Which career major is better ???

[S2500Dog]

Im 21 years old completing my Associate of Arts degree this summer. I am looking into obtaining an Associate of Arts in Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Technology or obatining an Associate of Applied Science in a related Computer Science field. If I choose the Computer Science scenario, I can get my Associate degree and then move on toward a Bachelor and Master degree in the near future. If I choose the HVAC field, I can complete my degree in about 1.5 years and get employed as a part time or full time instructor by my local community college where I will be graduating. I want to know what some of you guys think about these fields and what is the best field of Computer Science in terms of income, benefits, retirement, etc...

 

[crazyoildude]

go with the heating and air conditioning at least they cant out source that...

 

[Marukai]

Originally Posted By: S2500Dog
Im 21 years old completing my Associate of Arts degree this summer. I am looking into obtaining an Associate of Arts in Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Technology or obatining an Associate of Applied Science in a related Computer Science field. If I choose the Computer Science scenario, I can get my Associate degree and then move on toward a Bachelor and Master degree in the near future. If I choose the HVAC field, I can complete my degree in about 1.5 years and get employed as a part time or full time instructor by my local community college where I will be graduating. I want to know what some of you guys think about these fields and what is the best field of Computer Science in terms of income, benefits, retirement, etc...

Just a word of advice. I too was going to take up Computer Science as a major, but I quickly changed because of the high level math associated with the profession. It's not just College Algebra... The math goes to Discrete Mathematics, which is one of the highest level mathematics. It requires a person to have prerequisites in other maths such as Calculus 1 and 2. Some schools want Differential Equations which is another sophisticated math course.

I don't know if math is a strong subject for you but for me it's a headache! If you think about it... CS majors make good $$ because not everyone can do what CS people do. What I would suggest is that you look into Computer Information Systems Degree. It's like CS, but with less math. It's CS combined with business. You could also look into an Information Technology degree.

 

[S2500Dog]

Thanks for the reply Marukai. Honestly, I am not strong in math at all and only go up to College Algebra and after that, you can forget the upper level math because I am lost lol. By the way, my college offers an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems and in Information Technology. I am very good in Microsoft Office Applications including doing Databases in Microsoft Access which is an nightmare for most people if you're not use to it. My other choice is going to the HVAC field because I like fixing things that are challenging and getting my hands dirty which I guess those unique abiliites comes from my family side of working class people.

 

[MolaKule]

Quote:
I am not strong in math at all and only go up to College Algebra and after that, you can forget the upper level math because I am lost lol. By the way, my college offers an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems and in Information Technology.


I think the AAS in CIT is a good place to start. You may find you will later want to go on and get a degree in Computer Science or go into another technology field.

BTW, don't let math scare you or hold you back. The more math you injest the more you learn about everything.

When I started the university studies, I was math impaired to say the least. I took a special review course and something clicked. After that, I couldn't get enough math and took the highest math level courses offered. I then majored in Physics with minors in Engineering and applied Mathematics. I then went into Aerospace Science and Engineering and got into tribology via propulsion and lubrication of turbines and rocket engines.

Point is, I think with discipline and focused study, you can learn anything you want to.

 

[opus1]

As someone who's spent the last 25 years in the I/T field, my advice to someone would be: don't.

The whole outsourcing thing is still an issue. Companies see cheap offshore labor and don't take into account *why* it's cheap. Dealing with staff halfway around he world is a pain even without the language issue, and that doesn't help matters either. Business is really big on packaged software, so you're not going to be doing as much coding as you think unless you work for a software firm (and they do a lot of work offshore too), so a lot of time is spent babysitting their programs, and dealing with tech support when it breaks. And it will break.

Do you like weekends and holidays? You won't have them as an I/T person since system maintenance has to be done off-hours to minimize the impact on day-to-day business.

Granted, I have no experience as a HVAC person so I can't say that it's a bed of roses, but as a grizzled I/T vet, I can tell you that if I had to do it over again, I'd do something else. I don't know what, but it wouldn't be this.

 

[S2500Dog]

Hey opus1, How about the Computer Info. Systems field ?

 

[opus1]

That was my major, CIS. I looked at a CS degree, but felt it was too theoretical. Someone told me that if I wanted to write compilers, I should go into the CS program, and if I wanted to write applications, I should go into CIS.

 

[tomcat27]

It's not just outsourcing that is killing CIS, the bigger threat is Insourcing. The last two companies that I have worked (as a contractor) have HUNDREDS of IS contractors here on H1B work visas. They typically staff through large companies like Wipro, Infosys, Tata, IBM, Deloitte etc who bring people here by the thousands to take our jobs. (it's their entire business model - and very profitable for them; they have no care for the thousands of workers here that are displaced. I, my wife, and tons of our friends have been victims of this business model)

The staffing companies can afford to train their employees with the latest software - frequently on beta versions so they are well positioned to take more work away....

 

[aquariuscsm]

Since you`re in Texas,the AC business will always be in demand.

 

[Herz]

I would look into a Electricians degree if your interested in AC.

 

[tomcat27]

around here a master plumbers license is worth gold....

 

[getnpsi]

After working in restaruants....HVAC is very much golden as well.

 

[ajchien]

It depends on what your future goals are.

I would take CS if you want a better starting salary and be an employee working up the computer career ladder.

With the HVAC degree you could be an employee or you could be your own small business owner.

I would normally say that being a business owner offers more opportunity for financial freedom, however, the current state of politics in DC is making things very hard on business these days.

 

[XS650]

Develop a long term plan.

HVAC has the advantage of not being something that can be out sourced, but like many trades can be rough on your body. Think about what you will be doing in your late 50s and your 60s.

Maybe get established then start your own HVAC company and be managing your own company when you get older?

 

[Drew99GT]

One of my best friends, who is also one of the smartest guys I've ever met (and therefore used his smarts to get into a lot of trouble!), had the opportunity to go to the US Air Force Academy or to basically any college he wanted to go to. What did he do? Followed his dad into the HVAC and sheet metal trade.

He now owns his own HVAC sheet metal fabrication company and just bought a house in one of the nicest neighborhoods in town.

Something to think about; like everyone else has said, domestic trade jobs can't be outsourced.

BUT, they can be in-sourced with cheap labor from south of the border.

 

[xBa380]

Avoid whatever path avoids differential equations... I am a Mechanical Engineering major and that was the first class I ever got a "D" in, which should of been a "F" but the teacher had a soul after all.

Personally, the higher the math the easier it seems to get... Differential equations though is a whole nother monster.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT

BUT, they can be in-sourced with cheap labor from south of the border.


I think most of where that occurs is in residential work. Commercial and government clients will want someone who is licensed. Harry Home Moaner just wants the cheapest guy he can find, licensed or not (usually not).

 

[rjundi]

HVAC you have a distinct plateau in earning potential unless you want to own a company. Also not the most dynamic field but there is a lot to be said for that.

With CS the sky is the limit in earning potential. Also field changes but the concepts are essentially the same throughout its short history.

Do what you like best.

The math part is hard in CS but doable. I tutored many Calc I & II students in college.

 

[L_Sludger]

college is a waste of money now