Two Good Reasons To Choose Computer Science

There are two good reasons to choose computer science as your field of study and profession:

1 (✓). You are interested in how computers work (hardware and software), how they are designed, how they have evolved, and would like to be involved in making the next generation of computers.

If this is what excites you, then be ready to master electronics, chip fabrication, motherboard design, compiler design, and every other aspect of the subject that will enable you to create the coming generations of computers. And be ready to master advanced mathematics 🙂. There is simply no escaping that 🙂!

2 (✓). You are interested in the theory of computation and theory of algorithms, would like to master these, and either apply your knowledge in writing deep computer programs that make life more secure and easier (eg. cybersecurity, the internet and applications on it such as search, etc.) or take the theory itself deeper.

If this interests you, be ready to study advanced mathematics 🙂! There is no possibility of doing good deep computer science without a solid command on mathematics 🙂.

Both the above are good reasons to choose computer science as your field of study. Alongside, make sure you absorb knowledge of other domains in science and technology as computers and computer programs are now a part of every domain and you should have the knowledge and readiness to work in different domains from time to time.

However, the following two are NOT good reasons to become a computer scientist 🙂:

3 (×). You like writing computer programs 🙂.

Computer programming is a part of every single domain of science and technology anyway 🙂! If you enjoy writing programs 🙂, good 🙂, but think first about which domains would you be most interested in writing programs for: Robotics? If so, go to Mechanical Engineering. Spacecraft? If so, go to Aerospace Engineering. Medical Devices? If so, go to Biomedical Engineering or Biosciences and Bioengineering. Chemical Plants? If so, go to Chemical Engineering. And so on ... 🙂

You can get a Programming/IT job after a degree in any of these disciplines anyway because you will learn programming (and you can pick up some extra programming languages on your own). But the reverse is not true. If you just learn programming languages, then applying them to these domains is not easy.

4 (×). Computer Science is the "best branch" 🙂.

This is just plain bull shit 🙂. ALL fields, engineering or non-engineering, medical or non-medical, are good fields if *you* are interested in them. For those coming from families that are struggling economically, the market does play a big role in making life decisions. But for the rest of us, the big question is: What do *you* want to do in life? First passion, then money 🙂. Not the other way around 🙂.

Hope this helps 🙂. Watch this space, as I will put out articles over the next few weeks that will help you think about choices you will make soon 🙂!

Best of luck 🙂!