If your parents are going to be financing your education, definitely go to college now. If you're going to have to rack up substantial debt to be able to get a degree I think there's some question whether you should go now or later (or at all), but if someone else is going to be footing the bill, I would go for the education. A college degree (in anything) is helpful -- of course it's not an automatic ticket to any job you want, but getting a job with a degree is easier than without one (at least in the US).

From this thread I'm glad I'm at college in the UK! Here the direct 'usefulness' of your subject doesn't matter that much, as long as it is academic. Which is why you can study Classics (Latin + Ancient Greek) and still go straight into banking, accountancy, whatever. Your college's reputation, your degree class and your connections matter far more. So as someone earlier posted, an engineering or law degree from a low-ranked college is almost useless compared to a history or politics degree from a top college.

If you don't know what you want to do, then I'd take some time out to think about it. No point rushing into something you'll regret.

zachandhobbes Wrote:However I don't think majoring in music or video games is financially viable...

majoring in videogames is financially viable...

heck, not going to college and designing your own maps/levels/games with something like the SC2 editor or the Unreal engine or even the NWN engine is much better if you want a job in the industry.

however, designing games is a completely different beast from playing games. VERY big difference and one that i found out quickly when i tried making my own stuff. i hated it.

I'm one of those who (five years into college) has FINALLY figured out generally what area I'd like to be in. I have a major decided (it's a humanities major). Unfortunately, with most degrees nowadays that aren't vocational, it's pretty much a guarantee to go to grad school. Which was in my plans anyway.

Also, kainzero is right - you can major in comp-sci or video game programming/design and learn it that way. It's not as glamorous, and a tough job, but you'd get to work on some pretty cool projects if you were competitive enough.

Unfortunately, OP, you've kind of ran into a conundrum. You don't want anything ultra-competitive and you don't want to be in a cubicle. Ironically, generally the ultra-competitive jobs are the ones OUTSIDE of the cubicle.

I agree with a couple things others have been suggesting - you don't have to have passion, but you do have to have the drive to do well. A high GPA will do nothing but carry you places that a low GPA wouldn't. Connections are important too. And passion can get you nowhere if you don't have the drive that accompanies it.

Your major does not define you. I was at a bowling match watching my sister when this very affluent-looking business woman came up fiddling with her brand-new iPhone from work. She saw my university-affiliated jacket and we started talking about college and stuff. Her major in college? German. Her current job? VP of a company. Not related whatever.

Look at the kind of jobs you'd like. Go backwards from there. If you find something that you're passionate about, or have the drive to go for it, GO FOR IT. Screw everyone else and their "competitiveness". You can do the best that you can do, so screw everyone else. Their choices should NOT influence yours.

I studied chemical engineering in college, but decided it wasn't for me. I disliked the classes and my internships were OK, not bad, but I found I enjoyed programming better. It was too late to switch majors by the time I figured this out, but I did take a few computer classes, and now I'm working at a big tech company as a programmer. It sucked trying to get a job since I graduated in 2009 when the crash happened (especially since I didn't major in cs), but I finally got a job and I am enjoying it. I don't think this is what I'll do for the rest of my life, but it was a step in the right direction. I figure an engineering degree in general is useful since you will be good at problem solving, which is helpful for many different fields. I feel that way about science/math in general. Much easier to find a job in various industries than if you study history or sociology or something (no offense to those people, as I find those fields interesting, it is just tougher to get hired after graduating :-).

I am still figuring out what I want to do with my life. My dad knew exactly what he wanted to do (start a company), and he has accomplished that and was very successful. I'm the opposite and have no clue. I just keep trying to find things I enjoy better than what I have. No job is perfect or fun all the time, but you can get close.

So what I'm trying to say is that as long as you have an education that gives you useful skills, and some persistence and hard work, you can have lots of paths open to you. You don't have to be stuck with whatever you majored in (though it will be tougher to go into another field, obviously).

Good luck to you!

Tefhel Wrote:From this thread I'm glad I'm at college in the UK! Here the direct 'usefulness' of your subject doesn't matter that much, as long as it is academic. Which is why you can study Classics (Latin + Ancient Greek) and still go straight into banking, accountancy, whatever. Your college's reputation, your degree class and your connections matter far more.

