Careers: Electronic Engineering vs Computer Science

[deathbow2134]

Hello! I am a grade 10 student. I love computers, electronics, and technology. I program for fun. I am not sure exactly what career I want to go into, but I know it has to involve computers. I am thinking of majoring in either computer science, software engineer, computer engineering, or electrical engineering.0

I am not really a hands on person. I mean, I take electronics apart and play around with them sometimes but I don't do it very much and I am not that good at it. I am good at programming. But I am fasinated by hardware, and how software can actually make it do stuff. I enjoy math, and physics, and problem solving. I like ideas and innovation. I am not super hands-on. Does this mean that I am not well suited to electrical engineering? I am interested in the hardware.

What do you think I should major in? How do I decicde something like this?

[Tony]

You read http://compsci.ca/blog/6-degrees-of-computer-science/

Then you realize that there is enough overlap between all the programs that you will probably do well (and might end up doing the same thing post-grad) from following either.

I good idea would be to pick up a course calendar for all the programs from a University that you want to attend, and compare the actual list of classes. Keep a tally of what courses you'll enjoy/not-enjoy and try to maximize for that. This might be an involving process, but it's probably one of the best ways to make a decision.

Keep in mind that something like Computer Science will give you more elective space than Engineering courses, so you could take CS with a minor/option, to fine-tune your interests. For example, CS with a Digital Hardware option might be of interest.

[jbking]

IMO, you almost make it sound like you have to declare your major tomorrow and once declared it can never ever change! Some electrical engineering may not be suited to you, but it isn't like you are going into an EE program tomorrow or next week even. You have a couple more years before getting into university where either (computer/software/electrical) engineering or computer science may well be good starting points that may change over time.

I know when I started high school I had a 5 year plan of what I was going to take, that was back when there was a Grade 13 so it did make sense. That didn't happen and my initial university majors didn't pan out either, but I did graduate and enjoyed many of the courses I did take in the end.

There is the possibility that what you'll end up with on your degree isn't something that you know right now as the option you take may not be formally approved. I'm not saying something special will be made, just that right now you seem to want to plan out the next 6-7 years of your life which may be too much to totally plan now.