Question for you CIS majors

[Jason]

All of my immediate family work at a couple of school districts, Conc. They're all in unions. Man, oh fucking man, steer clear. They're headache enough for the blue-collar people. If you get tossed in with the likes of support staff and what have you, you're asking to have your best interests tossed out the window.

As for CS, yuck. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Bottom line is better than half the people who think they're cut out for it aren't. Personally, it was a combination of the math (which was already touched upon by several others so I won't get into it any further) and the realization that your average comp sci dude isn't the type of person I want to be going to work with every day. (Conc is an exception because he's awesome. Sleepy is a good example though.)

If you like websites, designing and developing that is, CIS might be for you. TelCat brings up a very valid point there though. Web guys are a dime a dozen, so don't expect a lavish lifestyle.

I thought I wanted to head down the CIS route, especially considering my affinity for web design. I've since reconsidered, opting to go for a career which mixes technical expertise with artistic expression. (I'm a computer nerd, sure, but art has always tickled me to the point of pissing myself.) I'll be majoring in "Visual Effects & Motion Graphics" when I head back to school in July. I intend to end up doing special effects in the film industry, Pixar type shit basically.

But yeah, I'm getting off track now. CS is rough stuff. It's hard work, but it's rewarding if you've got the mental mettle. CIS can be fun, and it can be rewarding if you find it fun. Do what makes you feel like you're the shit, man. It's the only way you'll be happy and satisfied.

[Arikel]

Ahh cmon dont make CS the worst stuff in the world...
Sure you have to know all those algorithms in Logical programing and know all the heuristics and learn the minimax with alpha beta prouning but its nothing from the another world, what you need is to have an open mind about it!!
Maths in CS becomes a lot diferent from what you were used before getting into it, but if you give some of your daily time to it it gets easy... well not that easy but you understand...
I took two years to enter university because i refused to attend to classes on high school... well the classes were very boring and i prefered enjoying the company of my friends out of the class so i didnt went that much to the classes althoough i stayed at school... then i realised that if i wanted to do something i would have to work to get it so here am i strugling to make it and its not nothing from another world you just have to work to get it and get used to that idea... wich in my case was a bit dificult... inch: but once you get used to it thigs get much more easier. I even managed to most of my subjects in this first two years and some of them with very good grades .

[Pearl Jam]

I was wondering what made you decide to pick Computer Science as a major? What kind of personality does it take to be successful?

A personality that doesn't mind being surrounded by heinous jackal-women in the workplace until he retires!

Seriously, it takes a pretty analytical person. In other words, a dork or possibly a half-dork.

[Subjugation]

Side question to all you working folk out there: the university that I work at is being besieged by union to have professional & scientific staff (that's me) join the union. Being totally unfamiliar with what that means (besides collective bargaining and all that jazz), do you think unions are decent things for non-blue collar work?

It depends on the union, really. If the union you're being recruited to join has a good amount of power and respect, it can definitely have a big upside. The union is going to try and negotiate as much money and benefits from the employer as it can, and provides representation when an employer tries to fuck over an employee, but the downside is sometimes you will have to go along with decisions you may not agree with, and have to pay monthly dues.

For example, out here in California, the Teacher's Union is one of the most powerful unions in our state and the teachers get a ton of benefit from belonging. The union has a bunch of members and deep pockets, so they have a ton of leverage in negotiations. But the unions that worked with the restaurant business my friend worked for sucked. That type of industry isn't the kind that demands a high level of education or skill, so they really didn't have any leverage. All they did for my friend was offer an arbitor to deal with problems when there was a complaint against his employer. In the meantime he had to pay dues for a service he didn't really need. So he wasn't pleased with that situation. I mean, if you strike in a restaurant or a store like Rite Aid, it's not that hard to find replacements. On the other hand, finding a bunch of replacement teachers is more of a challenge.

Generally speaking, a union is better if you're more toward the entry-level side of an industry that requires some sort of unique skill or education, but if you're toward the management side, or are very promotable and never have grievances with your employer, it's probably better for you not to be in a union. You'd be getting great benefits and pay, probably wouldn't benefit from a union rep, and wouldn't have to deal with paying monthly dues or anything. But if your boss is an asshole, or don't feel you are adequately compensated for what you do, it's probably something to look into.

[pv=nrt]

unions are the reason why manufacturing jobs are all leaving the US for cheap labor. How does a union justify paying $50000 to a person who puts nuts on a wheel all day in a car assembly line?
Unions are only gonna hurt you in the long run. The US business enviroment if much more individual friendly rights and employment wise. I highly suggest staying far far away. The unions are criminal support systems.

BTW, I don't think I will ever take a salary job. I love my OT