To get back in my previous college, or to not get back in my previous college

[DarklordKyo]

I flunked out of FIU's Computer Science major, and am currently studying Information Technology at Miami-Dade College. I told the FAFSA site to send grant money to both in case I decide to go back to FIU.

On one hand, IT is generally held to be easier than CS (on top of the prestige of graduating from a top tier university). On the other hand, I've had a history of my autonomous decisions (all of them) screwing me over in some way. What do you doods think?, should I stay at Miami-Dade?, or should I try to get back to FIU after Spring Term is finished?

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Depends on why exactly you flunked out to begin with.

Did you do it because you had no idea what you were doing in college and were out partying all the time instead of studying, and have since matured? Try to get back in.

Did you flunk because the classes were too hard and you couldn't wrap your head around the material? Then maybe it's not something you want to pursue. Not every major is for everyone. As much as I would have loved to be an engineer, I'm bad at math and wouldn't have done well in an engineering major. Know your strengths and play to them.

Finally remember, where you get your bachelors degree is honestly not super important. Yes some schools are much more prestigious than others, but that doesn't necessarily mean that employers will actually care. Most of the time they just care that you graduated, and what your previous work experience and internships were.

You might be better off with a high GPA from a less prestigious school than with a lower GPA from a higher tier university.

 

[DarklordKyo]

Did you flunk because the classes were too hard and you couldn't wrap your head around the material? Then maybe it's not something you want to pursue. Not every major is for everyone. As much as I would have loved to be an engineer, I'm bad at math and wouldn't have done well in an engineering major. Know your strengths and play to them.

That's part of the conundrum. IT is generally easier than CS by default because of little need for math.

 

[Basement Cat]

snip

Consider it from the following perspective: What do you want to do for the next ten to twenty years.

Take this as a lesson in life from someone who royally EFFED it up.

IT is a solid field where you shall never need to fear a job opening. Damn good paying, too.

But is the other one you were chasing after what you truly enjoy? If you were only doing so for the title/whatever then letting it go can be easy.

But if it's something you actually enjoy...well, there's the real pickle!

I can affirm what countless others have asserted: Do what you enjoy and/or love and you'll never regret it; but pursue something otherwise and you'll eventually burn out because you'll inevitably end up hating what you do.

EDIT: All of that said, Computer Science is so generic it may be difficult for you to candidly say what you enjoy. Combined with what I already said you need to do some serious soul searching.

Best wishes.

 

[DarklordKyo]

snip

I'm kinda neutral on CS personally, I mostly took it because I wanted to get into Game Design as a programmer.

 

[Basement Cat]

snip

I'm kinda neutral on CS personally, I mostly took it because I wanted to get into Game Design as a programmer.

Then answer me this:

You want to get into game design? How many games have you designed? Little ones? You do know that Yahtzee considers himself a designer?

The point of this inquiry is all about inviting you to truly examine your own interests. And, more purposely, to recognize whatever personal limits you possess.


*sighs*

FOR EXAMPLE:
At my sister's X-Mas party I talked shop with two guys (brothers) who were all about starting their own comic.

They were both writer/idea guys.

...

...

...

So, yeah, it fell to me to explain the reality between their being two of countless story-teller-wannabe's who lacked the mundane but crucial ARTIST to fulfill their "GRAND VISIONS"!!!

Game design is the same only with a pulse. You say that you WANT to do it...but are you skilled enough to carry it out or are you fantasizing that someone with the critical and pertinent skills to make your dream a reality shall suddenly appear and shackle their own dreams and ambitions to your own?

 

[skywolfblue]

So do you like IT? Or are you just "ehhhh" about it?

Without a strong yes or no, just keep moving forward till you find out.

snip

I'm kinda neutral on CS personally, I mostly took it because I wanted to get into Game Design as a programmer.

Game Design is good as long as you're willing to be a team player. Would you enjoy programming for someone else's game? The problem is 1-man visionaries don't do well, and there are a lot of those.