<p>It seems like computer science majors come out making $60,000 on average as a starting salary. But, is that from those top 50 schools, or can it be from any school? The college I go to is Portland State University, so it's not a top school. </p>
<p>But it is close to seattle, lol. I'm thinking of switching my major to comp sci, and I'm already a junior by credit hours, but what's another 2 years of college, right? I used to be pre-med but I hate the idea of working 60-80 hour weeks for the rest of my life. I'm okay with those hours for maybe 2-3 years in my early twenties, but not when I am raising kids when I am 30+. (Im female). I'd prefer a regular schedule type of job 9-5, 40 hours a week, that can be fun. </p>
<p>I also really want to design my own website and/or mobile app. I think it would be pretty fun to do this, as I could get all my creativity out and going! That is why I was thinking about computer science. </p>
<p>Do you think it will be worth it to get a computer science degree? I know some people suggest to just study programming on your own, but I need a BS in at least something, and it is paid by my parents (but they will only pay for this particular school, so I can't transfer out since I have to live with them). </p>
<p>My college GPA so far is a 3.5 GPA, and I have done like 2 terms of calc-based physics, biology, and one year of general chemistry already, as I was a pre-med. </p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with going to a state school. I don’t know much about CS in particular, but I do know that it helps to learn the in-demand languages. Do some research (or perhaps someone else can chime in) on what languages companies are requesting on job postings. Learn these languages well, maintain good grades (3.0+), and you should have no problem finding a job that will allow you to keep a work-life balance.</p>
<p>And as far as work-life balance is concerned, small companies and start-ups are most likely to want to work you to the bone. These companies expect a lot out of less employees, but the work is usually fast paced and more exciting. Medium-to-large size companies generally offer better stability, nicer benefits, and more flexible hours, but the work is often tedious and less exciting.</p>
<p>One of my former CS thesis advisers is at PDX CS ^:)^ </p>
<p>If you’re shooting for a Google/Facebook type position school matters. The rest of us get by fine with degrees from not so well known universities. </p>
<p>Work hours can be an issue, but at the right company you can have a life and work too. What matters in CS is skill sets, project experience, co-op, research and the like. Plus you need to know whether you have the Talent for writing code. It’s a bit like what the Aes Sedai have in The Wheel of Time, if you get my drift. Most people can write decent code, but from my 30 years in this, maybe 1 in 10 is the exceptional type to whom coding is natural. </p>
<p>Look at PDX CS and see what research is going on and whether you’d like to work in one area vs another. Maybe talk to one of the advisers and see what you can do, maybe take some class in summer and see how you like it.</p>