computer courses and $$$

[aerosimon]

since some ... let me rephrase, i mean since most of you seem to work in the computer industry could anyone tell me which course is better to take if i was interested in both the computers side and also the money side (im greedy :D )
would i be better off doing computer engineering instead of computer science if i wanted to make more money?
also i was wondering that since computer engineering is specialised in the engineering of computers would jobs be harder to come by, and since computer science can get you into most jobs in the computer industry would jobs be easier to find?

[Porfiry]

Well, I strongly recommend not doing something for the money alone. Seriously consider what you would enjoy doing. If you really want money, get an MBA and you can earn it by bullshitting yourself through life.


However, if you are seriously considering CS/CE, realize there is a substantive difference between the two. CE is hardware. CE tends to appeal to very hardcore math/physics nerds, because it draws heavily on those two disciplines. CS, on the other hand is more befitting 'lesser' nerds. That is, nerds with some sociopolitical perspective.

I hear that CE is ultra-competitive. So, you'll need to be very skilled just to get an entry-level job. CS, on the other hand, is a bit more forgiving since there's a wider variety of chores you can perform. However, impressive skill is still necessary if you expect to rise above your menial chores and entry-level salary.

[aerosimon]

ok thanks porfiry for the info, i'll see how i go in my first year of computer science. now that you tell me how competitive CE is i think i like my chances with computer science :) . although im not too bad in maths and physics, i dont think i can match some of the smarties doing it aswell. again thanks for the info!

[Rick]

Hey Dave,

regularly refreshing your headings?:D

hey pretty is the best btw.



bye!

[malisha]

Well i did comp-sci because i like software development and programming a little more then hardware. But it also depends on where you live.
In Aus there is a limited about of jobs on the hardware side of things, alot of my friends that did the extra year in comp-eng are getting into the same jobs that I am and to get a decent eng type of job you have to go overseas.

But it is really important to do what you like, otherwise your not going to be happy with your job no matter how much money it makes.

[aerosimon]

hi malisha, i wanted to ask if you did an honours year for the computer science course. also how many years did it take you to finish your comp sci course, because at my uni it's only a 3 year course and providing you obtain good grades you may enter the honours year (4th) if you want to.
i also like programming but i dont mind studying the hardware side of things in comp engin aswell, so i've decided if i get good enough grades to transfer i will, but if i dont get good enough grades i'll just strive to get into the honours year, after all if i dont do well in comp sci i dont think i'd fair much better in comp engineering :p

[malisha]

Hi areo,
Na i didnt do honours, my grades where good enough but i instead had a job offer for 47k which i could not pass up. I believed that spending a year of actual real work experiance working and learning the industry first hand is alot better then spending another year of uni, you can always go back to uni but getting a job initially is difficult, expecially one your really happy with.

My degree was 3 years @ university of sydney in Aus and i enjoyed it a hell of a lot.

If you like hardware by all means do comp eng, me on the other hand, i loved the idea of just needing a computer and compiler to create something cool, not need for any bread boards and chips :) so i focused all my energy on just software stuff.

And another thing, please dont asume that just because you might do crap in comp-sci that you will do crap in comp eng, i know alot of comp-eng guys who knock comp-sci studnets and then when an assignment comes up they turn around and ask for help from a comp-sci student, either by way of copying or explanantions, some people are just better at hardware and others are just better at programming, you seem like you like programming and also hardware so you would be very suited to comp-eng if you like both it is alot better because you get alot more exposure in comp-eng which is always a good thing. :), but if you only like one thing in particular dont force doing a course that covers both, its a waste of your time and you'll really get annoyed close to exam dates :)

[aerosimon]

wow a 47k starting salary is very good! hope you get promoted and earn even more! well i really like programming but im not too good at it, maybe its because i bludged all through software design in my high school year... i'll work harder this year! well my marks werent good enough to enter computer engineering in the first year, i missed out by a couple of marks so i decided if i do well enough i'd probably transfer to computer engineering after the first year and start the second year of computer engineering (because the electives i chose matched those of comp eng's first year). if i dont get into it i'll try to get into the honours year of computer science, but i havent even started my first year so im not going to worry about it just yet (i've got other things to worry about :( )
im studying at the university of nsw, i think i could have gotten into comp engin there but i dont really like syd university that much not that its bad! just that the building look a bit old to me and its near redfern which is a bit dangerous.
i would like if we were to keep in touch, my email is at aerosimon@hotmail.com, because if i have questions about the course i'd know who to turn to =) thanks

[malisha]

heheh no sh*t, unsw i got heaps of friends that go there, and they doing comp eng as well.

You know my reason for choosing sydney uni, because it was really open and had alot of nice areas to sit, i imagined myself sitting in the big quad area and eating lunch their but i never got around to doing it one because that area had alot of weird people and reason two is because i stayed in the labs to much or hung out at the cafeteria .

Actually though comp-eng in sydney was alittle higher then newsouth, i think newsouth had uai cut of at 91% whilst sydneys was 93% - 95% uai, well in my year anyway.

I got an 89.suthing not to good not to bad, i cant quite remember, i actually wanted more because i wanted comp-sci advanced but after the first year doing normal comp-sci was ok, i did take some advanced courses though, jsut the onces that i liked, but i tell you something the minute you walk into uni uai's are all out the door, people that got 99% uai are dying and people that got 75% uai and barley got into science are kicking butt :) (not all but u get the point) i guess it all depends on how hard you work at uni. And let me tell you first year is the all important year where you pick up the basics or you copy all your assignments from then on so its important you get whats happening in first year.

And about the redfern thing, yeh as long as its in the morining not to much happen, just that theres always the 'ay brother you got a dollar brother' happening all the time which is quite annoying.

yeh i dont mind keeping in contact my email is
sbud2320@hotmail.com , good luck with your degree though, and beware of the late late nights programming trying to finish of assignments :)

[malisha]

Dam sorry i double posted somehow :(