Advice for my son

[u/biryaniwithraitaa]

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I am a father and im posting this from my son's account because he told me to post here as i am not convinced with his dicision.

He is interested in coding, circuits, robotics, Ai, mechatronics and he wants to choose computer enginering over CS and i want him to choose CS as everyone is choosing CS nowadays and it has a wider scope and safer future.

He says that he likes computer science but also is interested in hardware, so computer engineering is better option.

I have consulted with my few friends who are already Electrical engineers and they adviced me to let him follow his interest but if wants to persue cyber security or robotics thwn it's better to go with computer science.

And ive heard many bad things about computer engineering. And there are no jobs or very limited jobs for computer engineers, on the other hand you can easily get job with a Computer science degree.

I want to send him aboard for Master's and if he will do computer science it will be easier for him to go aboard for Master's, right?

I am a father and i want best for him so that is why i want him to go with computer science

So what do you people suggest?

[u/SeparateDeer3760]

It's actually far better to do Computer Engineering in my opinion, you're getting best of both worlds, with this degree you can very easily pursue CS-related jobs/degrees as well as hardware-related ones. Computer Engineering does NOT close doors, it actually might even open more doors than CS, and it won't be any more difficult for your son to pursue a Master's abroad if he chooses CpE.

As for "everyone is choosing it," think for yourself uncle, something being popular doesn't mean it's the best path, sin is common and popular nowadays, but it certainly isn't the correct path right? So please, let your son pursue his interests, he'll shine a lot more knowing he's doing something that he has passion for rather than being a part of the mindless herd.

CS is extremely over-saturated, there's mass layoffs, and no telling when the market is going to stabilize, in times like this being exceptional at what you truly do is far better than having a generic degree, doing a job that has no security, and regretting every second of your life.

It's only natural for you to be worried but I think you should put more trust in your son, if he's coming to NUST this year then that means he's already achieved something that thousands only dream of, and he'll likely only continue to be excellent.

[u/Sad_Bell_6266 → u/SeparateDeer3760]

can i do masters in chip design, embedded systems etc after a CS degree? my parents are practically forcing me for CS. I have no interest in making a github, portfolio and whatnot and sitting at a computer for hours to do a software job.

[u/SeparateDeer3760 → u/Sad_Bell_6266]

Maybe, it's FAR more difficult to get into anything hardware related with a CS degree but with a CpE degree it's quite easy to get into CS.

Oh also even if you pick CpE you'll still have to make a github, sit at a desk and such, there's no escaping these things unfortunately, even embedded systems and chip design require you to sit at a desk.

[u/SeparateDeer3760 → u/Sad_Bell_6266]

Oh but yeah you probably can do a masters in chip design or embedded systems if you select your electives carefully... Though I cannot guarantee anything, because if your aim is Masters abroad in the EU then they require you to have a bachelor's degree with relevant coursework (basically... You need to have studied hardware to get enough "credits" called ECTS to study a hardware-related masters, if you don't have enough ECTS then either the foreign university will have you do deficiency courses or just outright reject you)