Math Major/Computer Science, Engineering Major, other and other variations...

College Majors
1

<p>I can't decide what I want to do with my life. All of the work I've done in my life has led me to this point: what now? You guys may not take me as serious, seeing as I am a rising senior, but is it not important that I have some idea of what I want to do when I'm applying?</p>

<p>Math--I love math and I'm pretty good at it. I'm not a calculator and I didn't take calc. as a freshmen, but I have received exemplary grades in the courses I have taken. There is something about it that really makes me want to choose it, but I'm still not sure. I don't know whether I can handle it (I've received all A's in math and math is my best subject, but I don't know if I'm math major material.)</p>

<p>Computer Science: Then there is comp sci. I don't know much about it, but I was thinking about taking it with applied mathematics. Although the point is, I don't know much about it. It seems like something I might be interested but I don't know how whether I will be good at it or whether, once again, it will be too much.</p>

<p>Engineering: I've abandoned this idea after a summer engineering program, but I wonder whether the program was misleading. The idea of becoming an engineer has intrigued me since I was a child but now I'm not sure what I want to do--this is a lie because I've been unsure about the future for a long time; I have just been lying to myself for a really long time.</p>

<p>Other: and then there is other. Perhaps I'm suppose to do something else. I just don't know.</p>

<p>I have a lot of doubts about the future; in fact, I'm doubting all of my major choices. Can someone shed some light on this situation? I'm lost.</p>

<p>Btw, another reason why I'm bringing this up is because if i'm going to apply as an engineer then I need to be sure before I go to a college.</p>

2

<p>Firstly, it does not much matter what one applies for. A significant percentage of students change their intended majors during college, and changing majors is not too big of a deal.</p>

<p>Being good at math and majoring in math are two different things. Just because you are not a “calculator” does not mean you are fit for the rigor, commitment, and creativity that the subject demands. I think it a good idea for you to read up a little more about maths in general, just to get a general grasp of things. I would start with, say, Brief History of Infinity: The Quest to Think the Unthinkable<a href=“Cleqq,%202003”>/U</a> and Zero A Biography Of A Dangerous Idea<a href=“Seife,%202000”>/U</a>. The two books go hand-in-hand and compliment each other very well. To get a tad bit more technical you can try The Poincar</p>

3

<p>If you are undecided, I would start by applying to engineering. It is much easier to change majors from engineering to math or cs than to change from anything else into engineering. In fact, you probably would have to apply to transfer into the engineering school but could simply elect to change majors if you wanted out of engr and into math.</p>

4

<p>Another question: which can a person be more successful in?
Both offer a lot, but are engineering and math truly equal in post graduation salary, job availability, etc.</p>

5

<p>Hey Magicmonkey511, could you please tell me some areas in which a person with a math degree can find work? My daughter is interested in studying math.</p>

6

<p>Math is one of the most practical majors. So, anything. </p>

<p>It is very versatile. For example, a math major can go into accounting and make a three digit salary out of college. The thing about taking math in college is it allows people to think in a different way and corporations seek that. </p>

<p>If that is what is dissuading your daughter from pursuing a career in mathematics, then she has nothing to worry about–just needs to make it through. The reason I’m not sure about my intended major is I don’t know what is right for me. </p>

<p>By the way, I had asked the question about salary because people can be very successful with both careers.</p>

7

<p>haha. but a three digit salary just isn’t very good, is it? :)</p>

8

<p>I’ll try to speak for CS.</p>

<p>There are six distinct kinds of courses you’ll take as a CS major.</p>

<p>The first kind is general ed courses, stuff that everybody takes that isn’t of much direct help to your studies. The second kind is technical and scientific courses that aren’t really so important either, but that not everybody has to do (read: most non-discrete math, science, maybe some engineering stuff). This is pretty much useless for 90% of what a CS major does, except for the fact that it probably makes you a better person, or something.</p>

<p>The third kind is courses in programming. You’ll probably have several of these. Each will be similar - probably using C++ or Java, or more esoteric languages, to solve assorted computational problems. You’ll probably have to do some design work, maybe some team projects, etc. These are generally pretty fun and pretty useful but they’re not what CS is about, really.</p>

<p>The fourth kind of course is the hardware courses. You’ll learn some basic stuff about circuits, computer organization, computer architecture, etc. If this is your kind of thing, I guess it would be fun. If not, then (like me) just grin and bear it.</p>

<p>The fifth kind of course is the software engineering courses. I’ll include under this heading not only the process, modeling, quality assurance, formal methods, etc. type courses, but also ones like operating systems, networks, programming languages, etc. This is where you learn stuff about computing that’s not primarily programming or theory, but just sort of general-knowledge facts about how to do it and what can be done.</p>

<p>The sixth kind of course is the theory and discrete math stuff. Personally, I feel that this is what ties the whole CS curriculum together. Formal languages, algorithms, and discrete math (combinatorics, graph theory, enumeration, discrete probability, mathematical logic, etc.) form the core of this.</p>

<p>As far as employability goes, you can check the BLS OOH for CS and Engineering. For math it’s more complicated because math doesn’t funnel into a single career… but between CS and Engineering (and I imagine CS and Math), CS job opportunities beat out any single engineering field by a long shot.</p>