Hi guys,
I have been admitted to UCI (computer science major) and UCLA (Mathematics major) and I am having a really hard time deciding which school I want to attend. Career-wise, I want to be a programmer/developer/software engineer of some sort. UCLA has been my dream school and I was thinking of changing into UCLA’s major Mathematics of Computations (which consists of 75% math and 25% computer science courses). However, I am not sure what my career prospects would look like if I went that route. Should I just settle for UCI and get a straight CS degree? In terms of financial aid, I get about the same amount at both schools and I live about 30-40 minutes from each school.
(I have also been admitted to UCSD for computer science but it is too far for me so I don’t think I’ll be considering that school)
You don’t need a computer science degree to be a competent programmer or software engineer. Further, many math majors successfully enter careers in computer science and programming. The study of math seems to lend itself to that field.
Personally, I think you should go to UCLA. Mathematics of Computation shouldn’t put you at a disadvantage in comparison with computer science majors at all. If anything, you might have an advantage because of your background in both math and computer science.
I sincerely think you won’t regret it.
Edit: also, there are probably more networking opportunities at UCLA. Companies like Microsoft come to the school frequently to recruit people with a background in computer science. UCI is a great school, but I’m not sure they have access to the same opportunities.
If I was you I’d go to Irvine. They admitted you for the major you want, and you are not allowed to switch into CS at UCLA. Mathematics of Computations may be a decent hybrid program but you will be screened out by many companies that focus on whether you have a CS degree or not. Take a look at the UCLA Winter 2015 Engineering and Technical Fair to see who was being recruited http://career.ucla.edu/Portals/14/Documents/PDF/FairsAndTargetedEvents/Winter2015/EnginTech_WedJan21_ThursJan22_2015_012315.pdf
If the degrees are essentially the same, as a previous poster says, match up the classes you’ll take at UCLA vs the ones at Irvine and ask yourself if the missing CS classes are all ones that no company will care about.
I guess it comes down to how much of a gambler you are. UCLA is a wonderful school, and, sure, there is no law against you getting a job in software with a Mathematics of Computations, so maybe it all works out wonderfully. Or you go to Irvine and get a job in software from a company recruiting CS majors.
@mikemac
I don’t mean to say the degrees are essentially the same, but that one can be competent in the subject of computer science and still get a foot in the door with a math w/comp degree.
You do raise a good point, though, that non-computer science majors are getting screened out by these companies. This is worth considering.
UCLA > UCI under any circumstance.
Something else to consider (and I don’t know if this matters to you at all) but UCI is the only UC with an entire school dedicated to computer science. I’ve had to take a few courses in the ICS department and I’ve found the professors to be knowledgable and helpful. Just something to think about! But definitely visit both and get a feel of what’s best for you.
If you are not sure about CS go to UCLA if you are sure go to UCI. UCI has an excellent CS department.
Please let us know your final decision! (: I’m curious to which one you picked! Haha.