[ale] Re: [OT] [long] [ale] guess I am screwed, eh?

[Geoffrey]

Tom Wiencko wrote:
> Depending on what you want to do with the rest of your life, you
> may want to consider changing majors.

I don't know that you should change your major.  Study what you like. 
If you want to do computers, a CS is certainly not going to hurt you. 
These days, neither will a BS in Math or Physics for that matter.  Point 
being, to get hired for 'computer' work, you'll be expected to have some 
kind of technical degree.

Speaking from the perspective of my employer (AT&T), to get hired and/or 
promoted, you'll be expected to have a technical degree.  That would 
include virtually any degree in science (including Biology or 
Chemestry).  Oh, and such a degree from MIT will still carry a lot more 
weight then one from DeVry.  GA Tech is a well respected institution as 
well, so you've got a lot going for you there.  Companies do still look 
at the institution as well as the educational background.

Although I have a BS n CS, I'll have to agree with Tom that the best 
programmers I've met were not CS majors.  As a matter of fact, the worst 
programmer I've ever had to work with had a CS in BS and graduated at 
the top of his class.  Regardless, I've know some bang up software dudes 
and dudettes who did have CS education.  I don't think there's a 
corrolation there.

Again, heed the advice of those who have suggested you study something 
you like.  I started in EE, then Math, then CS.  I ended up with a BS in 
CS, a minor in Physics as well as a minor in Math (courtesy of changing 
majors so many times).  For me, the common link there is Math.  I love 
it.  I thoroughly enjoyed Calculus, Differential Equations and 
Multidimensional Calc.  I loved my Senior level Physics classes, inspite 
of the burden the put on my (at the time I was working full time and 
trying to finish up my education).

Now that I think about it, the things that are a part of me that make me 
good at what I do are an enjoyment in figuring out how things work and 
solving complex problems.  And I do think I'm good at what I do.  No, 
I'm not Larry Wall, or David Dikstra, but I've apparently done something 
right to be still in this business and fortunately paid more then I 
should be.

The bottom line is, I certainly wouldn't change my major because some 
schmuck in some rag says it's not valuable.  I still maintain the guy is 
an idiot.  You will find that as you move up the corporate ladder you 
will find yourself in a position where you'll need to get into dealing 
with some management issues in order to continue.  As for me, I've no 
interest there, so I've made a conscious decision to stay purely 
technical.  I'm fortunate in that I am in the one organization in AT&T 
(AT&T labs) where I do have an avenue to move further up the ladder and 
stay purely technical.  That would be in Research, but the ladder is 
narrow, and you've got to be a Larry Wall or David Dikstra to do so.

-- 
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net

I didn't have to buy my radio from a specific company to listen
to FM, why doesn't that apply to the Internet (anymore...)?


---
This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems should be 
sent to listmaster at ale dot org.