CS Majors out there

[Juliusn]

This question goes to all you CS majors out there. Iv just finished high school and iv spent my whole life on computers from the good old days of Turbo to RedHat 6.2 to Java and C++. I want to do a double major with CS and Microbiology. I got D for maths and an A for computer science . Do you think this will be a problem with getting into the course.......maths at high school is just to dam pointless for me,its not that i cant do maths. Thanks

[techieMoe]

Higher-level maths are generally required for most Computer Science programs, but I'll let you in on a little secret: you rarely ever use them in the real world. Depending on your minor you may not have to take more than a handful (3 or so classes) of high-level abstract math such as Discrete Math or Probability. I'm terrible at math and I was able to get my degree, so I think you're okay.

[carlosponti]

i am terrible at math above college algebra. i never got through calculus. i just didn't get it. You end up using far less of the math that you learned. i only have an associates in CS with an emphasis on programming. I didn't have to take some of the classes a 4 year degree requires but the math was still annoying.

[Juliusn]

thanks. Im thinking of doing my honours in artificial intelligence. What would you say is the best to branch into, taking into account the current IT demands of the world...Where does the money lie at the moment??

[Javasnob]

I'm interested in AI and UI development (mainly X Window System programming), but I recommend you become well rounded. You'll probably have to do things you really don't want to at first (I'm not saying I don't love my job!), but it'll pay off; people will see your experience and as a result, you'll get what you want. If I were you, I'd learn about databases and web technologies; it seems to be a huge chunk of the CS job market.

[gtmtnbiker98]

Actually, current market trends are leaning towards project management, network security and of course, database administration. The highest paying IT jobs as reported by Information Week are those with emphasis on IT management, IT security, and SAN.

Programming is too risky - due to outsourcing.

[techieMoe]

Actually, current market trends are leaning towards project management...

I find it amazing that companies say this. They're stocking up on Chiefs and just taking it for granted that the Indians will be there for them to direct. You can't make software with a bunch of Project Managers (read: non-technical suits) and no actual programmers. You need both, but more of the latter.

The highest paying IT jobs as reported by Information Week are those with emphasis on IT management, IT security, and SAN.

But can a kid fresh out of college get that "highest paying IT job" you speak of? No. Of course not. You have to start somewhere, and that means lower-level actually technical jobs like programming.

Programming is too risky - due to outsourcing.

Shenanigans. There are plenty of programming jobs out there; they're just not as glamorous as they were during the .COM fiasco. Programmers aren't driving Hummers and living in condos on the beach anymore; they're getting paid living salaries just like everyone else. And you know what? That's as it should be. Pardon me if I get a little soapboxy about these issues, but I'm a programmer so this hits close to home.

[carlosponti]

its an amazing wake up call when students get out of college and expect to be paid top dollar for thier degree field. there are always openings in programming just it became a bit flooded with people wanting to earn the big bucks. i do feel there is a threat from outsourcing however there will always be a demand for programmers. besides how many project managers do you need. that reminds me of all the MIS majors that came out of college and couldn't go further than programming.

[gtmtnbiker98]

I was merely replying to Juliusn, regarding the question "Where does the money lie at the moment." Sorry, don't shoot the messenger for the message.

Outsourcing has taken a lot more programming and help desk jobs than database and security administrators. Although I hate this practice as much as you, it all boils down to simple economics. Why pay an American programmer $25.00/hr when you can outsource it for $10.00/hr? Same holds true with other disciplines.

No matter how close to home this may be, it simply can't be overlooked. All of us IT professionals can be outsourced - it's just a sign of the times. Programming jobs may be "plentiful" (I don't see it) they now require additional skill sets (i.e. business acumen etc.).

Case in point, we are sitting here debating on a Web site while more than likely being paid as IT professionals. And we can't be outsourced?

[techieMoe]

Outsourcing has taken a lot more programming and help desk jobs than database and security administrators.

That may be true, but it hasn't taken all programming jobs. There are still lots to go around, particularly in the government sector where outsourcing is impractical (or legally prohibitive). That's what I'm doing right now.

Although I hate this practice as much as you, it all boils down to simple economics. Why pay an American programmer $25.00/hr when you can outsource it for $10.00/hr? Same holds true with other disciplines.

I wholeheartedly believe that companies who put money in front of the well-being of their employees and the economy of their own country will pay the price down the road. Outsourcing is a bad idea, mark my words.

You can argue "simple economics" about a great many things. It would make business sense for pharmaceutical companies to infect the entire population with incurable diseases just to sell the drugs that control them, but that doesn't mean it's ethical or correct.

No matter how close to home this may be, it simply can't be overlooked. All of us IT professionals can be outsourced - it's just a sign of the times. Programming jobs may be "plentiful" (I don't see it) they now require additional skill sets (i.e. business acumen etc.).

Speak for yourself. The day every single programmer job gets moved outside of America you can crown me Queen of England. Outsourcing is a problem, yes. But it's certainly not the end of the world, or even the programming industry. As for the "additional skills", that's just ******** IMO. A programmer doesn't need a business degree to be successful. Look at John Carmack, Linus Torvalds, or the 50 some odd programmers in my department. Some of the people I work with don't even have a college degree yet they've been programming for a good salary for 20+ years.

Case in point, we are sitting here debating on a Web site while more than likely being paid as IT professionals. And we can't be outsourced?

I don't argue that. There are a lot of jobs that can be outsourced, but that doesn't mean they're in any way likely to be outsourced.