<p>In general, is Computer Science or Statistics major more difficult? Which is more time consuming? Which is more math intensive?</p>
<p>Which of the two would open doors to jobs that are more vulnerable to outsourcing?</p>
<p>CS is more time consuming. Stats is probably harder, given its inherent mathyness. My Stats prof enjoyed telling us how lucky we were because back in the 1940s you needed the entire Calc series before taking Stats. </p>
<p>CS with a concentration in security != Outsourcing</p>
<p>As mentioned earlier, there’s no way to tell which is more difficult. In terms of outsourcing, a code monkey is more likely to be outsourced than a data analyst, because in the former case, no real, sensitive data may be involved (i.e. “write a program that does X”), while in the second case, well, you need access to the data to analyze it, not to mention you need to be able to explain and summarize the results to your boss. There’s a bigger communication aspect involved. That doesn’t mean someone with a degree in computer science is less likely to get a job than a statistician though.</p>
<p>There will always be a demand for talented programmers. Such as those who learn a new technology or language ever 2-3 months because they don’t want their skills to stagnate and because they truly love coding.</p>
<p>So if you decide to do CS, be sure to never stop learning or else you may end up like my parents.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help, everyone.</p>
<p>Labeisoup, if you don’t mind me asking,what happened to your parents?</p>
<p>Oh they are employed, but if they lose their jobs they might have trouble finding a new one.</p>
<p>They haven’t learned any new technologies and their minds aren’t really getting any sharper</p>
<p>This is true for most careers, though. If you don’t keep your skills up-to-date you will suffer for it.</p>
<p>As far as the original question goes: it all depends on your interests/aptitude. One of them is not objectively more difficult IMO.</p>
<p>I do think that CS has better job prospects, though.</p>
<p>After introducing Java, Python, and various OOP paradigm, Computer Science became a major with a quick “turnaround”. You will KNOW basic algorithms, CS lingo and create semi-usable programs within a year, but you won’t be an expert yet. Before the advent of Java, students needed to start with a low level language like C (although some still do). </p>
<p>This makes learning frustrating and weeded out a lot of mediocre programmers. If you are interested in the theoretical and mathematical application of CS, then this field will become just as hard as theoretical math and physics. So to answer your question, CS is difficult major just like many other disciplines. But due to high market demand and low retention rate, it is slowly becoming a mainstream major, and thus easier.</p>
<p>Statistics will demand many years of learning before you can apply it in a career such as Quant or an actuary. You might have to take exams and/or go to graduate school for a MS if not PhD. The sad truth is that the demand for statistician is far lower than that for CS. </p>
<p>I hope you can think about what each major offers and what you would like to do after school. Because these two majors will get you to different places. I am personally a CS major with minor in Econ.</p>
<p>Soconfusedgrad, thank you very much . Your reply was very helpful.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone else as well. </p>
<p>Labeisoup, why don’t your parents just try to keep up with the new technologies in the field?</p>
<p>Stats /is/ finding a larger and larger place in industry. There are tons of data science jobs out there in computing-related companies, mainly because they’ve collected a TON of data and are barely scratching the surface with how they’re making use of it. The downside is that these jobs are probably not geared towards undergrads.</p>
<p>oh thanks, Sumzup. That’s a really good point, because I’m going to end my academic career after I finish undergrad studies ( because you don’t get grants after your first undergrad degree)</p>