a) Who will be funding this education? If loans and savings must be replenished then the future earning power must be considered.
b) Strangely and not divorced from consideration is the education of your parents and family. If they do not have a college education they see the education as a step toward financial success. This might taint their opinions. If they are in the engineering or applied sciences field this might also skew their opinions.
c) In a perfect world you will have a scholarship that will pay your entire way and will discover some great mathematical algorithm that will cure cancer and bring world peace. But unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world or at least I don't.
Now for my opinion. A degree in any field is not a guarantee of future worldly success. A degree doesn't not teach you anything beyond an ability to learn. Industry puts great store in an engineering degree not by what it teaches but by its ability to weed out the ill prepared. Engineering studies do not guarantee anything but a high rate of failure among its students. So only the strong survive, regardless of ability.
So what to do? Follow your heart because if you don't you will not put the effort into the work necessary to be successful. Each of these degrees is hard work and the successful completion of the degree will bring about success in life.
You offer interesting alternatives. I have two brothers, we have all followed different career and education paths. We are all successful. I am a retired Engineer after 40 years as an engineering manager. The older of my brothers was a successful high school teacher and principal. The younger of my brothers took a Fine Arts degree and is TV and film director of note. Three different paths three different success stories. I wish you luck and success at whatever path you choose.
In terms of employment and getting a professional salary then you won't beat computer science and getting a job as a programmer. Mathematics may be ok for employment but it will only be people wanting you to do programming, so make sure you do plenty of programming options. Electronics is a strange field, there is a big different between learning electronics and working in it, and as the other chap says, you need to make sure you keep up with developments, which isn't always easy. Although computers are fast moving field, the languages used in programming are relatively long lived, and when you know a few languages then new ones aren't really a problem.
If you are just starting out I would avoid computer and engineering. Here's why:
1. These jobs are being outsourced fast. Why pay someone $60k here, when you can pay someone $18k in Taiwan
2. Technology is shifting away from device systems to central processing. (i.e. cloud computing) This means hardware design will dramatically DECREASE while software will be developed for cheap labor overseas.
3. Median income for these fields is actually DECLINING. There are so many people with visa's willing to work for so little, and many people report that they are constantly reminded that there is someone waiting right outside the door for their job. It is not uncommon to see people making <$35k for jobs that normally would pay $60k+ There are also 3-5 people per job posting.
4. The US is in a state of major mfg decline. Bottom line, the US is now in the business of exporting promises (called US dollars) and importing real goods.
5. Smart phones are gutting the technology industry. A function someone paid $100 for in 2007 they can now get for $0.99 which means there just isn't a need for single-function technology anymore. Consolidation has caused a 50% decline in GPS, cameras, scanners, radios, TV's, and just about every other industry in only 4 years...imagine what another 4 will do.
SO........stick with math. At least it is a skill that is portable, which you may end up finding becomes vital to your future.... because with banks now leveraged at monstrous levels such as $55 trillion in repo's, credit swaps, and derivatives, the next crash most likely will be the LAST crash for the US and will take decades to unwind from.
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science can change very quickly, but Mathematics endures. My career in electronic servicing and repair is now virtually obsolete as everything is too small and complex to repair so it just gets scrapped. Similarly, despite having used computers since 1970, when we used a Teletype with punched paper tape for input, output and storage, and trying to keep up with advances, I find myself left behind by junior school students.
Hi
I finished high school last year and will start university next year.
I applied for a BSc degree in mathematics,doing pure math,physics,computer science and music technology as my main subjects.I chose music technology because I love music alot as well.
Do you guys think this is a good choice of subjects? And do you think there will be good job opportunities in 3 or 4 years time for me,doing Bsc Math??
Most of my family is against this and want me to do electrical engineering or rather Bsc Computer Science with Computer Science and Applied Math as main subjects.I like electrical engineering but not nearly as much as I love pure math and music.
Im multi-talented and will probably not struggle with any of the 3 courses.Im constantly being told that im wasting my talents and will struggle to find a decent job one day.It's really confusing. I want to follow my heart and study BSc math but I also dont want to go to university and struggle when im done.
What do you guys think I Should do???
Any advice would be appreciated.Thank You
