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Which IT Major Should I Do???

E

ExpresKeep

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 22, 2001
Messages
316
Hey guys...

Well I'm a senior in high school and have gotten into George Mason University (still waiting to here back from James Madison) and will be majoring in IT. They have 2 different "directions" that you can take. Either network security or web design (not that exact name but that field). I've done a decent amount of web design and am pretty good. I interned at a local company that does most of the University of Virginia's pages and tons of other major projects. I will intern there again. I'm not positive exactly what I want to do for a career (def. leaning towards web design). I think my long term goal is to own my own design company. So what would you guys suggest (both for what is best for me, best money, best jobs etc.)

Thanks.
 
I would stay FAR away from an IT school if those are the only choices. Web design is not IT...it's graphic arts. My fiancee is currently studying to be a web designers....including programming stuff, like Java and Perl. And slimming down to Network Security is not giving you much experience in the real IT stuff. The idea of going to college for IT is to learn a lot of different things, to get yourself into the job world. Then you start to specialize. That's how my degree is from Drexel. You learn the whole IT spectrum. I would look for other schools. Drexel was ranked number 1 in the country for 2002, so consider them as well.
 
IS Security is going to be a huge focus here on out. The job market should be much more favorable to someone with IS Security in their background, then web design. But as with all things, do what makes YOU happy. I'm glad I took computer science. I tried to get into programing, but prefer to be on the admin side, not the creation side. If security and web design don't sound like what you want, go to another school.
-Greg
 
Network security is one of the hottest fields in IT right now. Now whether it is when you graduate or not, thats the real questions.
 
Originally posted by Darkstar850
Network security is one of the hottest fields in IT right now. Now whether it is when you graduate or not, thats the real questions.
Click to expand...

It is, but my point is it's pretty confined and narrow. Unless he's absolutely sure he wants to do network security, it's a bad move to confine yourself. My boss calls it having knowledge that's an inch deep and a mile wide. I'm only 25, and everyone else in my group and in my levels are 45 and up. When your young, getting into this field you want to be very versatile. Work on specialization later.
 
what exactly do you do in all this stuff. I'm just starting to face this decision also, but I don't want to go in unprepaired.What kind of stuff do you do in network security? I also like being on the admin side of things.

Web design is definitly not my thing, I personally think its boring and pointless.... not to mention I'm about as non-creative as one can be.
 
Originally posted by pbXassassinX1524
what exactly do you do in all this stuff. I'm just starting to face this decision also, but I don't want to go in unprepaired.What kind of stuff do you do in network security? I also like being on the admin side of things.

Web design is definitly not my thing, I personally thing its boring and pointless.... not to mention I'm about as non-creative as one can be.
Click to expand...

Find a school that offers a broad IT degree....giving you experience in all the different areas. Then, get your first job in a place that does all those things. As you get into the field and learn different things, you can pick a specialization. No one knows enough about IT in the real workplace to choose a specialization when their just starting out in College. You need time to learn a little of each, and experience a little of each.
 
Originally posted by djnes
It is, but my point is it's pretty confined and narrow. Unless he's absolutely sure he wants to do network security, it's a bad move to confine yourself. My boss calls it having knowledge that's an inch deep and a mile wide. I'm only 25, and everyone else in my group and in my levels are 45 and up. When your young, getting into this field you want to be very versatile. Work on specialization later.
Click to expand...

Maybe it will have changed by the time he gets out, but right now wide knowledge will not get you a job. It is good to have a thorough basic background, but having detailed knowledge of a specific, needed area is really the way to go right now.

I do agree with the fact that he best make sure hes likes it first, however. Should have a few years at least to check things out.
 
Originally posted by Darkstar850
Maybe it will have changed by the time he gets out, but right now wide knowledge will not get you a job.
Click to expand...

You cuoldn't be more off with this one. IT companies who are hiring young employees want people with broad skills. Don't confuse that with basic. I'm saying this with 7 years of experience coming from job hunting at the age of 18 and up. When your young and specialized in one thing, you become expendable and confined.

For example....if someone knows just Linux...not much else...he's confined. When the same person understands Linux, and many other topics....he can be plugged into many different projects to leand a hand. I am involved in projects concerned wireless rollouts, server clusters, print server appliance upgrades, and software rollouts. Being diverse is definitely the way to go.
 
Originally posted by djnes
You couldn't be more off with this one. IT companies who are hiring young employees want people with broad skills. Don't confuse that with basic. I'm saying this with 7 years of experience coming from job hunting at the age of 18 and up. When your young and specialized in one thing, you become expendable and confined.

For example....if someone knows just Linux...not much else...he's confined. When the same person understands Linux, and many other topics....he can be plugged into many different projects to leand a hand. I am involved in projects concerned wireless rollouts, server clusters, print server appliance upgrades, and software rollouts. Being diverse is definitely the way to go.
Click to expand...

Sorry, hit quote instead of edit.
 
I suggest getting an electronic engineering degree and minor or double major in the IT field of your choice. An EE degree can cover alot of the core items you'll need (and then some) and it opens up several other opportunites when you have to hit the job market.
 
Originally posted by krakadic
I suggest getting an electronic engineering degree and minor or double major in the IT field of your choice. An EE degree can cover alot of the core items you'll need (and then some) and it opens up several other opportunites when you have to hit the job market.
Click to expand...

That is a very very tough degree. If you can do that, you will find a job no problem.
 
Mason isn't a very good school. I have a friend who goes there who isn't very happy with it, mainly because it's not much of an experience; 81% of the students commute. As far as IT goes, Virginia Tech is probably the best in-state school that you can get. Did you try UVA too?
 
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