Victor
What career involves working with modern or future technologies?
I have completed my first year at a community college. I am thinking of transferring to a 4 year college after I complete my second year. My current major is computer science, but I am not liking it, there's way too much math and I hate math. I don't know if I should major in mobile app development, working with future mobile devices or engineering technology? I want to work for a big tech company such as with Google, Microsoft, Samsung, etc. #college #career #computer #technology #major #google #samsung
4 answers
Charles M Hurd
Charles M’s Answer
Hi,
I think you need to do some exploring of what you really enjoy doing and what you are naturally wired to do before you go too much further into school. also, you need to identify why you hate math.
ask yourself, why do I hate math? is it because I don't understand it because it was explained poorly when I was learning it? Did I just not make the effort to learn it? or is my brain wired differently, like with art or relationships? don't let something you can change with a little effort keep you out of a career than might be really good for you.
There are lots of ways of discovering what you are good at.
One is the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). There are lots of ways of getting your MBTI score. There is a book, Do what you are by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger that helps you identify your type and discusses the different careers that fit well for people of different personality types.
Another one is Strengths Finder 2.0 (a book by Tom Rath) You buy the book and it gives you access to an online assessment that tells you your top 5 strengths out of 37 they have identified. This will be things like, you like to nurture others, you like to be in control, the leader, or you like to fix things.
I wish I would have taken a career exploration course before my senior year in college. I might have ended up with a better degree for me than engineering.
Good luck
Jacquelyn Poticny
Jacquelyn’s Answer
HI. First let me say congrats on going to school. Having a degree is a good way to set yourself up for success in the future. On the math front - why do you think you hate it? Perhaps it is because you didn't get a god enough foundation in high school and therefore makes the college math difficult. I do agree with trying to do what you love - but at the end of the day you have to be realistic as you need to also make a living. You should continue with your foundation basic college courses at the community college and then when you find where your interest are, then continue your education (last two years at a four year institution). I wouldn't suggest pursuing engineering if you aren't really good at math. You could potentially look into a business degree, as that would provide you with a lot of flexibility of which area you could pursue a job. This could segway you into more of a technical / business combination such as a product manager (who defines and creates products for the marketplace), or you could do something more creative like marketing (the positioning of those products) or even drive innovation.
It's tough to have to decide your full future when you are just beginning your journey. Be open to possibility and keep on learning and you will suddenly fall into an area where you will excel and in turn have a passion for that specific area.
Good luck with your studies......stay the course...and be true to yourself!
Marco Flavio Marinucci
Marco Flavio’s Answer
There is product design (what I do) that involve the creation of new products (apps, applications, digital services). My background is in graphic design, that later evolved in user experience and product design.
Also there is Product management, that consists of taking ownership of a particular product or part of a product within an organization, becoming the person that understands the most about it and seeing it through its release to the public and its constant updates. A background in Computer Science and an MBA eventually are the correct track for that.
Gary Petito (Veteran)
Gary’s Answer
Hi,
Great question, there are a lot of careers in the IT industry that do not have the math requirements that Computer Science does. I would suggest checking into CyberSecurity (a huge and growing field), networking technologies, e-commerce and what is called a CompTIA certification or getting certified in Microsoft products, software and programs.
Majoring in Business or Information systems will be more geared toward solving business problems using automation and computers.
Good luck!