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re: If you aren't majoring in Computer Science in college, you are wasting your time
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:28 pm to GreenRockTiger
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:28 pm to GreenRockTiger
quote:
I think complete nerd covers it
I've studied plenty of Saturday afternoons due to bitch arse professors putting all their exams on the same week.
0
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:30 pm to DandyPimp
quote:
One of my childhood friends has a PHD in computer science. Really probably the only person I would characterize as a genius I’ve ever know. He was offered jobs with every major tech company as well as many private equity firms in Silicon Valley. Passed them all up to teach. Can’t imagine how much he would have made but he doesn’t care
I respect that... a lot
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:33 pm to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
quote:I don't use Xanax, I used that because of the crowd, but half a Clonazepam, which is the same as Klonopin, and like you, I am an animated, euphemisms spouting presenter stalking the stage and speaking as if I am talking to a room full of sponges soaking up my knowledge.
Klonopin here, but I will be in my extroverted happy place
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:41 pm to hikingfan
I have a EE degree from LSU and work as a software engineer. Software engineering is partially about understanding how to apply the knowledge gained from studying Computer Science to building products. Top candidates who interview at my company understand not only technical requirements, but also application of business processes during our interview process.
For example, leveraging the Fourier Series for designing DSP (digital signal processing) algorithms where the frequency domain is not more meaningful than time domain would be a whiteboard problem my team would administer to the candidate to see how they figure out the spectrum corresponding to a time domain signal for one of our cloud-based products and understanding JSON requirements.
It's also about understanding how to design, maintain, and manage large pieces of software, how to properly manage a release cycle, knowing the relevant tool chain from shell commands down to programming languages and operating systems.
All of these issues are very important for building quality software, especially cloud based products, but are often of no interest to Computer Scientists. Conversely, many of the CS concepts aren't directly relevant to day-to-day lives of software engineers, such as advanced algorithms with huge constant factors, for example, possessing the skillset to triangulate an arbitrary polygon in linear time. Most large tech companies are looking for candidates who potentially possess the least amount of ramp time that can contribute to a team right away. A Bachelors Degree in something is required for many top tech firms and is an HR deal breaker. Moreover, it doesn't have to be a CS degree if the person can program at the professional level, which takes many years to obtain that some coding boot camp won't prepare you for, or even many CS programs.
For example, leveraging the Fourier Series for designing DSP (digital signal processing) algorithms where the frequency domain is not more meaningful than time domain would be a whiteboard problem my team would administer to the candidate to see how they figure out the spectrum corresponding to a time domain signal for one of our cloud-based products and understanding JSON requirements.
It's also about understanding how to design, maintain, and manage large pieces of software, how to properly manage a release cycle, knowing the relevant tool chain from shell commands down to programming languages and operating systems.
All of these issues are very important for building quality software, especially cloud based products, but are often of no interest to Computer Scientists. Conversely, many of the CS concepts aren't directly relevant to day-to-day lives of software engineers, such as advanced algorithms with huge constant factors, for example, possessing the skillset to triangulate an arbitrary polygon in linear time. Most large tech companies are looking for candidates who potentially possess the least amount of ramp time that can contribute to a team right away. A Bachelors Degree in something is required for many top tech firms and is an HR deal breaker. Moreover, it doesn't have to be a CS degree if the person can program at the professional level, which takes many years to obtain that some coding boot camp won't prepare you for, or even many CS programs.
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:48 pm to hikingfan
I’m making 200k base with a nice equity package on top of that and insane benefits. I work about 20 hours a week from wherever I want. Switching from ME to CS was a good decision that I felt bad about at the time in 2006 or so
ETA - those salaries in the OP are based on the ability to code and pass algorithm based interviews at an elite level. Something 99.9% of people who write code will never be able to do
ETA - those salaries in the OP are based on the ability to code and pass algorithm based interviews at an elite level. Something 99.9% of people who write code will never be able to do
This post was edited on 4/9/22 at 5:54 pm
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:50 pm to hikingfan
Whelp, I know several sr partners in Big 4 accounting that are north of $1million easily with a retirement that’ll see them banking $700k+ annually for the rest of their lives.
