Computer science

[rogwar]

Sixteen year old daughter says she may be interested in computer science. She does make good grades.

Seems like a good opportunity for work in the future. What say the O'Club?

[MrRiplEy[H]]

A famous IBM executive said:

I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.

So if your daughter expects to be one of the elite who gets the honor on working those, maybe its a good move.

[tunnelrat]

If she's really into computers, awesome. I recommend her getting the degree, but more importantly self-study and get real-world certification.  Even if she's gonna be a programmer, get at least a CCNA.  If she does that, she'll be able to dominate her competition in that the vast majority of code-monkeys have zero clue as to how to make their code work in the real world... having a solid fundamental understanding of basic desktop and network operating systems, as well as basic networking puts her in rare company right out of the gate.

If she's just looking for a way to make money, and she's not all that into computers, it's a horribad idea.  Just watch the IT Crowd... the chick that "runs" the IT department is a caricature of many people in the IT industry today.

Get 100% into IT, or get 100% out of IT.

[Rob52240]

It's a useful degree.

As long as she stays away from liberal arts degrees and sticks with a real science degree she should be able to find a career in her field no problem.

[tmetal]

I'm a little bias because I work there but UTDallas has one of the top ranked computer sciences programs in the state. Might be worth a look since you're in the area.

[tunnelrat]

It's a useful degree.

As long as she stays away from liberal arts degrees and sticks with a real science degree she should be able to find a career in her field no problem.

[Bizman]

As my brother in law says: No matter what you choose to do, as long as you're the best in it you'll never be unemployed or poor.

[rogwar]

It's a useful degree.

As long as she stays away from liberal arts degrees and sticks with a real science degree she should be able to find a career in her field no problem.

She is free to get a degree in liberal arts or even basket weaving but it will be totally on her own if so.


Thanks for all of the helpful feedback so far. Of course I'll be looking at other sources of info. She could change her mind as well. Sometimes dealing with a 16 year old girl is like asking our cat what it wants for dinner.

[tunnelrat]

Sometimes dealing with a 16 year old girl is like asking our cat what it wants for dinner.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Swoop]

Is she someone who 'may be interested in computers' or someone who 'is interested in computers'?


Ie, someone who wants to be an F1 engineer......but, at this time, doesn't know the difference between bhp and torque.....has a big hill to climb. 

[rogwar]

Up to now she has only used a computer as an ordinary tool.  Now in 10th grade she has her first programming class where they are using java. She thinks it is pretty interesting and said maybe that's what she might be interested in studying. She makes great grades and is outgoing/personable as well as very accomplished with a shotgun. 

[Ratsy]

In terms of university education there are two paths into an IT organization.

1.  Electrical Engineering
2.  Business Data Systems (generic term, but I think UT system still calls it that)

The Engineering degree is supposed to command the best salary but in this economy - pfffft.

Business data systems is the usual path for application programmer/analysts and IT Architects.  There are more job classes available on that route and if you're good and not at pre-retirement age, there's security in it.

 

[Motherland]

If you're interested in return on investment, the best choices are

-study engineering (then again in 6 years this will probably be worthless as well)
-don't go to college

The idea of getting an undergraduate degree (or a masters or a PhD) as a financial investment is outmoded. Either go to college because you have an insatiable desire to learn about that subject or just don't. You're sentencing yourself to a lifetime of poverty. Which is fine if you really like whatever thing, but if you're expecting to make money you're going to be severely disappointed.
Even if you don't study 'underwater basket weaving' your mean starting salary will likely be about 2% higher than someone who does.
Whatever she does, she shouldn't study science (again, if money is the issue).

Anyway what she's interested in now doesn't matter, she probably won't keep the same major she applies for even if she does go to school.

[Bizman]

Up to now she has only used a computer as an ordinary tool.  Now in 10th grade she has her first programming class where they are using java. She thinks it is pretty interesting and said maybe that's what she might be interested in studying. She makes great grades and is outgoing/personable as well as very accomplished with a shotgun. 

Having made a living by fixing computers for the last decade I've never had to use a shotgun. To be honest, I have only shot a few pistol rounds after my military service which was thirty five years ago. But then again, a nation wide IT company's worker once showed me a hard disk which had been shot through with an assault rifle to make it unreadable. 

[bustr]

Usually if your child was teaching themselves programming and hardware outside of school, you would know an investment in higher education for computer sciences is worth it. The two year tech schools are often a bit behind the job demand curve. The degree you get two years from today may have been more relevant the day you signed up for your first class two years earlier.

If she goes with programming, reality is she will be competing for high end jobs against the visa lottery out of India and Asia. If she goes with hardware and backend systems. Many large companies have been down sizing to blade systems and virtual OS instances combining applications to reduce costs while outsourcing support. When I was at BofA, they were jokingly called Microsoft's largest beta sight for testing the future of corporate computing. Then they downsized 3000 servers to IBM blade systems on virtual MS OS instances. Out sourced hardware support to HP and software patching to India and got rid of hundreds of U.S. IT professionals. Funny how they would fire in blocks like 120 40-60 year olds with a single 25 year old to not violate federal ageism laws. Toilet tissue on your wall and who you knew mattered.   

IT is a game of getting into it first, regardless of the toilet tissue hanging on your wall. Once you are in, if you are in your 20's and very early 30's. Get as much toilet tissue to hang on your wall as you can even if you have to pay out of pocket yourself. Only your manager will know what kind of real genius you are and has no reason to tell his management about it. Toilet tissue counts in your signature and your resume. And know as many people as possible who you can ask for favors or will help you to your next job. In general IT is intolerant of you the older you get. So once you are in, as soon as you can. Start managing your money against age intolerance.