Choosing a Major: Finding the Right Fit for You

[Red Joker]

I am in my last year of high school here in my country and I've been thinking of something related to mathematics and physics and computers. I've decided that computer science would probably be the best course to choose. Do you know what is the best job you can get with a computer science degree, ("best" may be subjective but any definition of "best" would suffice.). If you have any other ideas of other better courses to study that would be helpful as well.

 

[funlord]

what country you are in?

 

[Dishsoap]

What made you come to the conclusion that computer science is the best course of action for you?

 

[cpscdave]

What about Electrical (or computing) engineering?
I have degrees in both computer science and electrical engineering. I found EE to be a lot more technical, and I know people who graduated with EE who went into software development. EE might give you more variety to find a job you'll love.

 

[Red Joker]

what country you are in?

I am in NZ at the moment. Computer science seems to be in the demand market.

 

[Red Joker]

What made you come to the conclusion that computer science is the best course of action for you?

Well it has both physics and computers both so I guess it could work? I'm not entirely sure but so far the course towards computers seems to be the most interesting of them all.

 

[Red Joker]

What about Electrical (or computing) engineering?
I have degrees in both computer science and electrical engineering. I found EE to be a lot more technical, and I know people who graduated with EE who went into software development. EE might give you more variety to find a job you'll love.

Do you know what kind of job I can get with Electrical Engineering?

 

[EternusVia]

What kind of job can you get with electrical engineering?

Gee. There's a lot of variety. Number one, you can be an electrical engineer: designing, prototyping, and testing electrical systems and gizmos. Second, many industries and companies will hire engineers - regardless the type of engineer - because they are good problem solvers. Third, you can go and manage engineers! I hear it pays well.

I'm not an engineer. Hopefully someone can add more to what I've said.

 

[cpscdave]

Do you know what kind of job I can get with Electrical Engineering?

To add to the list EternusVia started.
I work as a controls and communications engineer. Basically I work on connecting our controllers to DCS systems.
People I graduated with work as:
-Software Developer
-Circuit designer
-Power Systems engineer
-Maintenance & Reliability engineer

To get more ideas go to a job site and search for electrical engineer. If you do go the engineering route (or pretty much any degree) I strongly recommend that you take the co-op program. Helps you decide what type of jobs you would and would not like

 

[StatGuy2000]

To the OP:

Certainly if you are interested in and have an aptitude for math, plus have an interest in programming and software development, then choosing computer science is certainly a good area to major in. In terms of the best job available for a computer science degree -- there is so many that it's hard to list them all (software development, IT, game developer, apps developers, embedded software, robotics, data science, etc.)

Other areas worth looking include electrical engineering, computer engineering, industrial engineering, or applied mathematics.

BTW, a question for you. In NZ, how easily can you switch into different programs? Because in case your interests change as you enter university, you may want to keep that in mind as well.

 

[EM_Guy]

You can get a degree in computer science engineering or in computer engineering.

I was an EE major. Then I switched to CS. Then I switched to CSE. I thought about CE, but then I decided to go back to EE.

Do you think you will go to graduate school? If you do, then I would encourage you to pursue a variety of computer science, math, and engineering courses. If you have no intention of going to graduate school, then it is in your best interest to focus your major early. If you go to graduate school, you have the time during your undergraduate years to get a broader, more well-rounded education before focusing in on one field.

For me, I had no idea what electrical engineering was until I took Circuits I. Similarly, I didn't have much knowledge or appreciation for computer science, statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, or materials science until I took courses in those disciplines.

 

[Red Joker]

To the OP:

Certainly if you are interested in and have an aptitude for math, plus have an interest in programming and software development, then choosing computer science is certainly a good area to major in. In terms of the best job available for a computer science degree -- there is so many that it's hard to list them all (software development, IT, game developer, apps developers, embedded software, robotics, data science, etc.)

Other areas worth looking include electrical engineering, computer engineering, industrial engineering, or applied mathematics.

BTW, a question for you. In NZ, how easily can you switch into different programs? Because in case your interests change as you enter university, you may want to keep that in mind as well.

In first year it's fairly easy to switch it's in second year that's harder, because you have to solidify your credentials I suppose. Robotics certainly does sound interesting, I haven't thought about that thank you for the suggestions.

 

[Red Joker]

To add to the list EternusVia started.
I work as a controls and communications engineer. Basically I work on connecting our controllers to DCS systems.
People I graduated with work as:
-Software Developer
-Circuit designer
-Power Systems engineer
-Maintenance & Reliability engineer

To get more ideas go to a job site and search for electrical engineer. If you do go the engineering route (or pretty much any degree) I strongly recommend that you take the co-op program. Helps you decide what type of jobs you would and would not like

Circu

You can get a degree in computer science engineering or in computer engineering.

I was an EE major. Then I switched to CS. Then I switched to CSE. I thought about CE, but then I decided to go back to EE.

Do you think you will go to graduate school? If you do, then I would encourage you to pursue a variety of computer science, math, and engineering courses. If you have no intention of going to graduate school, then it is in your best interest to focus your major early. If you go to graduate school, you have the time during your undergraduate years to get a broader, more well-rounded education before focusing in on one field.

For me, I had no idea what electrical engineering was until I took Circuits I. Similarly, I didn't have much knowledge or appreciation for computer science, statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, or materials science until I took courses in those disciplines.

Thanks, I am interested in maths computers and engineering and I just can't make up my mind, but I'll just try a variety for first year then I'll pick a major by second year. Thanks for all of the advice