This is more or less true in the US as well; there would be some exceptions (like law or business perhaps), but in general getting a job is really dependent on your connections and skills rather than what you majored in. If you have the skills to be a translator, for instance, the company's not going to care if you majored in History instead of Japanese (or whatever language you're doing). You often need a bachelor's degree to get certain jobs, but it often doesn't matter what the degree is in.

Hey Zach,

after reading all your responses I can now give you my own opinion. I have switched my major 3 times and I've been in school for 5 years with 3 more years to go so I know what your going through.

To keep it short, If your can, in your first year of university try a bunch of courses you think are interesting. After taking those courses, decided what you are going to choose.

My story and how it relates.

First year I did the pre-reqs to go into business. The problem was non of my courses were related to business and I got bored so I went into nutrition.

I did nutrition for 2 years and after doing a job shadow with a dietitian, I didn't want the end job that my degree was for.

So I want into pre-med b/c I though medicine for me, but after another job shadow I didn't like the long hours, so I needed to change again. While in my pre-med degree, I did a business course called organizational Behavior which I LOVED and now I'm business again.

Moral of my story: you don't know how awesome something is until you have tried it. Do job shadows b/c you might like the theory but not the end result.

Don't be afraid to change majors half way through if your not liking it because you have your whole life to work, a couple years extra of school won't hurt.

Good luck.

p.s. I would recommend doing a Holland code questionnaire to see what job suit you.

p.p.s: I think your business degree with the music minor is a good choice once you have tried out some of the courses and if you like it.

When I was in the middle of job (well, internship) hunting I was starting to panic about my chances and started to wish I'd followed my dad's advice of becoming a doctor since they get automatic work placements. D: It all turned out ok in the end though. In hindsight becoming a doctor would have hindered my future ability to work abroad. My people skills and ability to cope with gross things probably wouldn't be up for it either lol

I don't think people doing medicine are any smarter than any of the people in any other subject to be honest. The really scary geniuses seem to accumulate around the pure maths departments. You don't need to be super clever to be a doctor, just have good work ethic.

In any field there will always be people who are far above and beyond you some way, you just have to face that fact one day and do the best you can. Grades are meaningless in the real world anyway.

nohika Wrote:Also, kainzero is right - you can major in comp-sci or video game programming/design and learn it that way. It's not as glamorous, and a tough job, but you'd get to work on some pretty cool projects if you were competitive enough.

hmm, just some fyi...
game programming is not really game design, although you do have to solve problems, it's more like you're getting ideas from somebody and they tell you to implement it in code. at smaller development studios they may be one and the same, but at bigger studios it's like that.

when i was looking into game design jobs, i remember bioware was hiring level designers; the only requirement they had was that you design a sample level in the NWN engine based on a set of a parameters, although a BS degree (in anything) was recommended.

i also feel like computer science is a field where it is much more beneficial to work on your own and develop a portfolio of projects and programs than it is to get a degree. that's just the impression i get based on hearsay/reddit/personal experience from friends though.

kainzero Wrote:i also feel like computer science is a field where it is much more beneficial to work on your own and develop a portfolio of projects and programs than it is to get a degree. that's just the impression i get based on hearsay/reddit/personal experience from friends though.

Well, yes and no. As usual, once you have a few years of experience people care much less about degree or lack thereof. If you're trying to get a first job, though, I think that if you don't have a science/maths degree of some sort then you'd have to have a seriously fantastic track record (like being a well-known contributor to a pile of open source software) to get very far. Degree plus the outside experience is a rather safer route, I think.

kainzero Wrote:

nohika Wrote:Also, kainzero is right - you can major in comp-sci or video game programming/design and learn it that way. It's not as glamorous, and a tough job, but you'd get to work on some pretty cool projects if you were competitive enough.

hmm, just some fyi...
game programming is not really game design, although you do have to solve problems, it's more like you're getting ideas from somebody and they tell you to implement it in code. at smaller development studios they may be one and the same, but at bigger studios it's like that.

when i was looking into game design jobs, i remember bioware was hiring level designers; the only requirement they had was that you design a sample level in the NWN engine based on a set of a parameters, although a BS degree (in anything) was recommended.

i also feel like computer science is a field where it is much more beneficial to work on your own and develop a portfolio of projects and programs than it is to get a degree. that's just the impression i get based on hearsay/reddit/personal experience from friends though.

