<p>Literally, EVERY single one of my friends say they are gonna be a comp sci major (im a senior in high school btw). its crazy, its like the entire silicon valley (where I live) is breeding comp sci majors. i know that i live in silicon valley and its the heart of IT, but really? does every male need to major in comp sci? even kids that are struggling in basic math know c++ and are becoming comp sci majors. im good at math and pretty good at science but i dont know ANY programming yet. (im taking a class next quarter). im sent most of my college apps in already, and I applied as a electrical and industrial engineering major. To be honest, im not even passionate about these fields and am having 2nd doubts. should i consider switching to accounting with a minor in economics or math and MAYBE become an actuary (i might just stay an accountant)? this was my backup. i know that we currently have an influx of accounts but is that gonna keep up? i feel like there is a shortage of accounting majors, so i feel like switching now. would a CPA get me further than an electrical or industrial engineering degree? im not really passionate about any subject, so i cant really pick something that interests me. school doesnt really interest me, but i do above average, so i might as well choose something that pays me and have hobbies on the side right?</p>
<p>Additionally, im not even sure if i can handle a engineering course load. im good at math, but im not great (i get A-'s in my honors math classes and 740 sat math scores and 780 sat math level 2 score.) so im just REALLY worried now, so im sorry for rambling a lot. i just dont want to switch my major a bunch of times cause i dont want to waste money taking a bunch of extra classes and spending more than 4 years at uni (im doing dual enrollment now, so i really should be done with uni in 3 years, cause im cutting off a year now). </p>
<p>so all im asking for is ANY advice. how are the electrical engineering and industrial engineering prospects out there? how are the accounting prospects out there? how do i decide what to major in? how long would i have to stay in college if i figure out engineering isnt for me after my freshman year of college?</p>
<p>WHY? Why would you MAJOR in this if you don’t even like the area? Do you know how miserable your life will be if you have to do something you hate, every single day? </p>
<p>@Kawaiiii i hate the liberal arts, so im for sure not majoring in english, political science, or any of that stuff. (the only MAYBE is economics). and thats why im stressing now… its the point of the post. im trying to get advice. </p>
<p>also, 70 percent of people hate their jobs. i have no right to be of that 30 percent. i value money, but at the same time, im a minimalist, so i dont care if i dont make a 6 figure salary 6 years after i graduate.</p>
<p>i just want to know if my chances of finding an EE job is even good considering the influx of comp sci majors. do you know how accounting will be in the near future?</p>
<p>@toesockshoe 90.6% of statistics on the internet are made up. </p>
<p>I have no idea about how hard it will be to get an EE or Accounting job in the future, sorry. </p>
<p>I do know that a lot of people want people in CompSci since there’s not enough of them and the people majoring in them now aren’t very strong either. </p>
<p>Most people don’t have to declare a major until the end of their soph year — you know that right? Why are you stressing? No one expects a 17 year old to know absolutely what they want to study. Go eat some more turkey and enjoy your senior year!</p>
<p>I know exactly what you mean. Those people who know those computer languages, spend all their free time writing codes and playing MMORPGs who then go and major in the subject, really tick me off. It’s because they say “but that’s all I know” and “I can’t do anything else”. I have helped at least a dozen comp. sci. students read over one of their papers from their freshman college English class. I will read their papers and say whether it sounds good or not so they can re-edit it. Most of them are writing at a 7th grade level ~X(. Are you kidding me? Why would an employer hire somebody who struggles with basic writing skills, simple speech communication, and has no potential for breadth of knowledge? I know I wouldn’t hire them.</p>
<p>I don’t know if I am more against the computer science majors for paying thousands of dollars to learn something they already know…or the anthropology/history majors for choosing a subject with no job prospects. Like I have said before, college isn’t a joke. You should pick a major you like but which also has a chance for a good ROI.</p>
<p>To defend my stance, I will explain my situation. I did pretty well in high school and never really was challenged by it. I absolutely excelled in English and Social Studies. Did I go major in that? NO! I chose business administration. How much of business administration did I know about before going to college? Very little. I knew I wasn’t quantitatively smart enough to be a math or engineering major; but I knew I was a solid writer who is in general smart enough to do almost anything I wanted. I went to college to learn something new, something that would help me for the rest of my life. This is life we’re talking about! Sometimes I wonder if people even care enough.</p>
<p>Electrical Engineering is not my specialty but I could imagine the job prospects are decent. If you discover it isn’t for you then it’s better if you stop out know before you go into too much debt. Accounting is holding strong in this economy because businesses have a high demand for them (what with the Enron scandal and everything). There’s nothing stopping you from going back to college later if you want. </p>
<p>Don’t follow your friends Toesock, you’re doing what they refuse to do and that is thinking ahead. Apart from the initial advice I already gave I am not qualified to tell you anything else. You do what’s best for you and the right doors will open.</p>
<p>I think you are on the right track in terms of when in doubt, choose a high-paying major that has jobs. Every recent college graduate that I personally know of who was employed at graduation making $60,000 or more studied engineering, including industrial engineering – not computer science (too much of that is outsourced anyway, or given to people who’ve been programming since elementary school). The petroleum engineers are the most sought after, and typically net $90,000 or more at graduation. The field of engineering is very diverse, so I think you should look at what activities and topics outside of school interest you, how you like to spend your time, and what type of work environment would be ideal for you, and that might help you find an engineering major you like. </p>
<p>If looking at extensive Excel spreadsheets with tiny numbers doesn’t interest you, or looking at people’s tax returns doesn’t interest you, then stay away from accounting. If you want to work with numbers outside of engineering and accounting, look into econometrics or applied math, including mathematical modeling for science, big data and business. Within computer science, if you take an interest in that route after your comp sci class, the hot areas are big data and data security. </p>
<p>Let’s face it. I’m sure that something excites you. Think about real topics and news and hobbies that interest you, and think of all the different jobs in that industry and how people got them. Look up some people you want to emulate and see how they got where they are, and that might lead to your ideal major. Be aware though that whatever you major in, it will not necessarily dictate your future job prospects – people change careers like they change majors, and engineers wind up working in investment banking, and business majors wind up in real estate, lawyers wind up as writers, and scientists wind up as chefs, etc. We’re all evolving all the time.</p>