Hi CC Community,
Sorry for the lengthy post but I’d like some advice about transferring. In short, I started college at Purdue University initially starting out in computer engineering before switching into computer science because I enjoyed software over hardware. I was enjoying the challenge and beginning CS courses until I unfortunately was forced to leave the university due to medical and financial issues - mostly the latter. There was no way for me to continue affording the high out of state tuition so I instead transferred to an in-state uni in Texas where I picked up some CS courses. Shortly after, however, due to being naiive and just generally unmotivated and unhappy at my new school, I dropped out of school to continue teaching myself and worked for a couple startups in the process out in California where I’m at currently.
I’m currently working on a project which I think has potential but certainly nothing that’s profitable or even completed at this moment and I’d like to continue my CS studies in process. During the time that I dropped out of school, I also found my passion for product design. I have a bit of experience as a UX Design Intern and am currently completing the new B.S. Interaction Design at Santa Monica College. While it’s been interesting to take a break from the more technical and math-heavy curriculum of CS, I feel as though I’m not fully engaged and am not reaching my full potential. Basically my question is, should I continue taking CS courses for the next year at SMC and then try to transfer into a reputable CS program at a UC or Cal Poly? Would I even have a chance at one of these as I’ve jumped around so much? Or, should I just stick with design and make a career out of where I ended up? My GPA at SMC currently is decent at a 3.5 (due to a couple B’s in the beginning) but I’m doing better as I get back into the habit of being a student and I plan to continue to increase my GPA, as close to a 4.0 as possible - probably realistically around a 3.8.
I’m also concerned about job prospects coming from such a small and brand new program. I know it was a terrible decision to leave school and I wish I could go back and do things a little differently but obviously that isn’t an option so I’m trying to figure out where I go from here. While I think being a UX/product designer would be fun, I’m not sure it will be as fulfilling as I’d like as I have the desire to solve problems by building and coding things on my own. I’m not saying designers can’t and don’t code but I’m thinking I would enjoy working as a software engineer more than being a designer. I naturally excel at math and the technical aspects of software development that I’ve learned so far so I think that learning more and getting the credentials of a CS degree would be worth it. I enjoy the challenges of interaction design but I miss the technical problem-solving of computer science.
The only problem is that I’ll be around 26 when I finally graduate with the degree. Is this way too late? I’ve already taken all or most of the required math and gen-ed courses so I would just have to finish up with all of the CS courses. Some of my bad decisions I made a couple years have put me in a tricky situation and I’d just like another chance to do things right. I definitely have had a complete change of mind and matured incredibly since my beginning years in undergrad so I feel confident that I could excel in a CS program if admitted to one. I’ve always been regarded as a very intelligent and hard-working student but I have since lost that image because I was a bit too eager to enter the tech world. While my parents haven’t been around for guidance over the years, they never fail to remind me how long I’ve been in undergrad so I guess it’s a bit discouraging also to even attempt to finish the CS degree.
On the plus side, however, due to the timing and nature of my current program and applications, I would be completing my current degree just as I’m transferring so I would graduate with a B.S. in Interaction Design from SMC and a B.S. in Computer Science from whatever program I’m accepted into at 26 years old. I’ve also looked into just getting a Masters in CS instead after receiving my B.S. IxD but again, I’m not sure I’d even be accepted given the current school and program that I’ll be graduating from. I’m mostly concerned that at 23, I’m not quite where I want to or should be. My ultimate goal is to work for a large tech company in silicon valley before eventually pursuing my own projects full-time.
In one short question: Would taking the two additional years to complete my CS degree be worth it or would it be a waste of time and money? (It would technically be three years from now as I have to apply this fall to be admitted next fall but I would take as many CS and math courses as I can in the next year at SMC before I transfer and then complete the degree in two years)
I’m very ambitious and I think that I want to just go for it, even though having two bachelor’s degree may be seen as a complete waste of time. They’re both degrees that are in something I’m very passionate about. I just don’t want to screw myself over anymore or waste anymore time in school if it’s not necessary. What are your thoughts or suggestions?
Thank you!