I’m a senior in high school right now and definitely need to consider what I’m going to do in college and for work.

For a very long time I’ve been into computers, and am a developer with a few big projects under my belt (this is a burner account for privacy). So, my logical choice for a while was to become a software developer professionally.

Nowadays that plan doesn’t look too promising. AI has basically replaced junior developers (with dubious results) and the competition has gotten much fiercer. I’m not even in college yet so I have a good amount of time to potentially pivot to something else before choosing a major.

I’ve got quite a bit of experience with Linux and I manage a home server, but that probably doesn’t differentiate me much. I’m honestly interested in most things computer related, but don’t know of any specific fields to seek out. If it’s so hard for fresh CS graduates to get jobs, why would any other option be different?

  • AlteredEgo@lemmy.ml
    5·
    12 hours ago

    I once thought like you. But you learn algorithms, theory, math, and practice all this way outside what you normally do. It’s a much “broader” and less narrow education that you give yourself to complete some project you are working towards. You don’t know what you don’t know. So there is real value. Besides that it is also a test and a qualification, although that really depends on the university.

    • brax@sh.itjust.works
      2·
      11 hours ago

      I dunno, I went to college and the first thing they did was give me the book list… Felt like sitting down to a game of poker and buddy across the table just shows their whole hand 😂

      Obviously in school you’d have the benefit of a teacher to assist you when you need help understanding things, but you could potentially also get that through message forums and the like.

      Sure not everybody has the drive for self study, and I’m sure some topics get much more complex in university… But college at least felt like a total waste of my time and money. Just wish I knew at the time that employers would care so much about a piece of paper instead of making people prove their skills instead lol

      • AlteredEgo@lemmy.ml
        2·
        11 hours ago

        Well you’re also “made to practice” these cray things. Like e.g. attend a lecture, then homework is “write a compiler for X language”. Which at the time to me who was unfamiliar with things out of my field of interest seemed crazy.

        Of course many coast by without learning much in group projects. But you ultimately learn for yourself, not for your employer. Speaking as someone from a country where higher education is free of course lol.

        But ultimately even if you want to start your own IT business I’d still recommend studying IT. Plus marketing.