Career Paths in Computers

I recently graduated from high school and it's time to pick a career(s). I love math, physics, and programming. For math and physics, the path is simple: Applied Mathematics and Physics. However for computers, there are more than four different paths:

1. Software Engineering (Sounds like what I want to do)
2. Computer Engineering
3. Hardware Engineering (Probably not because it won't have to do with programming)
4. Computer Science
5. There probably is something else but I don't know the name for it lol.

I was thinking two majors, Applied Math & Physics and one from the list above, but I don't know which one. Can someone tell me the difference between all of them? Thanks in advance!

P.S: This is in the United States.

I certainly cannot answer your direct questions above, having majored in Biology and Chemistry, but if I could, I'd like to suggest that you sprinkle your curriculum with some humanities for your psyche and to improve communications ability, and with some business administration for your future, because no matter what you do, you'll need to be able to communicate well and to understand the underpinnings of whatever business you work for, even if it's the government.

Lil_Aziz1, a little context would help here. There's probably a slight difference between north america and Nepal. So where are trying to get your carreer started?

Oh Curmudgeon not Psychology, but Physics. Like Newton, Einstein, Galileo, Euler, etc. I agree communication is imperative in prevalent in any career. I hope to call couple courses related to Communication. In high school I took Speech (compulsory) and Oral Communication (optional) so I hope I have the basics of communication down.
Sorry for not providing you with the location. It's the United States.

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Originally Posted by Lil_Aziz1

Oh Curmudgeon not Psychology, but Physics. Like Newton, Einstein, Galileo, Euler, etc.

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I know what you meant by Physics. Please re-read my post as I think that you misunderstood me.

Oh I got it. Sorry. Yea I'll most likely take some psych in college because I didn't take it at all in high school.

Can't you get some sort of course infornmation from colleges near you to find out the differences and the main topics?
I cannot provide better information as I have no clue about US college courses/majors.

I am a b.s. in Computer Science, which gave me a round view of

1. Software Engineering (Programming Languages, Databases, Algorithms, theories)
2. Computer Engineering (Not completely sure, but probably similar to Computer Science)
3. Hardware Engineering (Repair, Troubleshoot, Building and Design)

and Hardware Engineering does have programming, think about it, it has to have some type of program to allow it to function properly.

From Computer Science you can than choose what you want to do, I am going towards the direction of Software Engineer yet I work at two jobs, one as a internal software engineer for a company and the other job I do computer repair, which handles hardware and software.

But I would suggest a BS in computer science. Also, good luck double majoring, If you feel like dedicating the next four years to a desk!!!

What schools are you looking at also! because some schools have a crap computer department or a superior, it all depends on the staffing skills

Oooh alright. So as a freshman I should put Computer Science/Engineering as my major since they are very broad and can be broken into branches. I definitely like the description of Software Engineering.

I am signed up at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee but will be transferring to University of Wisconsin - Madison or Marquette University my Sophomore year.

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Originally Posted by Lil_Aziz1

Oooh alright. So as a freshman I should put Computer Science/Engineering as my major since they are very broad and can be broken into branches. I definitely like the description of Software Engineering.

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If you like math study discrete mathematics; it is a 'superset' of computer science. Computer engineering folks would deny that but what do they know ;-) Think of Donald Knuth, Edsger W. Dijkstra etc. they were all discrete math folks ...

kind regards,

Jos

Having been in this field for over 35 years, and having been in your situation some 40 years ago, I would recommend that computer engineering is the closest to your math and physics desires. I found designing computer circuits and chips to be challenging from a math perspective. Not knowing where you are from, I would suggest looking into RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology), they have a fantastic CE department and program.

RIT is a great school for computers! I have a friend who is attending RIT for Computer Engineering right now. RIT is for people that are serious with their career, doesn't really have a great social lifestyle unless you join greek life! (TKE!!)

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Originally Posted by Sno

RIT is a great school for computers! I have a friend who is attending RIT for Computer Engineering right now. RIT is for people that are serious with their career, doesn't really have a great social lifestyle unless you join greek life! (TKE!!)

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Not true, they have great winter sports. Do they still do bellyflops out of the dorms into the snow?

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Originally Posted by JosAH

If you like math study discrete mathematics; it is a 'superset' of computer science. Computer engineering folks would deny that but what do they know ;-) Think of Donald Knuth, Edsger W. Dijkstra etc. they were all discrete math folks ...

kind regards,

Jos

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Well RIT is off limits for now because of personal reasons. Discrete mathematics seems a bit ominous because after googling it, I found out that it's nothing like the math I've learned so far. What if I suck at it? Anyhow, is Discrete Mathematics a different major than Computer Engineering? It seems a little bit more relevant than Applied Mathematics & Physics.

Honestly I just want my resume to be outstanding because of the high unemployment rate. Having another major relevant to Computer Engineering (still ambivalent about Applied Math/Physics and Discrete Mathematics) will put me a step ahead of my competitors.

What part of the country are you in? If traveling to a school is a problem, then the quality of the programs around you could affect your choice.

I'm in the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin.

Years ago, I remember that the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign had a premier computer science department, but I don't know if it remains so.

Sorry, I don't know any programs in that area.

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Originally Posted by Lil_Aziz1

Well RIT is off limits for now because of personal reasons. Discrete mathematics seems a bit ominous because after googling it, I found out that it's nothing like the math I've learned so far. What if I suck at it? Anyhow, is Discrete Mathematics a different major than Computer Engineering? It seems a little bit more relevant than Applied Mathematics & Physics.

Honestly I just want my resume to be outstanding because of the high unemployment rate. Having another major relevant to Computer Engineering (still ambivalent about Applied Math/Physics and Discrete Mathematics) will put me a step ahead of my competitors.

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I really don't know; a lot of Dutch universities combine the two: discrete math and computer science because the two are basically the same. I think they do the same in the US nowadays but I'm not sure ... And there's no reason to be afraid of it, it is fun ;-)

kind regards,

Jos

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Originally Posted by Lil_Aziz1

Honestly I just want my resume to be outstanding because of the high unemployment rate.

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Yes, I see college as a time to build your resume and character(build a personal website for yourself to promote your abilities). But my opinion on the unemployment situation in America was never important. If you have the motivation, the skills, and the credentials, you can get any job you want. Americans are lazy and intelligence almost ceases to exist. We Spend, We Spend, We Spend more, than when we're out of money(all at the same time), our companies drop us, because they realize (maybe that new building we build was a bad idea!) and in order to keep it, they drop employees. Give it another 40 years. We'll be in another "recession".

.. Sorry for the hijack and ramble. :o