Ahh, sorry. I have two friends in two different countries (Canada and US) and that's just the impressions I've gotten from them. One's at a vocational school that's specifically towards game design/programming/stuff. I'm not in the field and can't keep track of which is which, so my apologies.

As for what someone else commented re: years of schooling...I have a year and a half to two years left of undergrad, two to four years of grad school, and then at least (I think?) four years for my PhD when/if I decide to go for it.

So...I'll be in school for quite some time. And right now, at least? I don't regret it.

You should be careful about what you choose to study. Contacts and GPA are important too but those people are the minority. HR managers are increasingly using computerized systems to filter applications and if you don't hit the right keywords or have a backdoor connection you won't get much traction.

Just because someone you met got a nice business job with a degree in German doesn't mean you will be able to do the same thing in this economy with 10% unemployment.

I don't know, out of people I know my age I'd say those with degrees have generally ended up better in career, family and health, so I'd encourage anyone who has the ability to study, study at least up to a bachelors.

kitakitsune Wrote:You should be careful about what you choose to study. Contacts and GPA are important too but those people are the minority. HR managers are increasingly using computerized systems to filter applications and if you don't hit the right keywords or have a backdoor connection you won't get much traction.

Just because someone you met got a nice business job with a degree in German doesn't mean you will be able to do the same thing in this economy with 10% unemployment.

Kind of taking what I said out of context...I'm not saying that OMG DO WHATEVER AND PROFIT, but that your undergrad degree DOES NOT define the rest of your career.

And yeah, the economy sucks. We know.

nohika Wrote:

kitakitsune Wrote:You should be careful about what you choose to study. Contacts and GPA are important too but those people are the minority. HR managers are increasingly using computerized systems to filter applications and if you don't hit the right keywords or have a backdoor connection you won't get much traction.

Just because someone you met got a nice business job with a degree in German doesn't mean you will be able to do the same thing in this economy with 10% unemployment.

Kind of taking what I said out of context...I'm not saying that OMG DO WHATEVER AND PROFIT, but that your undergrad degree DOES NOT define the rest of your career.

And yeah, the economy sucks. We know.

Funny thing is, my business did it's best not long after the crash in 2008. :o

kitakitsune Wrote:Contacts and GPA are important too but those people are the minority. HR managers are increasingly using computerized systems to filter applications and if you don't hit the right keywords or have a backdoor connection you won't get much traction.

Huh?

GPA is a big keyword, contact is a backdoor connection...

In addition, there are many small companies that don't even have an HR department. =)

Let's assume you are American and want an entry level job at a fortune 500 company after your graduation.

The person with a 3.5 GPA in economics is going to get an interview before the person with a 3.95 GPA in Japanese language. 9 out of 10 times. The others are people with the nice contacts.

So while your degree choices dont have to define your career which you will probably change many times, the choice you make does effect your starting position.

kitakitsune Wrote:Let's assume you are American and want an entry level job at a fortune 500 company after your graduation.

The person with a 3.5 GPA in economics is going to get an interview before the person with a 3.95 GPA in Japanese language. 9 out of 10 times. The others are people with the nice contacts.

So while your degree choices dont have to define your career which you will probably change many times, the choice you make does effect your starting position.

My opinion? If you're majoring in Japanese and want to work at a fortune 500 company, you'd better be smart enough to have some contacts to begin with. Contacts and good recommendations from higher-up can beat almost anything, major or no major.

i doubt you will ever see a situation where a 3.5gpa econ major will have the same exact experience and relevant skills as a 3.95gpa japanese major.

it reminds me of how people were always asking
"is a 2.8 gpa in UCSD better than a 3.5 at SDSU?"

truth be told that situation never happens

There is only one way to go about this, if you want a career stop thinking about what you want to study and look at what the world/economy wants from you and do that.

I'm sick and tired of people majoring in Liberal Arts (or some other artsy/self centered/already over saturated degree) and then whining there are no jobs despite them having higher education. If you want to study what you are passionate about fine but don't expect that the rest of the world will also be thrilled about it. If you are in such position, its not the end of the world but its also quite obvious finding a job with decent money will be harder.

Overall no matter what path you take it still takes a lot of luck, connections, people skills and persistence to land your dream job but as always you can help your luck (and other factors as well) by making smart choices.