General

[quote=Momo123]Electrical Engineering is definitely not a downgrade. It's more of an upgrade since it's really broad. EE majors can get jobs in computer science, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, other jobs.[/quote]

l meant a downgrade difficulty wise since EE is without a doubt far more respectable and generally more successful. You made it sound like EE was easier than comp sci so l was confuse

[quote=Momo123]Electrical Engineering is definitely not a downgrade. It's more of an upgrade since it's really broad. EE majors can get jobs in computer science, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, other jobs.[/quote]
EE is a [b]huge[/b] upgrade from computer science, the difference between the two majors is nothing less than monumental.

Starting salaries of EE majors and CS majors are roughly equal in California, though EE majors boast slightly higher median salaries, better job stability, and gain the right to brag about being an actual engineer.

[quote=momozzz]Electrical..A downgrade from comp sci? l'm so confused m8. l sat in a couple of the 3rd/4th year electrical lectures during one of my spare periods and it's so much more complex than programming but maybe our comp sci department is just weak.[/quote]
Electrical Engineering is definitely not a downgrade. It's more of an upgrade since it's really broad. EE majors can get jobs in computer science, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, other jobs.

I took Computer Science just in case game design did not work out. It's not needed, but it's so important and needed these days it's a good idea to take the class. I recommend learning some basic coding from the numerous free sites around the web to see if it's something you can get into.

[quote=Yumtoast]What courses does a game development major take?

Do you have to take programming classes to create games? What about lots writing courses to develop a story/plot?[/quote]
I said game development because it's easier to say, but my program's actually called Game Art and Production, so we focus on the art side. We do a little bit of programming, and a little bit of writing, but otherwise it's pretty much all art. A lot of people waver between Animation (like, people who will go work at Pixar and stuff) and Game Art and Production, because those two majors are very similar course-wise.

But for people who want to go to the programming side, my university splits up CS into multiple different tracks, and one of those tracks is game development, so CS majors specializing in the game development track learn more about programming specifically for games. That's why when we have classes where our term project is to make a game, they put an assortment of GMAP and CS majors in the class so they can team up, and the GMAP majors do all the arting while the CS majors do all the programming.

[quote=Omegathorion]As a game development major, I have to work with a lot of CS people who are the programmers for the games we make. So there's always the possibility of working in the game industry.

(but the CS majors I work with all really suck at coding)[/quote]
What courses does a game development major take?

Do you have to take programming classes to create games? What about lots writing courses to develop a story/plot?

As a game development major, I have to work with a lot of CS people who are the programmers for the games we make. So there's always the possibility of working in the game industry.

(but the CS majors I work with all really suck at coding)

[quote=Momo123]There are tons of jobs for it. However, computer science is a difficult major since it's in the engineering department. Be prepared to spend hours studying for your calculus or physics test. Also, programming is not that easy. I found it difficult and I hated it after I took intro to C++, so I changed my major to electrical engineering.[/quote]

Electrical..A downgrade from comp sci? l'm so confused m8. l sat in a couple of the 3rd/4th year electrical lectures during one of my spare periods and it's so much more complex than programming but maybe our comp sci department is just weak.

[quote=Yumtoast]Also, take physics at a community college.[/quote]

I did this through running start at my highschool

I also thought I would struggle for a 3.3 in two classes of math back to back at my University first quarter, but now, they're over 90%

[quote=iDrinkOJ]what are good CS electives to take? I need something practical and beneficial for getting hired. Somewhat interested in web and mobile development, algorithms, distributed systems, machine learning, computer vision.[/quote]
That depends on the electives your university offers.

[quote=metaghost4]if there's one piece of unique advice I can tell you, it's to aim for the easiest non-CS courses. Your lower division classes will be mostly math. physics, and writing and stats (and some CS obviously).[/quote]
This is so true. If I didn't have the 4.0s coming from GE courses, my GPA would be horrid.

Also, take physics at a community college.

I have some friends that are CS majors.
From the looks of it, if you can't do math you're pretty much boned.

why don't you google it

@LuklessFlame I think you go to Stanford or Caltech. Am I right? I would go to Caltech if I was that smart and in CA.

@Yumtoast or anyone. what are good CS electives to take? I need something practical and beneficial for getting hired. Somewhat interested in web and mobile development, algorithms, distributed systems, machine learning, computer vision.

I'm an SE major with an applied mathematics minor, and I take the same exact courses as CS majors until deep electives; I'm also in the top 15% of the department, so feel free to ask me anything if my opinions matter to you.

Next semester I'll be taking:
-Applied Statistics/Inferential Statistics
-Computational Language Paradigms
-Technical Writing
-Formal Languages
-Some engineering course -- haven't decided yet.

I live in California, so CS/Engineering jobs are abundant. FYI, CS is not engineering; hell, software engineering is barely engineering.

@LukFlame what school do you go to?

[quote=Keane]Nexon isn't the only place to work.[/quote]

ty for stating the obvious.

you can get a job working for Nexon.

Initially, it's not that difficult if you're geared for it; however, most people don't fall into that category. Every year, the classes yet smaller and smaller while the classes and concepts get more difficult; concepts as simple as a basic while/do while loop are impossible to grasp immediately for a good amount of people. I started out with ~400 people in my intro to CS class, which is now trimmed down to roughly 100 people now. It takes an incredible amount of commitment to learn the classes/concepts, and people don't really grasp the amount of commitment and innate critical thinking it takes until they're failing.

CS is one of the highest paying careers in the market, you are pretty much guaranteed a job if you graduate and are competent at coding.
tl;dr high effort, high reward

It's less about programming and more about logic and problem-solving. You'll learn a lot about algorithms and data structures. Very very large job market with good pay, though.

[quote=MapleAndAcorn]Woahwoahwoah, really? I'm taking AP Comp. Science next year in my school because I plan on majoring in Computer Science too, but is it really that much work? I'm willing to put that much work to be honest, but still lol.[/quote]

all depends on where you go

[quote=HolyDragon]How does 20+ hour for weekly programming assignments from a single class sound to you? That's second year though.[/quote]

Woahwoahwoah, really? I'm taking AP Comp. Science next year in my school because I plan on majoring in Computer Science too, but is it really that much work? I'm willing to put that much work to be honest, but still lol.

Doing Python right now. All I can say is if you're an extremely good problem solver then Comp Sci is the way to go. It incorporates a lot of logic based thinking (efficiency)

I read a statistic somewhere that by 2020 they're gonna be around a 22% increase in jobs in the field.

How does 20+ hour for weekly programming assignments from a single class sound to you? That's second year though.

I hear it's geared towards programming and software development for companies but that's coming from only a few friends. It seems quite broad but it's a fairly decent paying career in my perspective.

There are tons of jobs for it. However, computer science is a difficult major since it's in the engineering department. Be prepared to spend hours studying for your calculus or physics test. Also, programming is not that easy. I found it difficult and I hated it after I took intro to C++, so I changed my major to electrical engineering.