• What the fuck do I major in, and what good schools are there?
    66 replies, posted
Be an ideas guy
I think OP is looking for a major to enhance his portfolio. If you're doing undergrad studies (meaning you're just going into college from out of high school) then Computer Science would be a good major to pursue. Your career and major aren't necessairly interdependent, but if you're interested in a career with a gaming company as a level and/or texture designer, then the Computer Science major will sharpen your abilities with using computer programs in the business world, and studies such as Programming and 2D/3D art will stem from that. That's about all the information I know personally, but hopefully that gives you an idea of where to start researching. Don't worry about your undergrad, because that involves many gen. ed. courses and the quality of your education is marginal between schools. You can go to any university or college you desire/can afford. Your school of choice becomes more important when you're pursuing a graduate degree, which if you decide to do so, that will put in you a bank-making position going into your career. I would suggest submitting applications to gaming companies for starting positions that interest you and see if that influences your decisions in your studies or career. Good luck man.
Computer Science.
I mean if you want to be creative and do something with a more technical aspect to it, there's always Architecture you know. Seems like a lot of people tend to overlook it.. if you're creative it can be a great degree to channel it into, if you're into that kind of design I guess. or just become an investment banker make mad bank and blow it on coke thats what my cousin did
[QUOTE=Slacker996;41254145]Computer Science.[/QUOTE] That's one of the only degrees that's...necessary to get a job [b]and[/b] provides vital information.
Well I want a degree to get a job that pays well, yet still lets me be able to go into the gaming industry down the line.
[QUOTE=Pvt. Martin;41258432]Well I want a degree to get a job that pays well, yet still lets me be able to go into the gaming industry down the line.[/QUOTE] Computer Science, Graphic Design, Marketing, Management, etc.
[b]COMPUTER SCIENCE HO!!!![/b]
[QUOTE=Aspen;41232230]So I am good with InDesign and Illustrator and Photoshop, and I paint, and draw, and I also compose and produce music and stuff. I am also a level designer and a texture artist for Source and UDK. Basically I do a shitload of stuff and love all of it but I need a career in one of them. I was thinking marketing or something, but a composer/producer for a video game or something sounds nice. But I also like level design so I'm kind of at a crossroads. So does anyone know what a good major would be and what schools are good for that. I'm kind of lost as where to look and I should do that p. quickly. Help.[/QUOTE] I'm similar to you, I have so many interests, I just don't know what to do. I originally planned to go into computer science, as I'm fascinated by technology and people usually tell me i'm good with computers. But when I got all my parts for a new computer it was just really boring to me building it. A week ago I just had this thought in my head about doing public relations. I've always had some vibe that influences the people around me from what I can tell. and I've also been wanting to record/produce my own music, heck even go into the movie business(even if it is the person behind the camera). I'm just so interested in a bunch of stuff, but I really want to do something that will get me a decent paying job (50k~ is fine with me as long as my wife would be getting around that much as well.)
Do Ancient History, its incredibly fun
[QUOTE=Lonestriper;41261633]Do Ancient History, its incredibly fun[/QUOTE] except that the chances of getting a secure job is slim
Major in CS, focus on Objective C, move to Silicon Valley. Even if you're average you'll start at $120k/year. Plus the parties and networking opportunities can't be beat.
[QUOTE=Slacker996;41254145]Computer Science.[/QUOTE] I'm a computer science and software engineering student, and I would just like to point out that unless you're willing to learn several university level math courses and think you can handle that, don't take computer science. I have to take 7 math courses within the first two years of my curriculum and it's an absolute torture.
[QUOTE=Problematic_;41262171]Major in CS, focus on Objective C, move to Silicon Valley. Even if you're average you'll start at $120k/year. Plus the parties and networking opportunities can't be beat.[/QUOTE] Just being competent at programming and being in or around Silicon Valley is a good idea
[QUOTE=B!N4RY;41265421]I'm a computer science and software engineering student, and I would just like to point out that unless you're willing to learn several university level math courses and think you can handle that, don't take computer science. I have to take 7 math courses within the first two years of my curriculum and it's an absolute torture.[/QUOTE] I'm not up to speed with my math, so It sounds like a hell that's worth it.
Media arts and animation in the Art Institute school systems. Pretty much everything you described is there.
I took 2D & 3D Animation(learned Flash and Photoshop, messed around with 3Ds Max but not enough to get experience with it, I'm learning and teaching myself how to draw and how to properly use these programs and it's going pretty well), but is there something else that would help me with this type of work? I'm also thinking about learning programming, would it help me in anyway or would it be just something extra I'll learn?
Is mechanical engineering a good major to go in? Is the math really that intense as everyone seems to make it?
