Almost ready to graduate with a CS degree... not sure it's really what I want to be doing.

[Jumpem]

I've been doing a required software development internship for a little over a year. I am going to resume classes in September and be finished in February.

I have a minor in Economics. My girlfriend is an accounting major, and her course work seems to interest me much more than programming. I think on a personal level I would enjoy a finance/accounting/economics related job more.

I wish I had known I would feel this way when I began college over four years ago. I was sheltered and didn't really know what options I had since I was homeschooled. All I knew about back then was computers.

I'm not really sure what sort of comments I am looking for. Has anyone else gone through this?

Most likely, I will get a full time software development job and see if it ends up being something that I can be happy with. Would getting an MBA with a technical background make sense? Or maybe get another Bachelor's degree in the future if I can get everything except the core business classes waived due to my CS degree?


Cliff Notes: Graduating with a CS degree. Would enjoy an accounting/finance job more. What to do?

 

I've switched careers twice already.
I'm about to do it for a 3rd time.

 

[toekramp]

Jumpem, just having the degree is the most important part. I was able to convience PeopleSoft that altough I had an English degree, I had the knowledge and dedication to work with their software. Having a techinical background is always a plus, and if you have strong people skills you shouldn't have any problem relocating to different fields.

 

[maziwanka]

you can easily enter finance with your degree. i have plenty of friends who have done just that. work for another 2-3 years and you'll be fine getting into b-school. im surprised you actually have an interest in accounting.... not many ppl do (even those who are accountants).... hahahaha. dont sweat it. you'll be fine and you're young (like me!)

 

[kaizersose]

two years of work doing either tech or finance, then get an MBA and you are on your way.

technical degrees will only help you, no matter the field

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: kaizersose
two years of work doing either tech or finance, then get an MBA and you are on your way.

technical degrees will only help you, no matter the field

Maybe this is a dumb question. What types of jobs could I expect to have with a BSCS & MBA combination? Do I need a thorough business background before I can take MBA courses?

 

[Zombie]

Wht's wrong with CS degree?

 

[Ranger X]

Originally posted by: Zombie
Wht's wrong with CS degree?

Nothing wrong with the degree. It's the economy and the surplus of jobseekers with a CS degree.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: Zombie
Wht's wrong with CS degree?

Nothings wrong with it at all. I'm just not sure if I'll enjoy coding for years on end.

For example, I rarely am interested in coding outside of work/school. I don't read articles about it or keep up with developer forums. On the other hand, economics actually interests me and keeps my attention. Not sure what I want to do.

 

[Jumpem]

ttt fo some more opinions.

 

[Achtung]

Well, there's way more to CS than coding. Did you take any theory classes?

But in the end, with an engineering degree, you can study almost anything in grad school. The technical background is a big plus.

 

[StormRider]

A CS degree is a big plus -- you can get a job in some companies Business division where they develop software for funding/planning/budgeting etc. As you move up you can just move on more to the business and management stuff and forget programming if that is your inclination.

I have a masters in EE and I am a software developer in a business division. I'm the exact opposite of you. I have no real interest in business processes and financials and stuff. I'm more interested in coding, engineering, math, and science stuff -- not business and management. But if I were, there are opportunities for me to take classes in those areas and move into it.

I think it's easier to do have a CS degree and then go into either programming (CS stuff) or business stuff than having a business degree and then go into either programming or business stuff. In other words, I think you would have more options with a CS degree.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: Achtung
Well, there's way more to CS than coding. Did you take any theory classes?

But in the end, with an engineering degree, you can study almost anything in grad school. The technical background is a big plus.

Yes, plenty of theory classes - algorithms, data structures, data communication, operating systems, discrete math, etc.

 

[yukichigai]

With a Bachelor's in CS and an MBA you would likely be a shoe-in for any business position with a small software company. Coders need Business majors to help them with that whole "selling" thing, and they will greatly appreciate being able to talk to one who understand the lingo.

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: Zombie
Wht's wrong with CS degree?

Nothings wrong with it at all. I'm just not sure if I'll enjoy coding for years on end.

For example, I rarely am interested in coding outside of work/school. I don't read articles about it or keep up with developer forums. On the other hand, economics actually interests me and keeps my attention. Not sure what I want to do.

You will probably get bored of CS if you don't keep challenging yourself. If you get too comfortable with your job then it will get boring in a hurry. So find a Software Eng. position and work for couple of years. May be you will move up in the company to something you will like better than programming. If not have he employer pay for your school.

Staying in school cause you don't think you can cut it out there in real world would be idiotic.

 

[Jumpem]

StormRider, thanks for the lengthy reply.

 

[Jumpem]

Zombie, I am definitely not staying in school more than my two remaining quarters. I already have ~$30k in student loans since I've had to pay for my own housing and tuition. I also have a wedding and stuff that will require more money.

 

[DT4K]

I know some people find programming boring, but accounting??? ugh.
I love coding and hate the business/meetings/corporate politics side of my job.

But programming is certainly not the only thing you can do with a CS degree. Aside from the obvious alternatives like dba, network and sys admins, etc., you can also move into management.

Are you interested in business management or just finance and accounting?
Most of the managers where I work started as engineers and moved up to become department managers by showing initiative and getting involved more in the big picture decision making rather than just doing the technical work.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: Shanti
I know some people find programming boring, but accounting??? ugh.
I love coding and hate the business/meetings/corporate politics side of my job.

But programming is certainly not the only thing you can do with a CS degree. Aside from the obvious alternatives like dba, network and sys admins, etc., you can also move into management.

Are you interested in business management or just finance and accounting?
Most of the managers where I work started as engineers and moved up to become department managers by showing initiative and getting involved more in the big picture decision making rather than just doing the technical work.

I'm not sure about accounting exactly. Just that I find economics more interesting than programming usually. If I had to choose a business major it would probably be finance.

Sure I'd be interested in management. However, if I got bored of coding perhaps I wouldn't be into managing programmers or discussing technical matters.