I think Accounting, Finance and Economics still have merit;)
I think Accounting, Finance and Economics still have merit;)
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:52 pm to HippieTiger
quote:Sounds like Google.
I’m making 200k base with a nice equity package on top of that and insane benefits.
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:53 pm to texag7
Partners at Big 4 go well north of that….maybe brand new ones
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:55 pm to HubbaBubba
It’s a tier below FANG (Facebook, apple, Netflix, google)
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:56 pm to bigblake
quote:
Data Architect/engineers: Computer science degrees, but maybe an oracle cert here?
This is close to what I do but not everyone in the field has a CS degree. As far as certs go, cloud certs. Cloud certs are huge. AWS, Azure, or both.
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:57 pm to hikingfan
One of my best friends and my roommate from college majored in computer science and now works for the USACoE in Vicksburg. He has to live in Vicksburg (well technically he doesn’t, he can work from anywhere, he just chooses to live there), but he gets all the government holidays off and makes a damn good living.
Posted on 4/9/22 at 5:58 pm to HippieTiger
quote:
It’s a tier below FANG (Facebook, apple, Netflix, google)
Which isn't bad at all as they pay well and possibly even get better benefits. Apparently my employer has a better healthcare plan than Amazon.
Posted on 4/9/22 at 6:02 pm to hikingfan
Summation:
lEaRnToCoDe
lEaRnToCoDe
Posted on 4/9/22 at 6:04 pm to CharlesLSU
quote:
Whelp, I know several sr partners in Big 4 accounting that are north of $1million easily with a retirement that’ll see them banking $700k+ annually for the rest of their lives.
I think Accounting, Finance and Economics still have merit;)
Aren't these guys clocking in a ton of 80 hours work weeks?
Posted on 4/9/22 at 6:07 pm to BearsFan
quote:
Aren't these guys clocking in a ton of 80 hours work weeks?
For decades. Those jobs are also significantly more rare than the FANG SDE jobs also, which are already rare. I agree with Charles' overall point that there is still merit and lot of money to be made in finance and accounting, but he used an extreme outlier with a grueling path as his example.
Posted on 4/9/22 at 6:18 pm to MusclesofBrussels
quote:
For decades. Those jobs are also significantly more rare than the FANG SDE jobs also, which are already rare. I agree with Charles' overall point that there is still merit and lot of money to be made in finance and accounting, but he used an extreme outlier with a grueling path as his example.
And equivalent positions at HFT firms and FAANG would absolutely blow those comp packages out of the water.
Posted on 4/9/22 at 6:19 pm to CharlesLSU
quote:
Whelp, I know several sr partners in Big 4 accounting that are north of $1million easily with a retirement that’ll see them banking $700k+ annually for the rest of their lives. I think Accounting, Finance and Economics still have merit;)
Got a family member who’s Big 4 partner. Set to retire in 5ish years and will have that type of package.
Having seen how much he had to work to get there, no thank. Dude missed out on tons of shite family wise.
That being said, Accounting and finance will always have a place. Financing, or lack there of, can make or break a company.
Posted on 4/9/22 at 6:19 pm to Blaeke
Yeah, it's a comparison between individual contributor roles and terminal high level leadership roles. Doesn't really make sense
Posted on 4/9/22 at 6:20 pm to UltimaParadox
quote:I don't know about financially, but as a general statement it all depends on what you like to do. Both are valuable.
That being said computer engineering is superior to computer science IMO.
Posted on 4/9/22 at 6:22 pm to Blaeke
As a CS graduate myself, the advice I'd give almost any CS student is forget all you've learned in school about theory, and get ready for navigating real world business politics. And that soft skills are as important, if not not important, than your intellect and technical skill.
This post was edited on 4/9/22 at 6:24 pm
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