Who makes more money?

[mourgent]

Removed per

[Mick]

Originally posted by mourgent
Hi guys. I am currently enrolled in college as a computer science major (C++ Concentration). My course of study includes 7 high level math classes such as Calculus, and Linear Algebra. Some of my friends are doing computer science, but an Information Technology concentration (Visual Basic). But the IT concentration has only 3 math classes, such as statistics and probability.

So who makes more money, a C++ programmer who has had lots more math or a VB programmer with more of a unix/web programming background and fewer math classes. I was just wondering because I want to be able to justify the math classes. I mean, if the salary differeence is say, only $1000 diff per year, then I might consider switching to the IT path. I have no problem with all the hard work in my concentration, I just want to be able to justify it. Let me know what you think guys. And I live in TN and would prefer not to move away after graduation if at all possible. What might possible salarys be?

Appreciate your help,
Weston

If you know C++, you can pick up VB in a very short time, a long with Java, the opposite is not true.

[souldog]

1. those are not high level math classes. They are high school
and first and second year undergraduate classes.

2. If you are making your decisions about what to study based
on money, then you are making choices for the wrong reasons.

3. Just think about supply and demand.

[mourgent]

Thanks for the replies. I enjoy programming in both languagues very much. I have previously had basic VB courses. I refered to the math classes in the wrong way. I ment high level compared to the IT route. I guess what Im asking is, if I go the harder route will it be worth it?

Thanks so far, keep them coming!
Weston

[Mick]

Originally posted by souldog
1. those are not high level math classes. They are high school
and first and second year undergraduate classes.

2. If you are making your decisions about what to study based
on money, then you are making choices for the wrong reasons.

3. Just think about supply and demand.

And happiness, I'd hate to have to spend most my life doing sometime I don't enjoy.

[Mick]

Hey souldog..how much of those math skills have you used coding your applications :p

[galathaea]

Some of the math classes required for the degree you mention may not come in to play very often in actual coding unless you are doing numerical research. However, linear algebra will be everywhere if you want to get a job coding graphics engines and such, where you will also need to know a good deal of geometry and how to apply the stuff to projective geometry and such. Other than those types of cases, the largest sections of math used in computer programming come from combinatorial structures such as linked lists, trees, graphs, etc., which pop up all the time in programming. However, these are often gone over in the computer science department, often as a course or series of courses on abstract data structures. You also need to know some amount of complexity theory if you want to ensure your algorithms are optimal.

That said, I got my current job precisely because I had a mathematical background that was needed. In fact, if you have any special skills that could benefit a company, you have a much better chance of getting hired. And I think that in today's market, it's also very important to have a variety of languages one can work with well. Look at it this way: if you consider one degree "stronger" than another in its requirements, then unless the "weaker" degree offers some unique skills needed for a position, it is likely that potential employers may see the degrees in the same way and feel more confident about the "stronger" candidates...

[Deniz]

Its also a choice of what YOU want to do in life.

I can give myself as an example.

I've worked in financial sectors which I found so boring, I felt like slashing up every morning on the train into the city.

Then I got lucky and got a job in a sector which I personally found interesting. And got all the experience and skills there but unfortunately the project got canned after a couple of years.

Because of that and because I hadnt worked in a financial sector company for so long, I refused to get a job in a different industry and was unemplyed for almost a year, but I was chasing my dream job, which I got after 10 months of chasing it. Now I got a great job and am doing pretty cool stuff.

Now, I didnt get the fancy maths courses but I did learn them along the way. And today I think that you can never know too much about maths. But thats only in my field. In other sectors you'll be pretty cruisy without the use of complex algorithms. Depends what you want to work as.

Just keep that in mind. Once you get into a certain sector, there may be no turning back. I say go the maths, you can learn IT easier than the other stuff. Take it while you can.

[Jewe]

I think this is all just personal....

during my education I have a lot of math and no calculator... =)
(calculator was not allow during exams cause the answere always 0 or 1 or 2 or 43/24)

I personaly think that you should take the hard road, but only if you think you can make it.
If math is not your thing, think it over..

the math classes also help you to think in a logical way.
an logical way of thinking always helps during programing... =)

learn as much as you can when you are young.. I mean in school..
then in the future you will be able to pick up / generate idea's easilly. and thats where the money making is in. =)

hope it helps,

jewe

[dimm_coder]

Originally posted by mourgent

VB programmer with more of a unix/web programming
Weston

VB programmer for UNIX - that is really funny :p

In addition to great words, having said already above , can say that some math courses will never be "the death bagage of knowledges", at least it helps to train your mind.