Computer Science or Maths ?

[User11010866]

DC is good at maths and programming. Which subject will be a good choice between maths and CS. It seems that CS is very popular in US and Maths is popular in UK. DC doesn't have a clear favourite of the two.

Following as having similar discussions.
Found that some Unis offer maths and CS combined courses and some CS courses have a higher maths content than others. That’s the point we are at, but DS has another year to decide.

When you say 'computer science', be very sure what you mean. Computer related courses vary widely, and massively so. You need to research the course content and be sure they match what your DC wants.

Lots of programming in maths if you pick the right modules. That's what DD found at Durham.
You could also combine the two subjects.
I can't speak fir CompSci but maths is the definition of a versatile degree. Opens so many doors. Including programming and tech jobs

Does your DS have a strong attraction to a particular type of career? That might give him a steer - CS for IT, maths (possible Maths with Financial Maths or Finance) if he wants a financial career, etc. Otherwise I agree with PP’s that he should explore CS&Maths. It might be for him, or the exploration might clarify that one side appeals more strongly.

Many thanks for all the reply. The dilemma is that DC seems not caring about the subject very much at least now. I think CS and Maths are general course. And probably easy to switch to the subjects later interesting to DC in university. My research found CS is more difficult to get in in top universities.

Think you'll find Maths is pretty tricky too - Oxford and now Durham want MAT. Cambridge wants the diabolical STEP.
Imperial and Warwick probably want something extra too. I'm sure someone will zoom in and correct me.

DC would also need a good MAT score for CS at Oxford. Not Durham, I don't think.

Computer Science is extremely oversubscribed. He’ll be highly unlikely to get an offer if he can’t show a strong interest in the subject & why he wants to study it. A lot of international students also compete for this programme at top unis.
What year is he in, if he has time he will need to do some extra curricular Comp Sci activities.
Maths is a difficult subject but not as sought after and more likely to get an offer with the required grades.

I do maths at a Uni that I'm fairly certain nobody will be considering. There's a surprising amount of computer science in the course, R, MATLAB, python etc. We've had AI modules and a fair bit of applied mathematics type stuff.

Now that I'm looking at grad jobs, maths seems to cover entry requirements for programming, IT, finance, some engineering, analyst and consulting jobs. Overall I think the maths is broader.

Maths for first degree and then computer science at MSc?

@Changingmyname123 That's what I am slightly worry about. MAT and STEP shouldn't be a problem to my DC, has won few coding competitions. Also warry the interview as DC won't show the strong interest to a subject.

Maths is much more versatile. As a pp said it opens lots of doors in a way that computer science doesn't.

What does your ds want to do? If he does t know then maybe he's better of kicking around for a bit while he gets some motivation. I don't mean at home with an easy life- he should get a job, his own place, a life etc then he'll probably have more motivation, a clearer idea of what he wants to do and hopefully some practical experience that will help him in his applications

[quote User11010866]@Changingmyname123 That's what I am slightly worry about. MAT and STEP shouldn't be a problem to my DC, has won few coding competitions. Also warry the interview as DC won't show the strong interest to a subject.[/quote]
How much STEP experience has your dc had?

If uncertain which to go for, I agree with others, I'd choose maths - it gives a good foundation from which CS can then grow.

@OhYouBadBadKitten DC doesn't have STEP experience but got medal in BMO1 and distinction in BMO2 before. Maths might be a good choice. But when looking at some US forums, people there like CS the most. Probably it's much easier to find a job in the US. I am not very sure here.

Sorry, I was referring to the Joint Degree Programme CS&Maths. Investigating it may clarify your son’s talents and preferences.

MAT and STEP are quite different. My impression is that most who succeed at STEP do a lot of preparation. Rumour has it that Cambridge makes a lot of excess offers in the knowledge that many will fall at the STEP hurdle.

