In Need Advice on What to Do With My Education (Engineering vs. IT Computer Repair)

College Majors Science Majors
1

I’m a 23 year old male currently working on an A.S degree in Science at Brookdale Community college in New Jersey. I’m getting close to completing my program with only 2 semesters left or so. I picked science because I wanted to transfer to a 4 year school after I get my associates degree and major in something else (haven’t fully decided yet). I picked science because i’ve always felt like I wanted to do something for a living that actually helps people. I’ve been leaning towards something related to the medical fields. Through majoring in science i’ve really learned a lot, and i’ve also learned that I love math and physics a lot. I’m also generally interested in biology, though I lean more towards math and physics. One field i’ve been looking at a lot is biomedical engineering. The concept of applying engineering to the human body fascinates me.

The issues I run into now are pretty much as follows… See another strength I have lies in computer repair and IT. I love building computers as a hobby and fixing them. I’m like the go-to guy in my family when things break. I’ve dabbled with programming before as well. I’ve had a lot of close friends and family tell me “Don’t do engineering. That sounds way too hard. Just be a computer tech it’s what you’re good at” Stuff like that. I know it’s dumb to care what people think and it shouldn’t matter but it’s actually affected my perception of what I want to do in life. I do love computers but it’s much more of a hobby than something i’d want to do as a career. I’m just finding the more math and science I learn the MORE I fall in love with it and the more confident I become in challenging myself. I just feel this terrible pressure to decide now what I want to do. It’s like there’s this anxiety of “What if it’s too much for you?”.

Now lets say I do complete my science program and get my A.S in science. This is probably what’s going to happen anyway. I’ll have taken plenty of math. Would it be possible to transfer to a 4 year and major in something computer related if I decided then? What opportunities would this degree hold for me? I feel like I just need a bit more experience in my classes to decide whether or not engineering of medicine is right for me. Basically i’m leaving computers as my backup plan. My head is spinning here. I need some positive vibes and ideas.

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Depends on the target four year school and the major you want to study. Take a look at the web sites of the four year schools and their requirements for each major you are interested in. If there is an existing articulation agreement for transfer credit with your community college, then take the courses that match to the requirements specified by the four year school. If there is no articulation agreement, try to find the courses at your community college with appear to match those required by the four year school.

Typical computer related majors:

  • Computer science: commonly prepares people for jobs in computer and software design, development, or research. Technically oriented.
  • Computer engineering: usually somewhat more focused on design and development of computer hardware. Technically oriented.
  • Software engineering: usually somewhat more focused on the methodology of large scale software development. Technically oriented.
  • Information technology, computer information systems, management information systems, etc.: commonly prepares people for jobs in the management and maintenance of computers and software. Usually more business-based, with some technical content (less than computer science, computer engineering, software engineering).