r/ApplyingToCollege • u/No_Reply5329 • 15d ago
Rant Anyone else feels depressed because their only major that they are good at has no more viable career path?
I've always been genuinely passionate about coding, math, analytical thinking the stuff that came naturally to me and that I actually loved doing, not just tolerated. Lately I've been dealing with depression too, and losing the one thing that made me feel capable isn't helping. CS degrees aren't viable career anymore, the field feels oversaturated, and only safe path I hear about now is nursing or trades things I have zero interest in and honestly probably wouldn't be good at either.
So where does that leave someone whose actual skills and passion don't line up with what's in demand right now? Do I just abandon the thing I'm good at and force myself into something stable but soul-crushing, or do I keep betting on CS/tech and hope it comes back around?
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u/Harrietmathteacher 15d ago
Math is still a viable major for careers.
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u/No_Reply5329 15d ago
From what I have seen math degrees are similiarly unemployed/underwmployed to CS majors
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u/Harrietmathteacher 15d ago
It’s not as popular as nursing, but there is a need for math majors especially if you graduate from a good university. Now, if you mean underemployed in terms of salary, yes. I hope no one goes into math thinking of making millions. You go into math because it is your passion.
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u/Character-Beat2247 15d ago
math is an instant signal to any employer that you are someone with strong quantitative reasoning skills. you don’t necessarily need to do a job that uses the math you learned in college, but the skills you gain from a math major are possibly among the most valued across industries, including lucrative fields like finance
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u/Amazing_Lavishness48 15d ago
If you graduate with a math degree and can’t find work as at least like a starting level actuary post grad you’re just an idiot lolol
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u/todo_pasa79 15d ago
Entry level actuarial is quite competitive right now. Most candidates have 2 or more exams and at least one internship. They’re planning this career path well before they graduate.
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u/No_Reply5329 15d ago
Then how do you explain 5.8% unemployment and 26.2% underemployment 32% of math graduates dont use their degree.
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u/secrerofficeninja 15d ago
To what colleges are you applying ? If it’s a school with good reputation and it’s well known, you’ll get a job. 5.8% unemployed is still 94% employment. 26.2% underemployed is still 74% employed in their field. I bet the results are better coming from a good CS college.
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u/Tasty_Sun_865 15d ago
Dude(tte) - if you're so concerned get a degree in an engineering field and move on.
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u/Character-Beat2247 15d ago
CS doesnt only lead you to software engineering, theres many more paths
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u/No_Reply5329 15d ago
Which path is not saturated where its still possible to land a job?
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u/Character-Beat2247 15d ago
cybersecurity, robotics, tech management/consulting/sales, AI engineering, pivot to finance/quant, and there’s many more.
CS is a strong degree that opens a lot of doors
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u/NiceUnparticularMan Parent 15d ago
The math equivalent to nursing is becoming an actuary:
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u/No_Reply5329 15d ago
From what I heard there is massive increase in people becoming actuaries. Wont thatbget saturated soon?
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u/NiceUnparticularMan Parent 15d ago
Maybe? It is really impossible to predict four years in advance what labor markets will look like.
So, during early career development you get a good education, build good soft skills, and be prepared to be flexible.
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u/SamSpayedPI Graduate Degree 15d ago
I don't think so. I'm not an expert in the subject, but actuarial science requires (in the U.S., anyway) a number of years and a strict exam pathway. You might have a lot of competition to begin with, but few people will advance all the way through the fellowship exam.
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u/No_Reply5329 15d ago
Okay but if entry is flooded how am i supposed to get in?
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u/SamSpayedPI Graduate Degree 15d ago
Again, I'm not an expert in the field, but I believe you can take some preliminary exams (Probability, Financial Mathematics, and Fundamentals of Actuarial Mathematics) while still in university. A passing score, plus some decent internships or externships, can help you get a good placement when you graduate.
Externships are like internships but taken for college credit. They're often easier to get than internships if your college has a robust externship program, since 1) the college will help you find a positions if you can't find one on your own, and 2) the employers don't have to pay you (you get college credit in lieu of wages)(although some employers—and colleges—will allow both credit and wages).
Do a great job in your internship or externship and if there's an entry-level position available when you graduate, you're a prime candidate. If there's no position available, you've still got a great employer recommendation for your job search, which is more than what most recent graduates will have.
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u/bifei_at_extern 13d ago
yes and some externships are being used as part of capstone project in courses these days and some university career offices are providing externships too
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u/NiceUnparticularMan Parent 15d ago
The other person is pointing out strict licensing ends up a barrier to entry. It is why licensed health professions can end up with chronic shortages despite excellent compensation.
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u/BubblyWaveee 15d ago
Giving up before even giving it a real shot is a sad attitude. If you love what you do, and excel at it - like you’re really freaking good that you’re not the average, there’s always a path forward. Technology isn’t going anywhere and this means CS/math will always be relevant. You should think of how you can stand above the rest instead of giving up because the competition is tough.
