I'm still straddling the decision line between CS and "much easier liberal arts degree".
On some levels I think I want to do CS because I'm an avid programmer (I love coding) and I've loved IT and computers since childhood (I hold an MCSE certification, like Richie, and I'm currently employed, but in a low income bracket). Plus, I have various credits already towards CS. My heart says "do CS" because computers and software have been my life-long hobby and calling.
Yet, my friend who just graduated from a top CS school (Bill Gates agrees: top) with a 3.2 (yes, he could have tried harder, but still, it's a highly respected program) has no job _whatsoever_ despite searching for several months. Something seems wrong when someone's very bright, graduates from a very respected school in a top CS program, and struggles to pay rent.
When he started CS they told him if he merely GRADUATED, he would get a decent job. Now he can't find a mediocre job. What happened? Is it the bursted bubble of the nasdaq? Is it Bush? Is it India? China? How can we let some of our brightest college grads just stagnate?
...The downfall of CS...
I took a psychology class and repeatedly beat 98% of the students on exams. The material was utterly boring - memorize and regurgitate. Yet, they say "do what you like, b/c you are likely to excel." Such is not the case with me and CS. I liked... no.. loved discrete mathematics, like a fiend, worshipping Kenneth Rosen, and still came out with a B. Granted, it seems good to get a B at a top school in a freshman weed-out class... but I fear that "good" is not enough. Not enough to guarantee reasonably good employment upon graduation.... Not enough to get into medical school.
Thus, I'm strongly considering reaching my dream of being a physician through an easier liberal arts degree. The fact that I truly do want to marry computers and medicine, the fact that I really believe I could help reduce the rate of misdiagnoses through software... I fear none of this may concern an interviewer if I do not have a 3.6 or higher. I'm very bright and desperately want to help mankind. But I must have that GPA.
So, instead I'll waste my brain on memorizing meaningless facts in a liberal arts science-ish degree.
No offense to anyone out there, but I feel like trained dolphins could get a 3.6+ in psychology. Yet, it's the third most common undergraduate major for medical school admissions.
I hate to bust into a "poor me" rant, so I'll stop here. Basically my take is:
- The United States's dominance of science, technology, and education (if it ever was real) is coming to an end.
- The economy is hurting, but only relative to where it was - I grew up in a "dream" economy, so my perceptions are skewed.
- For whatever reason (on purpose or mistakenly), med school admissions, on average, probably prefer those with higher GPAs over more intelligent people who work equally hard or harder (and in my opinion have more to contribute).
I appreciate everyone's comments... it's definitely helped me figure out what to do. I think it may be bio/chem/psych for me. I will, however, continue coding on the side with all the free time I'll gain.
-izzo
