Computer Science Major -or- Business Administration Major (in Computer Info Systems)?

Whatever you do, don't listen to anyone...

Know that management positions are more stable and pay better...AND there is rarely more responsibility associated with the position. Lets face it, if the ship sinks we all drown.

Know that you will not retire doing the thing that you went to school to do. Most people change careers (not just jobs) 7 times in their lives.

Know that "free time" is the most valuable commodity on the planet. I've never seen a tombstone which read," Here lies the hardes working S.O.B. that ever lived."

Know that everybody can code these days. You can make more money speaking Spanish than coding C.

Good Luck.

"The general stereotype of a computer science major is a student who works behind the closed door of his dorm room with blinds closed, does not speak to other people, and codes his life away while eating delivered pizza and watching reruns of anime. However, I love interacting with people. I love the prospect of being able to develop devices and software to improve the lives of others.

I have been surprised by the plethora of opportunities related to computer science. Computer science is a versatile degree that can be utilized in many different ways throughout the world, and there are many companies that wish to provide learning opportunities to computer science students. There are also many research opportunities available to someone with a computer science background. I came in thinking computer science would be an interesting major, but I found that choosing this major opened the door to many opportunities to learn about myself, to find internships that may help in that process, and to carve my own path.

My greatest challenge has been deciding what to do with all the opportunities available to me. Do I want to work in industry? Do I want to work on websites? Do I want to be the IT [information technology] person who answers technical questions? Do I want to go on to graduate school? Should I get an M.B.A.? What about law school or medical school?

I am lucky to have advisors and resources I can go to with concerns about my future plans. I've researched different career paths, read about different jobs, and tried a co-op at the Georgia Tech Research Institute [to see if I liked it]. This company is affiliated with the Georgia Institute of Technology but is a subcontractor for the Department of Defense. I worked with software engineers and did coding projects for the company.

My advice is to keep an open mind, utilize advisors and mentors, and keep an eye out for opportunities that can help enhance your college experience. There are many types of opportunities for computer science majors, everything from paid internships to volunteer opportunities. Getting involved helps you figure out what path is right for you and to discover where your passions lie." - Kathy, computer science major, Georgia Institute of Technology