Add a Comment!  Have a question or a comment, add it right here!  <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  I don not agree with you.  As long as you are a US citize, as a computer scientist, you can always find a well-paid job, and as long as you study during your spare time, you can learn new stuffs. Fri July 1, 2005, 12:44 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Undergraduate Computer Science If you are worth your weight in the CS books you had to purchase in college for this degree, you learned HOW to program - NOT a specific LANGUAGE. I've made the switch-over to 3 different languages. Whoever wrote the review above probably shouldn't have spent their time/money getting a CS degree (if they even have one). As for money, I'm very comfortable. Opportunity abounds for any CS graduate that has a personality, is detail oriented (which most of us are), and for lack of a better term - the 'cajones' - to demand proper compensation for work performance. One last tid-bit about the CS degree - if you are also self-motivated, this degree is one that allows an individual to be self-employed and extremely profitable in doing so. I've been in the workforce 3 years now and am starting my Master's degree in CS! Andrew Tue August 30, 2005, 11:07 am <Reply to this comment>

 

CS vs IT Why major in CS when you can major in IT… IT will teach you marketable skills that lead to higher paying jobs, which are actually easier compared to CS jobs.  CS will teach you a bunch of technical stuff that can be best used for software engineering, which is boring, hard, annoying, and not highly paid. Also, you need to specialize in something dealing with computers; just saying CS will do this is way too broad. Companies want a technical IT department that can manage their networks, databases, problems, and write programs that reduce labor costs.  Most CS students will end up learning entering one of those areas. Fri November 11, 2005, 8:14 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

The article's absolutely right No degree becomes so worthless, so fast, as a computer science degree.  I got my degree as the dot-com bubble was bursting.  I worked for a couple years in a job way beneath my abilities and not at all challenging because there wasn't much out there.  I finally decided to pursue other interests until the market picked up again. Now, 3 years later, I am completely unemployable in the computer/IT industry.  The skills employers look for are highly specialized...they definitely don't want a well-rounded person with wide-ranging knowledge.  Heck, you might as well be a plumber, at least then once you get you learn the trade you don't have to re-learn everything every few years. advracer [dot] dm [at] gmail [dot] com Wed December 14, 2005, 6:33 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: The article's absolutely right meant to say “at least then once you learn the trade...”, my bad Wed December 14, 2005, 6:35 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  CS really does devaluate quickly, because of the experience valuation curve is roughly flat — that is, computer science is roughly taught as a “skill”, which does increase substantially enough with experience over time.  With most other fields, as the person becomes more experienced, they become more valuable — CS is one of the few places where this is not true.  Its really worth looking into a career, even if less “glamorous”, that values the experience you gain — experience is essentially job security.  Mon January 2, 2006, 10:52 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  I'd also like to add that globalization is increasing the rate of devaluation, as much CS work can be done over a distance, meaning that it, above all other concentrations, is susceptible to outsourcing, where locality is not such a big gain. Mon January 2, 2006, 10:54 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Misconceptions CS generally doesn't teach specialized skills, rather fundamentals of CS as it has evolved today. Technology evolves from these fundamentals, on which a CS grad should be able to keep a float despite changes in technology.  In addition, most CS Grads will move up to software design within 5 years of employment.  Software design, architecture, and the skills required to solve the complex problem of software design changes much slower than the technology used for implementation. ---- >>Highly “individual” — i.e.  not terribly >>good working with others.' The field of computer science has few opportunities for individual workers.  Very few software projects are done by an individual, and almost always require working in a team. CS programs too require a great amount of group work to prepare students for real work. ----- As technology changes we are almost all at risk of becomming out-dated. CS Degree or not.  Our culture, and our professional fields require us all to use new technology.  We are all users of technology, and therefore we must all adapt to these changes. For example E-mail has become the primary method for communicatating in the work place, replacing the phone for many purposes.  Now those that were able to conduct effective business before using verbal communication, must learn to do the same using written words.  For many this change is much harder than you may think.  Corporate America has spent billions on remidial writting classes for their employess to tackle this issue.  Mon January 23, 2006, 11:48 am <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  Well, obviously the person who wrote this was a failure in the profession, otherwise, it would not be so negative. I disagree with at least 80% of what was said in this write up and I'm a successful female software engineer who works well with others.  The bottom line is that there's a lot of opportunity out there in every aspect of the field of computer science.  It is really up to the individual to make him or herself successful. Tue January 24, 2006, 12:42 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  Technology changes constantly. This changes amplifies in CS fields.  Person refuse to change and stay with the old technology, can not survive.  Being in technical fields for the past 10 years, I have embraced the changes, so long as you have a positive attitude, any change is based on the prior and the learning curve is not that hard. CS is still a rewarding field if you love the challenge. Thu February 16, 2006, 9:18 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  People here talking about how great and successful they are with their cs degree are very shortsighted and will be lucky to remain employed for very long. Look at how many cs jobs were outsourced to india last year. Employers first ask “can we hire someone from india to do this?” long before they even consider hiring someone here in the US. Fri December 15, 2006, 4:51 am <Reply to this comment>

