from the name. It’s about the math and the thinking that goes into making them do things. Yes, computation is done on computers, and this is the main thing that CS degrees gear towards. But CS (and even SE) is really about the processes and as such has as much to do with real life as it does with software.</p>

<p>Do you like math? Not necessarily calculus, per se, but things like puzzles, probability and statistics? Do you like taking a problem and figuring out how to solve it? For instance, do you play Sudoku or tic-tac-toe? Can you imagine writing down a set of rules to play the games and win, or at least do well?</p>

<p>I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… liking computers isn’t really necessary or sufficient to the study of CS. For instance, I don’t have a cell phone because I feel that technology takes up too much of our time. I am somewhat hypocritically not a fan of personal and frivolous use of the internet. Etc.</p>

<p>I hate to bring you down, and I really don’t want to discourage you, especially since programming is by no means the essence of CS. In fact, the way I see programming is that it is a necessary evil, a useful skill to know (like speaking French or juggling) that can aid in understanding.</p>

<p>Perhaps there are majors better suited to your tastes… such as Information Technology, Management Information Systems, etc. There’s nothing wrong with realizing that the math, logic, and intense programming isn’t necessarily for you and going with one of the Information options.</p>

<p>(And if you’re not big on math, science, and logical thinking, most of what I said will apply to engineering as well.)</p>

4

<p>I like using them to find information and read various tech idustry news sites. I keep up to date on the latest tech that comes out and like to know what is happening.</p>

<p>I am not great at math (probably a C student) and do try to avoid it if possible. I have heard that IT degrees other than CS are looked down upon and have limited prospects. What exactly are the differences between CS and the information side? (I could look up some course info, but in general?) I thought that mostly it was all to do with processing information. </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

5

<p>What languages have you tried programming in?</p>

6

<p>If you don’t like math, CS is going to be terrible. Bear that in mind.</p>

<p>If you’re into technology and its uses, and how to get computer hardware and software to work together to do something, IT or MIS isn’t a bad option.</p>

<p>IT and MIS is only looked down upon by people who feel that the amount of math in a degree directly correlates with its usefulness/difficulty. You could check the BLS OOH for careers and outlooks for those with an IT or MIS degree.</p>

<p>Your actual choice of degree isn’t that big of a deal. What you need is good letters of recommendation, good job experience, and a good GPA (as well as good courses). If you think you’d keep getting Cs in the math-oriented classes or the programming-oriented classes, then you’d probably be gunning for between a 2.5 and a 3.0. Not a bad GPA, but not stellar. If you could get a 3.5 to 4.0 in IT/MIS, that would be better in two ways: it would be easier on you / you’d learn more, and employers would see that you know yourself pretty well and understand what it is you like to do / are good at.</p>

<p>New technology is cool, but 90% of the stuff you’ll ever do in CS will be on older or theoretical machines… you’ll cover more or less the basics.</p>

<p>Like I said, I don’t mean to be discouraging, but if you don’t like math or programming, and are only into computers because you like to keep abreadst of new developments in technology, you should probably avoid CS/SE and engineering in general. It would just be too hard for too little payoff.</p>