[freeprescriptionplanrrx]

I'm planning on switching my degree program to computer science. I was doing regular science (chemistry) because I wanted to get into medicine, however I no long wish too so I want to pursue my first passion and that is computers. My father is convinced that the whole IT/Computer market is a bad thing to get into because soon everything will be automated.

For those of you with a degree (or diploma) in computer science, could you tell me what it is you do? Or, things your class mates are doing with their degree now. I would like to present him with a list of possible careers in computer science fields to help ease his mind. He will support me either way, but I since a lot of it is his money, I feel obligated to help put his mind at ease.

Many thanks [thumbup]

[LillyPlay]

My father is convinced that the whole IT/Computer market is a bad thing to get into because soon everything will be automated.

Who does he think develops the software for and repairs these automated systems?

[freeprescriptionplanrrx]

Who does he think develops the software for and repairs these automated systems?

Exactly what I told him! He is a smart man and got into computers back in the 80's doing 4TRAN and Pascal. He is sour because he did a professional Draftsman course and then the next year CAD came out and made him obsolete [shocked]

[GfBTWMmV]

Who does he think develops the software for and repairs these automated systems?

Obviously someone has not seen that documentary that recently came out on TNT. I think it was called "The Matrix."

[CindyLavender]

What experience does your father actually have the IT market? I'm just wondering what he is basing his belief on that "everything will soon be automated".

Personally I am now a media technician (at least that's what they call me) but I did a course called Software Systems for the Arts and Media my friends on the other hands who did straight forward Computer Science are both now programmers and earn a fair bit more than me but on the upside I work less hours and have about 12 weeks holiday a years so I'm not complaining.

I don't think entering the IT field is a bad prospect they will always need people that know what they are doing on computers to allow all the people that don't to use them efficiently. Let me put it this way the number one problem I always have to sort out is helping tutors set the data projectors to the correct input because "It's broken nothings coming up on the screen, I did what you told me last time." No you didn't. So even if everything were to become automated these people wouldn't have the skills to use them. At the end of the day Computer Science/Programming goes beyond the programming language you learn and is more about learning structure, storage, sorting, retreval, etc. whatever language you use or however automated the system you are still going to need a good understanding and a good mind for thinking that way.

Sure if you enter this field expect to have to update your skills learn new languages, etc. but at the end of the day these things don't just die. When I was doing a BTEC National in Computer Studies in the mid 90s we all got quite upset by the fact that we were expected to learn to program using Cobol (the year after us were using C) but I tell you what if I had carried on with Cobol I could have made a few bucks around 2000 updating all those old systems out there and a Computer World article from last October highlighted the fact that I would then be in a niche as it's almost impossible to hire new Cobol programmers since they no longer teach the language. The NYSE only just migrated from Cobol last year! I still wouldn't want to program Cobol though, I hated it, though there probably are better compiliers these days.

[freeprescriptionplanrrx]

What experience does your father actually have the IT market? I'm just wondering what he is basing his belief on that "everything will soon be automated".

Stubborn old man? [rofl] Like I said, after he was replaced in less than a year by CAD, he has been a little sour.

Thanks for the information though!

[CindyLavender]

Stubborn old man? [rofl] Like I said, after he was replaced in less than a year by CAD, he has been a little sour.

That's the tough part isn't it if he's paying for a lot of it you have to justify it to him. Parent's hey, I still remember in school having a massive bust up with my parents over whether I could study Art or not by dad being in the sort of career he was, was having none if it giving me all this crap with me balling my eyes out (I was 14) about how "We'd never employ someone who studied no academic subjects" they were stubborn as hell and he was a jerk back then and they wouldn't allow me to take Art. Of course these days they totally deny they weren't allowing me to and say they were just giving me some helpful advice. Yeah right!

[erroxiainsona]

Doing Computer Science (Games Technology)

At the moment I'm learning about the simple computer technologies such as adders/subtractors, logic diagrams, ALUs circuit diagrams.

We're coming up to Microprocessors and Assembly code....that's gonna be fun.

Also doing some programming as well.

[ZonaPutaX]

Why the change?

[prmwsinfo]

The best advice I could give to anyone moving to Computer Science would be to do a little programming before you make a decision. Programming is a massive component of any Computer Science course and if you don't enjoy it or find it difficult then you'll struggle with the degree in general. If however you love it, you'll fly through it.

[freeprescriptionplanrrx]

Why the change?

Bored with chemistry. I find it interesting, sure enough, but I cant see my self actually doing a career in it. Like I said, the whole reason I went pure science was to get into medicine, and I no long have the drive to do that (combination of 4 more years of school and $12,000 a year tuition...), so I want to switch to something I would actually enjoy.

[jeargefef]

I'd stick with the IT course, for those of you that don't want my life story just skip the to smiley at the end!

I'm kinda of an old timer here, at least tech wise, but it's come in handy and bought me a few nice cars and a good house.

I graduated in Computer Science in 1991 - using COBOL, Pascal and assembler, old school but it teaches you fundamentals - they do come in handy - you'd be amazed at the number of people in IT that know

[defenderfors]

In my experience, if you're looking for a course you'll enjoy, then comp sci is not for you. Unless you enjoy having utterly incomprehensible bullshit spouted at you and being set courseworks that you have no idea how to even start. I know most ppl (apart from a couple of uber programmer geeks) on my course thought the same.

However, if you are looking to get a degree that will land you a decent job, then maybe you should go for it. You will be able to get a job in IT pretty easily, as it's still a growing market, but also a few of my friends got jobs with investment banks, and are earning some really nice cash right from the start. If you do though, prepare for a struggle.