i am unsure what to major in, i previously considered english. i have orientation for university next week. i want to choose the major with the highest earning potential after graduation. i understand that will definitely be computer science, however i am not great at math and don’t really like coding. should i do it anyway? there is also the integrated studies major. should i just major in integrated studies and become a high school teacher after university? i guess i figured what i could do is try to major in computer science and if i fail out i could always switch to integrated studies and still work in tech if the majority of my classes are in computer science. right? not sure. if not then being a teacher’s not a bad gig. also my university has a cybersecurity bootcamp is that worth it? will it apply to my degree?
No.
Not only will be miserable for the next four years, you will be likely be miserable for many years after as you try to build a career doing something you dislike. Surely there are better ways you can make a buck. Put some thought into that. Teaching is a great career, if you love teaching. You won’t become a millionaire, but do you need to? You can make a decent living, depending on the school district you work in. But you have to love it or, again, you will be miserable. There are SO many careers out there in all kinds of fields. Think deeply. There is something you enjoy that will make you a decent living. What is it? Maybe it is indeed teaching, if you are drawn to that profession. Maybe there is something else.
Definitely not.
Not only will you be miserable (and maybe not very good at it), but “programming” jobs where you just write code and don’t really understand the deep fundamentals of computer science, algorithms, computer architecture (but software and hardware), etc. — will soon be lost to AI.
This is not encouraging for someone thinking of possibly majoring in CS.
There has been some speculation regarding whether AI will take away computer science / software engineering jobs. The consensus of the people I have spoken with is that low level jobs are likely to be lost, but people who are very good at math and understand the complexities of algorithms and data structures and the way that software should be structured and how computers work will be in greater demand. One issue here is that there is a limit to what AI can do. Another potential issue is that AI sometimes gets things very right, and sometimes gets things very wrong. Someone is going to need to verify that programs work, and figure out what to do when (not if) things go wrong. However, these will be the CS or math majors who are very good at math and like math and like software engineering.
To me CS and math are not good majors for people who are not really interested in them. As others have said, if you do not like these subjects then either studying them or working in the field is likely to be miserable.
Which leads to the question: What do you like? Also, what subjects in school do you find the most interesting and are you best at?
It is relatively common for students to start university in one major and then switch to a different major. It is also relatively common for students to start university undecided, and then pick a major after a year or so. University will give you an opportunity to be exposed to a number of different subjects and to think about what you like best.
You probably would not like computer science as a major.
I think you can look at career reports - but it will be CS or engineering or accounting, etc.
I’d suggest you major in what interests you. Life is long - and you want to study what you’d enjoy. Like many of us not in “marketable” majors - you’ll find yourself or like some of us, reinvent yourself later.
One can’t “fake” a really hard major.
The other thing - you say CS is highest - and yet companies are laying off and grads can’t find jobs.
So today may be different than 4 years from now.
If your heart is telling you something, follow it over your head - so you don’t look back with regret.
If it’s not telling you something, take a variety of courses and maybe something will click.
Good luck.
I am not at all sure that career reports about CS based on past grads will be predictive about the prospects for entry level CS jobs in 5 years when this student has graduated (assuming this student is a rising senior).
So majors don’t earn money, people do. The question then is more what would you be good at doing, and how can different majors, and college experiences generally, help you be better at whatever you would be good at doing.
Like you mentioned English. This may be of zero interest to you, but people who are good with language can, say, go into marketing. Marketing itself can be a solid profession, but then people who MANAGE marketing can make a lot of money.
So maybe for YOU marketing would be worth looking into. This could actually involve being an English major, but then also doing things like looking for relevant internships. And then management–well, that is about being good leading teams, and you can work on developing those skills in college as well.
Again, this is just one example, but my point is a plan that makes sense for YOU isn’t the same plan that would make sense for a different person, and vice-versa.
Yes I noted that too - the layoffs abd struggles of today - so picking based on that could blow up.
I also noted the OP should follow their heart…which clearly would not be CS.
So first off if you don’t mention the college (you don’t have to), then it’s hard for perfect strangers to help you.
But… You have an orientation for a reason. At many of these they help guide you. Undeclared is the most elected major at lots of universities for a reason. For engineering, CS and maybe even cyber security,you will most likely need math. Student’s in those professions usually really like math. They geek on it. It’s the analysis part that excites them. Analytic skills are key especially with AI. Coding really isn’t the issue anymore. It’s how to integrate AI and use it with assistance for your job/or what the company is trying to achieve. But ya, don’t go into CS if you don’t love math and have an interest in coding or learning the process.
Let’s do something that I have done with other’s.. Write done three thing’s that are really interesting to you. Being a teacher can be one. Then look up these idea’s together in a search. Change the combinations and see what type of professions come up. Careers that include x, y, z. This might help spark areas to research for professions.
Put another way, engineering has the highest drop rate - half or more.
If you lack passion or interest, seems like you’d be a good candidate to be one of those.
Even if you must pick a major, I have no doubt your school offers change major possibilities.