Computer science and electrical engineering vs Business Admin. degree
- Thread starter malin384
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Which ROTC program are you applying for? (Army, NROTC, NROTC/Marine Option, AFROTC, etc.).
@malin384 What school are you going to try to get a ROTC slot at. Electrical Engineering and Computer science are 2 very independently demanding majors. Plus, when my brother studied Electrical Engineering(at MIT) he had to do a TON of comp sci courses, so you might anyway become proficient in comp sci without having to add extra credits. I would imagine trying to balance two majors + ROTC+social life would be very demanding.
goforspaatz
USAFA c/o 2020
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Any reason not to look at Computer Engineering? It is a good blend of CS and EE depending on the school. Also, when looking at CS, just know that most schools offer a BA and BS in CS. They usually are different but similar programs.
CE+CS is a pretty popular double major at a lot of schools.
CE+CS is a pretty popular double major at a lot of schools.
Computer engineering may be the best way to go, although it's not as commonly offered. If it's not a particularly rigorous school, CS+EE is certainly a viable option. I was just asking to see if OP very specifically wanted a CS degree, because these days, just about every person majoring in any sort of engineering, but especially, EE, will end up learning how to code...
army
Oregon state and it's one major
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AROTC is less concerned about your major than AF or NROTC, but more concerned than NROTC/ Marine Option.
"And, anticipating the growing technological complexity of the military profession, Cadet Command is targeting some of its scholarships toward students who will major in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines."
Source:
http://www.army.mil/article/112298/New_Army_ROTC_scholarships_anticipate_future_leadership_needs/
See this past thread for more info:
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/rotc-and-choice-of-major.35897/
one of the other questions is how many years does Oregon State give for the ECE (Electrical and Computer Engineering) major. Some places do it as a 5 year program and some do it as a 4 year program. DS is in a 4 year ECE program and it is very aggressive with no room for dual major except for mathematics since that was only 2 more math courses.
My DS graduated/commissioned as Army 2Lt. in May '15. This was his circuitous academic path:
He entered college with a declared major of Chemical Engineering. He entered with a full complement of AP classes and three semesters of college calc, so he had more wriggle room than most other engineering students.
Sometime in his sophomore year he decided that he hated engineering, but still loved Chemistry and Math. He also discovered that neither the Chemist nor the Engineer would go be pushing any limits without a solid computing background. Even if he loved engineering, his schedule and MS classes allowed no room for any electives.
He changed his major to Chemistry. This freed up his schedule to add computer science classes, Arabic, work in a Chemistry lab, and keep up with AROTC.
WARNING: Do not assume that you will be allowed to change majors. Some switches are easier than others, but DS sweated it until he got the okay.
He is currently in Signal BOLC but possibly aspires to transfer to the Cyber Branch which last year only took CS and CE majors. His BOLC classes are heavily geared towards communications which includes a heavy dose of CS. His class includes everyone from MIT STEM grad (not him) to History major from Big State U with zero CS.
Bottomline, he has ended up almost exactly where he wants to be--Active Duty, Signal Corps, off to his first duty station (in the Middle East) next month--but nowhere close to where he thought he'd be 4 1/2 years ago when he showed up for PT. Furthermore, he is not where he is because of anything he had much control of. Whether it was switching his major, getting AD and his first choice branch and Duty Station, there is randomness to the outcomes you should be prepared to accept.
OP should pick what you love, be realistic about time management and treat ROTC as seriously as you treat anything you're doing. As far as what to put down for your major, simply pick one of the STEM majors. The Army will favor STEM over non-STEM, but you better have the real academic chops to handle the workload. If you end up with enough credits to double major, then great. But, don't kill yourself in the process.
He entered college with a declared major of Chemical Engineering. He entered with a full complement of AP classes and three semesters of college calc, so he had more wriggle room than most other engineering students.
Sometime in his sophomore year he decided that he hated engineering, but still loved Chemistry and Math. He also discovered that neither the Chemist nor the Engineer would go be pushing any limits without a solid computing background. Even if he loved engineering, his schedule and MS classes allowed no room for any electives.
He changed his major to Chemistry. This freed up his schedule to add computer science classes, Arabic, work in a Chemistry lab, and keep up with AROTC.
WARNING: Do not assume that you will be allowed to change majors. Some switches are easier than others, but DS sweated it until he got the okay.
He is currently in Signal BOLC but possibly aspires to transfer to the Cyber Branch which last year only took CS and CE majors. His BOLC classes are heavily geared towards communications which includes a heavy dose of CS. His class includes everyone from MIT STEM grad (not him) to History major from Big State U with zero CS.
Bottomline, he has ended up almost exactly where he wants to be--Active Duty, Signal Corps, off to his first duty station (in the Middle East) next month--but nowhere close to where he thought he'd be 4 1/2 years ago when he showed up for PT. Furthermore, he is not where he is because of anything he had much control of. Whether it was switching his major, getting AD and his first choice branch and Duty Station, there is randomness to the outcomes you should be prepared to accept.
OP should pick what you love, be realistic about time management and treat ROTC as seriously as you treat anything you're doing. As far as what to put down for your major, simply pick one of the STEM majors. The Army will favor STEM over non-STEM, but you better have the real academic chops to handle the workload. If you end up with enough credits to double major, then great. But, don't kill yourself in the process.
Day-Tripper
5-Year Member
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Ever consider the Air Force Technical Degree Sponsorship Program (TDSP)? If you're an electrical engineering or computer engineering (or other) major with years until a BS degree the AF will pay you E-3 salary, BAH (housing allowance) and other benefits, i.e paid to go to school.
And unlike ROTC or National Guard, there's no military requirements. Just got to college & get good grades. After graduation you'd go to Officer Training School (Air Force version of OCS) for 8 weeks and then be commissioned a 2nd lieutenant.
http://www.airforce.com/benefits/officer-education/
Click on the "Money For School" tab.
http://www.airforce.com/pdf/ebrochure/tdsp/F2971346E670EAFBDDAA315E2D24BBAA/E-OTS 12-026.pdf
Oregon State, University of Portlan, University of Washington, Univeristy of Minnesotota
