. for choosing major deadline next tuesday

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision-making process for choosing a major, specifically comparing electrical or computer engineering with a combined major in computer science and biology. Participants explore job outlooks, pay potential, and the implications of each field, including bioinformatics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses urgency in choosing a major due to an upcoming deadline and questions the job prospects and pay in electrical/computer engineering versus a combined major in computer science and biology.
  • Another participant suggests comparing the curriculums of the majors to make an informed decision.
  • A different participant notes that a background in biology and computer science could strengthen candidacy for computational biology graduate programs and highlights the standalone value of a computer science degree.
  • One participant emphasizes that no major guarantees a job and that personal aptitude in the chosen field is crucial.
  • Another participant shares personal experience about the challenges of choosing a major and suggests considering personal motivations beyond financial aspects, as well as taking complementary courses to keep options open.
  • A later reply challenges the original poster to write out and compare the courses of the different majors as a practical step in the decision-making process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the best approach to choosing a major, with no consensus on which field offers better job prospects or pay. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best path forward for the original poster.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the importance of curriculum comparison and personal motivations, but there are no specific details provided about the curricula or job market data, leaving some assumptions unaddressed.

lostnoob
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URGENT.need help for choosing major...deadline next tuesday

i just finished first year life science and i noe that life science will probably nto give me a very stable, ok paid job that i wanted..haha

anywayz...i decided to apply to transfer into FIRST YEAR engineering in the coming september...but...i also got into a combined major of computer science and biology (maybe something to do with bioinformatics in the future)

my question is...let say i go into electrical engineering or computer engineering in the future, how do this engineering major compare to the combined major i mentioned above.

what are the job outlooks in either field...which one will give me better pay..which field has a larger volume of job openings?

also, if possible, what are the outlooks for bioinformatics? (let say i do a masters in bioinformatics)

Looking Foward to Your Replys
THANKS in Advance
 
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First of all, you need to compare curriculums. Post them on here and then I will give you some help, even give som advice from going to lifesciences to electrical engineering? (is that even possible in the states? )
 


thx for the reply
im in UBC , and don't worry about the transfer part.

could you tell me...between computational biology and electrical or computer engineering, which one will have a better job outlook, volume of job opening, and etc. after maybe 5years when i graduate?

sry if my quesitons are not clear...please tell me if itz still not clear...i realli do need some expert advice soon

THANK you very much!
 


Biology + computer science will make you a strong candidate for computational biology graduate programs. And if your goals change, computer science stands alone as a major with good prospects
 


No major guarantees you a job. Furthermore, we can't tell if you'd be a good EE (to pick an example) or a bad one, and that makes more of a difference than the field you chose. But I will suggest that a class or two on writing will certainly be worthwhile.
 


Personally, I think that you are rushing your decision as you point out the deadline is next Tuesday. Picking a major is a tough decision.

From personal experience, I switched majors during college. Upon graduation, I received a job in education and just found the environment dismal after three years of employment, so I am now back in college completing a few undergraduate courses in physics and astronomy to prepare myself to enter graduate school. In hindsight, I didn't prepare myself for the future the first time I was in college. It sounds like you are having a similar problem--this is common though.

I think an important point for consideration is to think about what motivates you personally. Is it money or doing work that you enjoy? With such a quick deadline approaching, I find it doubtful that you can make a decision confidently. If you do have a couple of majors already in mind, compare the curricula, and take classes in the fall semester that are complimentary to the majors and that can be applied towards your graduation credit requirement. This won't sent you back financially and will give you time to seriously think about your decision. Note that some colleges offer classes intermittently (every other year), so do take this into consideration or you could be set back.

Good Luck!
 


lostnoob: Seriously, write out the courses and compare them?! What is so hard about that?
 

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