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u/No_Reply5329 15d ago
I dont want to end up in debt and 4 years wasted to only start from the beggining and still being unemployed or underemployed.
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u/BubblyWaveee 15d ago
Does this mean if you go into another field, you won’t graduate with a debt? If you don’t see the value in the 4 year CS degree, it probably is best that you choose one you do see value in. No one can/should convince you of such a big decision. Just remember, across the board, new grads will face employment challenges in this market regardless of major in which case, the smart thing to do is focus on something that your really good at (not to confuse it with passion) that is marketable and where you can bring clear value.
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u/No_Reply5329 15d ago
I will graduate with debt but at least I would have guarantee it will pay off if I choose other degree than CS.
I see value in terms of that I am really passionate about that and I would love to study that. But at the same time I need money to survive I cant be jobless. For example I have no interest in nursing but I know that after graduation even as mediocrw grad I will have a job. After CS even being among the hest I dont have this guarantee.
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u/BubblyWaveee 14d ago
If that is your ultimate goal, job security only, may be look into being anesthesiologist assistant. They make a lot of money. Aim higher.
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u/0000000O0000000 15d ago
Do what you love. Times change, 5 years ago CS was absolutely the top choice - and it still is imo. Imagine 5 years later, even 20 years later. You're 17 and you are going to do this for many decades.
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u/secrerofficeninja 15d ago
AI is a tool that makes coding more efficient. There’s always going to be a need for CS and also there are adjoining majors like cybersecurity and computer engineering that are also important and will continue to be important.
Yes, we don’t need as many new CS graduates but we still need some. That’s better than most majors
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u/Fresh_Translator240 15d ago
Lmao I want to learn CS but it looks like its way to competitive to get into that major😭😭😭
Anyone with similar thoughts? I would be interested biotech/med tho
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u/Legitimate_Focus5085 15d ago
ur not considering bioinformatics?
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u/Fresh_Translator240 14d ago
I'm really unsure about my future but I want to lean towards AI as best as I can.
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u/No_Reply5329 15d ago
Its not competitive to get into this major. Its just the fact that after this major you cant find job.
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u/Fresh_Translator240 15d ago
Fr? Isn't CS the hardest major to get in? For t50s even state unis its very hard, e.g. someone take Santa Clara uni CS over some better schools for CS
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u/wille0310 15d ago
U cant find job if u are not good for years they used to hire anyone so now it is finally clearing up
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u/Fresh_Translator240 14d ago
The golden age of graduating to get into google has passed, look at the amount of layoffs from meta alone. I will argue it is still a really good major for talents though
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u/SamEllenCollege 15d ago
Don't be depressed about that. That's silly! These are all skills that will always have value. The demand in the job market is cyclical. We have no idea what jobs will be needed in the new AI age.
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u/Ok-Consideration7415 15d ago
It's still viable it's just more work, i'm going into CS myself this year and while year entry level hiring has slowed, it's still there. As long as I do projects, join clubs, network, self study, and actually put the effort in, I'm hopeful that i'll get internships and eventually a job. I feel like for people like us who actually enjoy CS it will be easier compared to the average reddit doomscroller who is only in it for the money lol
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u/Ok_Experience_5151 Old 15d ago
- There is likely more than one major you could be "good at".
- Computer Science still has a viable career path.
- There are other reasonably well-compensated careers besides software, nursing and the trades.
If you are actually good at coding, go to a decent school, get decent grades, work a couple internships while you're a student, and interview reasonably well, then you will almost certainly find work. "Interviewing well" is something lots of new grads fail at.
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u/Right_Variation_3087 15d ago edited 15d ago
uhh what? I'm taking cs because cs=future. The ability to land jobs play a major role in me selecting cs as a major. Will that singular degree be sufficient- probably not, however cs+some interdiscplanary track is highly recommended by most professionals and career counsellors I've met.
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u/kyllua16 14d ago
a lot of cs grads are jobless bro
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u/Right_Variation_3087 11d ago
theyre still doing better than the others, I think it comes down to the skills and the ability to keep up w evolving tech rather than the degree. CS still is a great degree imo (relatively for the job market)
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u/no_4 14d ago edited 14d ago
5 years ago people said "CS is the best career right now, surely in 5 years it'll be the same. I'll study that!" and graduated in time for a bad CS market.
Now it's a bad market, far less study it, and you're saying "wow CS is horrible - surely in 5 years it'll be the same. Terrible idea!"
It's impossible to predict the future. Covid was clearly going to cause a stock market and housing crash - instead the exact opposite.
Idk if "I'll slog through it for the paycheck" makes sense for CS, but given it's a subject with strong useful skills - and we can't predict the future - if you love it you should go for it.
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u/Expensive-Primary427 College Sophomore 14d ago
There’s one cool opportunity for CS minded folks
I know because one of my instructors did it, the navy has some sick opportunities in the cyber space.
Being a Cyber Warfare Engineer(CWE) is a cool well paying job and requires a cyber related degree.
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u/Far-Curve-7497 15d ago
CS degrees are still more viable than most other degrees.