I don't think he will need to worry about job prospects which ever he chooses by the sound of it. If he's looking at Cambridge, then when dds college interviewed, there was no personal interview, it was all maths, set up very much like a supervision. But even for the most able there, there is a lot of work once there. it is incredibly intense.

Oxford and Imperial, as well as others do a maths and comp sci combined course.

He needs to choose the course that he thinks he can commit to most over 3/4 years rather than which is easiest to get into.

One thing about Oxbridge - it's intense. DS did English at C and there wasn't much time fir much else if you wanted to get a good degree. I am glad DD didn't go for it and went a step down the ladder.
Tbh Maths from any Russell group uni will stand you in v good stead jobs wise. Or CompSci

@poetryandwine You are right about STEP in C as my friend whose DC applied C this year sent me this message (snap shoot of a talk) which shows C gives more offers and relies on STEP to control the entrance number.

My understanding is that even when accepted for maths at somewhere like Warwick or Cambridge a number will decide that they don’t enjoy the subject at degree level and switch sideways into some sort of maths related subject, eg MORSE, econometrics, or a branch of computer science. Starting with maths gives you that flexibility, as maths is an essential requirement. I suspect movement in the other direction is very rare indeed.

@Needmoresleep may be right about the main direction of travel; I don’t know. But as long as a student has the required A level grades (and is of the true calibre of the student cohort) in theory it is equally easy to move in either direction. You can only do it in Y1 early in the first term, usually. If your realisation comes later than that you usually need t restart the following year, even if you were able to do an internal transfer.

I'm sure that holds true for most subjects. For a newly admitted undergraduate at a top university, maths ability would be as important for CS as for mathematics. Places on these CS courses are in very short supply, so transferring in that direction might be impossible, irrespective of the student's aptitude.

Dahlia, you will probably be right about moving into high demand courses. My understanding however is that even on top maths courses it is recognised that a proportion of students will find University level maths courses too dry or a bit lonely as there is a lot of figuring out maths on your own, or that the step up is too much. These are very bright students and transfers are usually possible, often into some form of mathematical economics, but also elsewhere. We are aware of a Cambridge mathmo, who was seen as brilliant at school, but who then struggled at Cambridge and who eventually graduated in something that was not economics, possibly more in a CS direction.

My impression, though happy to be corrected, is that maths is an odd one. Good mathematicians can find GCSE dull, and that maths only gets more interesting when it becomes more challenging. DS only really discovered he enjoyed maths when he went to University to study economics, and luckily was able to flex his degree in that direction. In a similar way one of DDs friends found that the maths elements of his physics degree were the most interesting. That said DS struggled at first, till advised to spend a couple of hours before a maths lecture going through content so he could follow the lecture, and then about six hours after making sure he had fully grasped the material. Then regular revision, to ensure he maintained a firm foundation. I struggled with maths courses at University as I did not have the same discipline, or desire to work on concepts that were not immediately obvious.

Perhaps part of the answer to OPs question is whether her son is more interested in the abstract or the applied. There will be plenty of maths in CS but there will be links to the application.

@OhYouBadBadKitten

I don't think he will need to worry about job prospects which ever he chooses by the sound of it. If he's looking at Cambridge, then when dds college interviewed, there was no personal interview, it was all maths, set up very much like a supervision. But even for the most able there, there is a lot of work once there. it is incredibly intense.

Oxford and Imperial, as well as others do a maths and comp sci combined course.

He needs to choose the course that he thinks he can commit to most over 3/4 years rather than which is easiest to get into.

Good points. I shall find all the modules in both courses and discuss them with DC. It may help to make a decision.

PP’s are correct that switching degree programmes within an institution is of unknown difficulty to outsiders. Perhaps I should have said it is likely to be equally easy or difficult in either direction. The OP’s DS is likely aiming for elite programmes where both CS and Maths have highly competitive entry.

Most unis do feel a sense of obligation to those we have admitted and want to help them settle into a programme where they will thrive.

my SS chose to do Computer Science at Warwick and is loving it. Opted for that over maths as he said the earning potential was better.