I’m a first semester senior at Assumption College (3.66/4.0 GPA), originally double majoring in economics and philosophy. When I began school, I didn’t know what I wanted to study or pursue as a career. I was interested in philosophy because it gave me life-skills that I didn’t have and knew I wanted. I pushed myself in both majors and was inducted into their respective honor societies (Phi Sigma Tao and Omicron Delta Epsilon). I only chose economics because my professor said I was good at it and I didn’t know whether I wanted to do business (and econ seemed like a better choice financially). I was never really passionate for it.
For a long time, I wanted to pursue math and science. I like math but struggled with it in high school, not because it was difficult, but because my home life made it difficult for me to focus on anything. People told me that I wasn’t good at it. They told me if I wasn’t “naturally” good or if I struggled or had to work hard at it, I wasn’t good and shouldn’t pursue it. When I got to college, I did well in a Pre-calc (A), Calc I (A), Stats (B/B+), and Econometrics (B). I considered what it would be like to transfer in my final semester, and it seems like it would be a better decision to finish and then pursue computer science or data science.
I started taking online open courses and I love it. While my majors have given me valuable life skills, I feel they are a mistake because they aren’t careers I wish to pursue. I’m not happy and am disinterested in the work I do. I know many engineers who are pursuing software engineering and robotics, who have told me I don’t need a bachelor’s in CS to work in the field (although it helps). Some have told me that I can teach myself and then go for a masters in CS.
My current options are:
Graduate early with a BA in Philosophy and a minor in Economics
Stay for another semester to get the double major (4 more Econ course)
Transfer in my last semester
I like option 1 most for a few reasons
Don’t have to take classes I dislike
Get to graduate early
Can start taking classes immediately
Work part-time and crush it either way
Get to learn things I like
However, some people think this would be a mistake because the double major in Economics makes me more marketable and it’s the thing that will get me jobs.
So, here are my questions:
Is it really worth pursuing something I don’t like?
Is a double in econ necessary if I plan to pursue something different?
Is a BA in Philosophy really that unmarketable even if I have work experience?
For CS:
Should I get a certificate?
Should I get 2nd bachelors? Do I need a bachelor in CS?
Should I just take classes in my spare time?
Would just taking classes/teaching myself actually get me a job?
You can teach yourself to code but it takes a long time and daily practice. Bootcamps aren’t that favored anymore because you don’t learn enough to be efficient.
You don’t get any financial aid for a second Bachelor’s. You’d have to pay for it all by yourself.
How many semesters of federal have you used up?
My advice is to keep working on your own this semester, then to start taking CS classes next semester and take all co-requisites for the CS major/minor, and don’t plan on graduating till 2019.
My school doesn’t offer CS os I was planning on graduating this semester with a BA in Phil and apply to the Ecampus available through Oregon State. It would be al title expensive, but I don’t mind spending the extra money since it’s what I want to do. Basically I just need to take one last course over winter to finish my degree. They have a 1 year accelerated 2nd bachelor’s CS program.
“Is a BA in Philosophy really that unmarketable even if I have work experience?”
I know several recent grads with philosophy majors who are doing very well.
No. Lots of people get jobs with a BA in philosophy. Especially with work experience. And philosophy has one of the highest salary growth potentials of any major, including the sciences and engineering.
You can, of course, teach yourself how to code. You could also go to a boot camp. You can even get a job by teaching yourself how to code or going to a boot camp. However, as someone who works at a tech company, I will say that there is a difference between someone who can write code and someone who is a software developer. Software developers do so much more than just write code; there’s more about computer science you need to understand to be a good developer. So take that into consideration.
Before you decide what to do (and spend money), I encourage you to actually talk to some folks who are doing jobs that you’d like to do. Reach out to some software developers with different kinds of backgrounds - some with a traditional CS major; some who taught themselves or did a boot camp or majored in something besides CS in college. Do an informational interview and ask them about their experiences. You can find them through alumni networks at your school or by reaching out on LinkedIn. You’ll hear lots of different answers and opinions, but through hearing from multiple people you may get a decent idea of what the better path for you is to the kind of job you want in the field.
I don’t think you need a BS in CS to do an MS, but I do think you need some formal coursework/prerequisites in CS.
Is it worth finishing the major in economics if I know I don’t want to go into that field? I would graduate with a BA in Philosophy, minoring in Econ. Not sure what to do.
What I’ve been thinking is, if I can take an additional course from a school nearby that runs on a quarter system, I could graduate after this current semester and enroll in OSU’s online BS in CS program. I would do the 1 year path. I checked out UMASS Amherst’s 2nd BS in CS program, but they said it would take an estimated 2 years. I’m hesitant because some people are telling me that pushing through the 4 extra courses next semester to get the double major will look good to companies and show that I have grit/can follow through with anything. Thoughts?
Would you be able to afford the online BS with zero financial aid?
If you want to take more classes, don’t graduate… the minute after you graduate, all federal and institutional aid is out, you have to be full pay and pay out of pocket. If you still have grant/loan money, use that.
I’m also dubious you can get a full major in one year at tOSU - check the fine print.
The 1 year track is intense. According to their website, I can extend it to 1.5, 2, 3, or 4 years, although I wouldn’t want to extend it longer than 1.5/2.
The only way to take more classes in CS would be to transfer in my last semester. Our CS program is new and I’ve been advised not to take anything here.
Some software engineers I know said that I don’t need a degree in CS, but that it would be helpful My main concern is that if I don’t enroll in some sort of program, I will fall behind, which is why I looked for opportunities to get the 2nd BS. A couple people mentioned I could take open courses and stuff like that. For the most part, I’d be able to afford 1/2 of the tuition for OSU’s program out of pocket and would take out the rest in federal loans.
^ you wouldn’t be allowed to take federal loans for a second Bachelor’s degree.
So yes if you want to study CS, you’d need to transfer next semester.
You don’t necessarily need a degree if you have years and years of experience with lots of work to show, but… that’s not your case.
Check the current situation (that article refers to 2012 rules).
If you still have 3 semesters of Stafford loans, you’re right according to this article they could be used for the second bachelor’s degree but loan rules have been tightened. Most I’ve only heard of not being able to get stafford loans but the people in question may have run out of loan limits.