[QUOTE=ubertaco;41289912]Is mechanical engineering a good major to go in? Is the math really that intense as everyone seems to make it?[/QUOTE] Yes, and to a certain extent yes
Consider not attending college unless you have a scholarship or your parents will pay for it. Otherwise you take out federal loans that are never forgiven. That means if you die your kids/family/someone must pay them off. You are obligated to pay your loans 6 months after you stop using your loans so you have to find a job quick and finding your dream job in 6 months with no/relatively little real world work experience is unlikely. Your skills are valuable and you will develop them better in the real world if you offer your services for cheap/free to friends and family members to gain some credibility and then you can start to market yourself to small businesses. You can learn everything you need to know with the internet and books and you can hire mentors to teach you the things you can't learn on your own. It's not "easy" but neither is college. No path is easy but going to college will probably encumber you with debt which is extremely limiting.
just remember, going to college =/= getting a good degree. while it's something you may enjoy, don't spend tens of thousands of dollars getting some bullshit degree with little to no job market. [url]http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmj45ldff/the-least-valuable-college-majors/[/url] quick list of forbes' worst college majors: anthropology/archaeology film, video, photo arts fine arts philosophy/religion liberal arts music fitness commercial arts/graphic design history english be smart dude don't fuck up your life and good luck [editline]3rd July 2013[/editline] also math, business, or healthcare related majors have good job outlooks. try considering something in there [editline]3rd July 2013[/editline] shit maybe get a business degree and continue your video-game related tasks as a hobby and a company might consider you valuable
[QUOTE=ubertaco;41289912]Is mechanical engineering a good major to go in? Is the math really that intense as everyone seems to make it?[/QUOTE] Engineering courses as a whole are good things to major in. When it comes to Engineering careers, just pick the one you like the most and are most interested in since they all have similar salaries/amount of jobs/difficulty to attain/stress. As for you OP I don't fully understand: do you want a career based on what you said in your first post or suggestions as well? I, as many others have, would suggest Computer Science. After that you can do a lot of things, become a Computer Software Engineer and work for a good, large tech firm (Probably not Microsoft, I'd think Google is a good one to aim for since they're basically a software company and so software engineers there are paid the most) is one thing. That's one of the more faster growing occupations (between 2008-2015 If I remember right) as well so that would help. It does, obviously, require a great deal of math to achieve like engineer careers in general but if you keep on at it you can get there, even if at the moment you're not the best with math. After all that as said Sillicon Valley is a great place to settle down in this case, they do have higher living costs so have a bit higher salaries to deal with that but even then it's an ideal place. Basically if you want a secure, high-pay job with not that much stress (unless you're like building a bridge and are paranoid of fucking up somehow and indirectly causing an incident, but why would you? That would be an abnormal way to feel really, you would know what to do though so it makes no sense how you would feel that way. A better and more probable way of feeling would be: I'm improving the quality of people's lives here! This isn't a doctor where you are directly dealing with people's lives all the time but depending on which one you pick and what you're actually doing in it you may be indirectly doing so like as an Aerospace Engineer, gotta make dem planes safe!) then yeah go into engineering. Which? You probably like computers to an extent so perhaps become a Computer Software Engineer or a Computer Hardware Engineer? The actual academics part will most likely be more stressful since you're going to have to work hard for it, work hard as in dedicate yourself to your studies and so on. Yeah... well anyway good luck with your decision Aspen. Nah jk go Liberal Arts, that's where da real cash at bro!!!
I also heard that having good connections to companies is pretty good for being a engineer. I just don't know if I can get into my college of choice while choosing mechanical. My GPA is a 3.35 and my act composite is a 23. I'm gonna be a senior next year. Also what's the difference between computer science and computer engineering
[QUOTE=ubertaco;41306829]I also heard that having good connections to companies is pretty good for being a engineer. I just don't know if I can get into my college of choice while choosing mechanical. My GPA is a 3.35 and my act composite is a 23. I'm gonna be a senior next year. Also what's the difference between computer science and computer engineering[/QUOTE] Generally Computer Engineering is more hardware, while Comp. Sci. is more software. It ends up being Comp. Sci. getting a lot of theory, while Comp. Eng./Software Eng. get slightly more practice and slightly less theory. Depending on your specialization, they do have significant overlap. (I'm doing [url=http://www.ece.utoronto.ca/]my degree in Comp. Eng.[/url])
[QUOTE=ubertaco;41289912]Is mechanical engineering a good major to go in? Is the math really that intense as everyone seems to make it?[/QUOTE] It's not only about how intense the math is, it's about if you can handle the workload or not. Engineering programs are notorious for having extremely heavy workload per semester and lots of people drop out of the program because they cant' handle it.
Computer game design is your best bet. As far as my school is concerned, the major covers all aspects from programming, 2D and 3D art assets, music, level design, what have you. You can get a focus or do an independent study, and in my case, experience in the field is guaranteed before you graduate.
Major in being a Major, then you can spend the rest of your working life yelling at people :v:
[QUOTE=yawmwen;41246460] you are going to put yourself in financial bondage by going to school so it should only be done if necessary.[/QUOTE] You really don't put yourself in that much financial burden if you do your financial aid correctly (Give or take the few people that receive little help, but from what I've heard, a lot of people receive about the same amount of help as I have, and I'm not poor in any way). I only have to take out $4,000 per year for my schooling. I receive over 75% of my money through grants that the fed gov gives me. After four years, that's only $16,000 and unless you plan to never purchase a car, you're going to be in financial burden one way or another and $16,000 really isn't that much money when it comes down to your lifelong earnings.
Get a Ph.D in Mathematics. You can get any job you want with a starting wage of $300k.
[QUOTE=Desuh;41327837]Get a Ph.D in Mathematics. You can get any job you want with a starting wage of $300k.[/QUOTE] lmao easier said than done
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