What should I do?

S Freud

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
4,755
1
81
I am in my second year of college and starting to have second thoughts about my major choice.

I am currently majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business entrepreneurship.


I am leaning towards something in the computer/IT field but I don't know what.

My college offers Computer Science ? Information Systems (programming with a minor in business); Computer Science ? Applied Computer Science ) combination of computer science and a related field (i.e., multimedia); and Computer Science ? Computer Systems (software developing)

But I don't know which one would be the best to take. What has the best job field and what sort of certifications should I add on.

Any advice is much appreciated

thanks :)
 

slpaulson

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2000
4,412
13
81
Have you taken any programming courses? I'd at least start by taking a course or two. If you don't stay with it, at least it should count as a science elective.
 

S Freud

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
4,755
1
81
Originally posted by: Gilligansdingy
Advice 101

Grow A Pair

So asking for advice means that I don't "have a pair?"

So I am going to assume you never ask for advice on what to do.
 
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
1
61
What the degree is is less important than actually getting it. If it makes you feel better then switch. Otherwise, I'd say since you're half-way there, stick to it and finish it up.

One of my friends got his bachelors in psychology then later signed on to the MBA program at Arizona State and got his masters in business/finance.
 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,511
1,071
126
Originally posted by: Gilligansdingy
When it comes to life altering decisions.... I try not to ask a group of unkown ppl.

Id say he'd probably get better adivce here than at his college advisors.

College Advisors are the most worthless people I have ever talked to.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,333
10,842
136
By reading between the idiots there is often plenty of useful information to be had here on AT.
 

S Freud

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
4,755
1
81
I enjoy psychology, though more as what you could refer to as a hobby now. My classes just don't hold my interest like they did when I first started.
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
Take a few courses in the topics you're considering. Worst case scenario is you get the BA in Psych with a minor in CS.

CS is not a field to be taken lightly and much different than what people think it is. Be prepared to go through at least Calc II with courses in Linear Algebra, possibly DiffEq, and a rather difficult/tedious class concering algorithms and their proofs.
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
4,025
0
0
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
One of my friends got his bachelors in psychology then later signed on to the MBA program at Arizona State and got his masters in business/finance.

although things like this happen, i would find it EXTREMELY hard to believe a psychology major would get accepted to any half decent grad program for CS.

OP, as others have stated, take a couple courses and see how it is. and yea, you'll need a lot of math. i looked in my university's catalog for a friend that was interested in engineering. there was not a single major that did not need Calc (1, 2 ,3) and either linear algebra or differential equations. this alone is going to run you over a year in math
 

MrCodeDude

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
13,674
1
76
Going from a Liberal Arts to an Engineering major is going to cost you a good year and a half of math and science courses, including the entire Calculus series (1 - 4), Differential Equations, Physics (1 - 3) + Modern Physics (Relativity and Quantum Mechanics), and an individual Chemistry class.
 

timosyy

Golden Member
Dec 19, 2003
1,822
0
0
Computer Science is not easy.

Take a few courses & see how you like it. I switched from Computer Engineering to Business (Finance/IT) and Business (so far) is a joke by comparison... but then I'm not really math/science oriented, as I found out (painfully) in college. You go in thinking you like computers, can do IT, and basic programming, and then higher level math/science/engineering classes make your head spin.
 

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
16,524
29
91
Most colleges offer advisers for questions just like yours. My suggestion would be to see if yours does, and if so, make an appointment with one. :)
 

Siddhartha

Lifer
Oct 17, 1999
12,505
3
81
Originally posted by: S Freud
I am in my second year of college and starting to have second thoughts about my major choice.

I am currently majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business entrepreneurship.


I am leaning towards something in the computer/IT field but I don't know what.

My college offers Computer Science ? Information Systems (programming with a minor in business); Computer Science ? Applied Computer Science ) combination of computer science and a related field (i.e., multimedia); and Computer Science ? Computer Systems (software developing)

But I don't know which one would be the best to take. What has the best job field and what sort of certifications should I add on.

Any advice is much appreciated

thanks :)

What are your interests?
 

S Freud

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
4,755
1
81
Originally posted by: Siddhartha
Originally posted by: S Freud

Any advice is much appreciated

thanks :)

What are your interests?


Well I do have an interest in computers, but I also hope to start my own business one day. I love working with my hands, and things related.

My girlfriend suggested that I should look into being a contractor, but I don't think there is a college degree that is related to that...?

I love psychology, and being in school for a while doesn't bother me. Math is not a super strong point of mine but I wouldn't call it a weak point either.