berkeman said:
What do you mean by an IT degree? Do you mean like a several-month certification class from CISCO?
What jobs are you wanting to qualify for?
i mainly want to do network/database admin or computer analyst, but whenever I look up computer information systems degree info via reddit every comment or mostly every comment goes into how a cs degree is the better option.
One redditor wrote through r/ITcareerquestions:
"CS majors will get all the same opportunities as CIS majors get and more, but it won't be the same vice versa. CS is a much higher valued degree than CIS, precisely because it's harder to get. It's usually the math (and the programming) that scares people away. That's why IT-type degrees are stigmatized as where people go to avoid the hard stuff, which you're also contributing to (and so did I; story in a bit).
So those who aren't afraid of it are deemed smarter and more capable, and therefore granted better opportunities. This tends to be backed up by the fact that tech companies have a history of recruiting the more theoretical majors like CS and CE, but not the IT/IS majors despite them learning more practical things.
However, things like programming and math are things you can get good at. They're really just practiced skills, which you can't get good at it if you're not practicing. Getting through anything difficult really just takes hard work and persistence.
Back in college, I started as a CIS major for the same reasons as you (light on programming, math, theory). But I realized that there things about IT I didn't like (customer service theme). I also realized that people who didn't avoid the hard stuff were getting better opportunities. After some self actualization, I just realized that I wasn't so much afraid of math or programming, but just unwilling to take on challenges.
Since I decided that mama ain't raised no b*tch, I made the switch to CS. It was tough and I had to learn the hard way that my habits in CIS wasn't going to fly in CS, but I persevered. I got through multiple advanced math courses that I never thought I'd even take in a million years. I came out a tougher person mentally, a more self-sufficient one, and a better thinker/problem solver.
I also had much better hit rates for internships after switching from CIS to CS. At some point, my CS classmates and I were even snatching fancy IT internships from my old CIS cohorts.
Times definitely got tough where the constant feeling of failure hung above my head, and I was tempted to give up many times. There were also courses I had to take more than once. But I showed up, and kept showing up. One day, I became a CS grad. I was just a CS major who never gave up, as were everyone else I graduated with.
If you're unsure about your major, just know that CS is never the wrong answer (not even in an IT sub). So I encourage you to challenge yourself, as greater rewards await. You are stronger than you think you are. If I could do it, so can you. Remember, all it takes is hard work and persistence."
