Member Avatar for lonewaft

Hello I am a senior in high school about to apply to college. I am at a crossroads right now and I need help learning more about what a comp sci degree will give me. I have been planning to major in comp sci for a while, I've had comp sci ap classes and web development intern/jobs on a small scale. I want to know what id learn with a comp sci degree (java, c++, c#, visual basic?) what my job choice would be, and what I would learn if I were to go to graduate school. I want to know if I get to choose of specific specialization like web dev, or programming, or database management, etc.
If there are any comp sci majors in here what hardsships did you face and what should I prepare for?
thank you for helping me

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by raulizahi

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Following ’s question (and building on ’s comment that there are different paths), a compact, practical primer.

A CS bachelor’s teaches ways of thinking more than specific syntax: core knowledge areas include algorithms and complexity, data structures, systems (OS, networking), software engineering, databases, security, and the math that supports them. The modern curricular guidance stresses breadth plus the ability to apply fundamentals across many domains rather than mastery of a single language. (acm.org)

Career outcomes flow from that foundation. Typical roles range from application and systems development to embedded/IoT work, data and ML roles, security, and research support; the field shows above‑average employment growth and many industry openings. Advanced research‑oriented positions frequently expect graduate study. Real‑world experience (internships/co‑ops) consistently improves hiring outcomes. (bls.gov)

How to compare programs and prepare before arriving on campus: prefer programs with a clear core plus flexible electives, a senior capstone or team project, visible faculty research or labs, and established internship/co‑op pathways. In high school, strengthen algebra and discrete thinking, take AP CS if available, and build small projects (host code on a public repo, learn version control and basic Linux/CLI). Those practical signals matter to employers and make coursework easier. (acm.org)

Common hardships and ways to manage them: expect abstract math, long debugging sessions, heavy project deadlines, and group‑work friction. Mitigation strategies that work in practice include steady, project‑based practice; using office hours and peer study groups early and often; joining hackathons or student teams; and keeping a short, polished portfolio that demonstrates working systems. Different students follow different mixes of industry and graduate study—prioritize programs that let a student sample electives and get internships before locking into a specialization. (acm.org)

This complements earlier thread advice: focus on fundamentals, get hands‑on experience, and pick a program with flexibility to explore specialties.

Member Avatar for raulizahi

I would focus on c++, the reason is that it can be applied to many disciplines. Right after finishing college I recommend to go straight to Grad School where you will meet people that want to improve themselves beyond what they learned and practiced in college. Finally, I recommend to get a job in a medium to large company to learn about all the facets of making a product and then, when you are fed up with the politics, move to a start-up where you will play many roles associated with making a product.

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