 

Devastated I have diametrically opposite view..I think the respectable person who quoted these opinion need to get his facts correct..  Computer Science is still the need of the hour...moreover candidly speaking, is one of the highly rewarding stream to pursue.  I do admit that when the technology changes we'r at risk of losing jobs..but only when we do not update ourself with the latest technology..but,in any case the underlying technology remains the same.Also Computer Science allows oneself to overcome the monotonous job by indulging oneself in the new technologies.  Computer Science is the stream that empasize on innovation and has brought revolution in the life of Human species. Aby'The One' abhisfortitude [at] gmail [dot] com Tue December 26, 2006, 3:47 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment You got to be kidding me with the out sourcing.  CS is highly in demand still.  The jobs that do get out sourced are typically low end or IT jobs.  Depending on the program you study or the depth in which you learned the subject, the job is currently quite secure.  You have to learn new things off and on but that comes with being an engineer. Tue January 2, 2007, 1:57 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  the world of computer science is like a black hole...u dont suck from it..it sucks u..its never completed...keeps on increasing..and increasing.......well no matter u learn any sucject of computer science by paying a hell lot of money-it wont help...rest is up to u....when u learn any computer science course..remember ..u only learn 5% of it...the rest 99.99 % is up to u jabs adrash_jabs [at] hotmail [dot] com Tue August 22, 2006, 2:48 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

This just heard In the student center at a well respected institution: “Unfortunately, you'll find that computer science students have no interpersonal skills, and cannot [have not been taught] interact in the real world" Amazing how true.  People just mention it casually. Thu January 11, 2007, 8:22 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  “ You got to be kidding me with the out sourcing.  CS is highly in demand still.  [...] “ Are you for real? Do you have any practical experience in the field?  You've really got to think about the future! Thu January 11, 2007, 8:24 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  Blah, blah, CS sucks! What you really learn is the software/hardware that dinosaurs used. Who uses ADA?  Exactly. Information Systems, Information Technology, Computer Information Systems, Management Information Systems, and Computer Science are not for the “I want to get rich in a second” person! Programming is getting outsourced!  Consider a Project Management Track! computerMajorsSuck Tue February 13, 2007, 10:23 pm <Reply to this comment>

 

Re: Add a Comment!  Computer Science as a major is crap. You will be better off learning a real trade such as auto mechanics. Computer Science Departments produce Computer Science professors, and that is all.  All of the programming and IT jobs are being outsourced and downsized anyway. Computer Science is not even respected as an academic discipline, Home Economics is more of a science than Computer Science. Tue February 27, 2007, 6:11 am <Reply to this comment>

 

From a CS student :After painfully reading through this page, I guess I have a few comments that may help clear some things up (coming from a true, current, CS student soon to graduate. 1.  Anyone who doubts the future to the CS field is not looking into the future at all.  Do you really think computers are going away? As long as there is electronics like computers there will have to be people around to tell them what to do, am I wrong? 2.  It is true the value of your degree fades quickly, however experience picks up for it if you pursue a job in CS and keep up with the recent technologies. 3.  It is a semi-true cliche that all CS majors are anti-social. Just like any cliche it is only true for some. 4.  It is also true that not all of us make the “big bucks” like we have all been told we would.  However if you are willing and dedicated you can make however much you are willing to work for.  A CS buddy of mine from a magnet HS had a $250,000 grant to program an online stock market game for K-12 students.  THIS WAS BEFORE HE GRADUATED HS, no jokes no lies.  Plus, I he stuck to his business plan he had written up he would have been work 5 million by the time he was 22. 5.  CS is far more specialized than IT.  IT is very broad and general. We have an IT department here on campus and they know a lot about equipment, but when they want to know what is going on internally the call the