Right now, I am at a community college taking my general Ed courses. around next summer or fall I will be transferring to my local university and major in software engineering. However, the problem is I have to take a remedial algebra, I have to take a redial math because my ACT math scores (I made a 18 and I took it 3 times-each time the scores got lower). I also took the remedial math class previously online and failed, so this time I’m going to take it on campus. I never had a strong math background, I failed Algebra I, in high school, and when I took it again I made an C. In high school, I also took geometry (I made a C), Algebra II (I made a D) and financial math (made a B). I graduated high school in 2013, flunked out of community college and just now getting back on track. I want to major in software engineering so I can work in IT or be an IT independent contractor, or maybe run my own computer repair store. However, I am afraid to major in engineering because if I can’t pass Calculus- and other engineering math classes then I won’t be able to take my engineering core classes. Also, if I decided to change my mind about majoring in engineering, it would be hard to switch majors (for example, if I wanted to switch to a Business major and I already took Calculus, it would set me back for graduation because I would have to take college Algebra to meet the requirements for the major). At this point I am tired of college and just trying to graduate. Is there any other majors I should look into? Should I give up on my engineering dreams? If this helps I am a Female.
Engineering programs often have rigid class requirements that leave little room for bypassing prerequisites or adding additional classes. How much math do you have left to take? Will the degree be another full four years from this point right now?
If you’re not yet at the math level that engineering schools expect of their entering freshmen, it could be a while – even if everything goes perfectly, which is unlikely due to this being real life – before you could graduate with an engineering degree. If you’re tired of school, maybe that’s not the path for you?
I’m tired of college because it’s emotionally draining for me. Since I flunked out of college, the time I spent out of college effects me because I would have graduated already. and it is hard still being in school when most of my friends already graduated. and I have took a math course, I just never passed it yet. technically, I am still a freshman. and counting the remedial math class I have five math course left to take
So two and a half years of prerequisites (maybe less if you utilize summer classes), and then you can start engineering classes? That honestly sounds like another four or five years to me, if everything is passed on the first try and all that.
Only you can decide whether that’s worth it for you. On the one hand, four or five years is going to pass regardless, so maybe it would be better to have an engineering degree at the end of it? On the other hand, maybe there’s another degree you would enjoy that would get you out sooner.
Have you talked to a counselor at your school to see what they think would be the best path for you?
One other thing to note is that the math gets way harder than college algebra.
You don’t have to major in engineering to go into IT. Your future university might have an information sciences/systems, IT, or related major; or it may just have plain computer science (which also is probably isn’t really super necessary for IT, but is the closest thing at many schools). Lots of people in IT majored in non-CS fields, too.
If you struggle a lot with math then an engineering degree will be a struggle for you as well. It’s very math-heavy. Very few engineers start at remedial algebra in college.
I am going to attempt to talk to a counselor tomorrow. my community college isn’t the best when it comes down to actually helping their students, but are quick to take their money. also, if people work in IT and do not have a non-CS field degree? do they learn the information from reading books, working internship etc? I’m asking because I might have to take that route instead of majoring in CS.
I think you need to do a little more research on what IT is and what CS/engineering are. Computer science is essentially a math degree that deals with the underlying principles of computing, data structures, algorithms, etc. Software engineering is the application of math and engineering principles to developing software.
Neither of these has anything to do with IT, though knowledge of CS or SE might help one with certain aspects of IT.
I heard if you Major in engineering or have a strong tech background, you would get paid more. I also wanted a degree in those fields because if I change my mind about doing IT, I can still have the knowledge to work for myself (ex. app development) or work for companies like dell. I don’t know how I would get a tech job not having a decent/fair understanding of the tech field if I did not have some kind of degree or certificate in the latter.
I looked up a couple of IT jobs on Indeed. Education requirements:
Job 1, “IT Technician”: Associate’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or closely related area from an approved accredited college or university required.
Job 2, “Information Systems Technician”: Associate’s degree.
Job 3, “Help Desk Specialist”: AA Degree in Computer related field (preferred)
Job 4, “IT Help Desk / Systems Administrator”: Associate’s Degree (or higher) in Computer Information Systems, or related field; A+, Network+ and/or similar certificates
Did find one that required a bachelor’s but it also wanted bilinguality in English and Chinese so.
You might look into what the field you want to go into actually requires – search up some jobs. Would you want that job? What do you have to do to get there?
Another thought if you want to do CS is to get a B.A. in CS instead of a BS or Computer Engineering. All Engineering takes Calc 1, 2, Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations.
Here is an example from a state school:
https://academics.rowan.edu/csm/departments/cs/programs/ba_ci/
Have you thought of coding boot camp? There are various programs around.
There are also tech schools out there, but both they and the coding boot camps wouldn’t really lead to software engineering exactly.
I am sorry to be blunt, but for what reason do you think engineering would be a good career for you if you can’t get past algebra? Do you really like coding? If that’s the case, then just start as a programmer, and work your way up within a company.
Alas, I’ll never be an NBA player since I’m not tall enough or quick enough and couldn’t make my HS’s JV team. So, I made the best at what I had. I became a broadcaster.
You’ll need to do the same thing. @rhandco and others had some side tracks that might be worth pursuing. Forget the coding and engineering; go for help desk, computer operator (casinos have those jobs) or hardware tech jobs. Non-contractor self-employment (such as a computer repair store) is a bad, bad idea. You’ll need a bankroll & investors to start the business and, in the best case scenario, it’ll take you a year-and-a-half to be profitable and longer than that for your company to make enough for you to receive a paycheck. And that’s the point when you’d probably have to hire help.
In the worst case, you’ll ruin your credit, have unsurmountable debt, and be worse off careerwise than you are now.
coding boot camp is a great idea and everything, but most of them cost 10k-20k and I just do not have that money sitting around or know people that can loan me that kind of money. also you can’t get a student loan/ financial aid for coding boot camp. and I lost my job, so going to the bank and asking for a personal loan isn’t going to work even though have good credit.