Here are the top reasons to hate computer science:
There are many reasons to hate computer science, including long hours, frustrating problems to solve, insufficient compensation, detrimental effects on social life, and many other factors.
The truth is that unless you have a passion for computer science, it’s probably not the right field for you.
So if you want to learn all about what’s there to hate about computer science, then you’re in the right place.
Let’s get started!
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- Computer Science Dropout Rate: Why So High?
What Is Computer Science?
Hopefully, you know what computer science is, but just in case, allow me to elaborate.
Computer science is the study of computers and how they work.
This study can include machine code, software, human-computer interfacing, and many other topics.
The central thesis combining all of them is that the science is an attempt to study how computers work on every level.
It’s fascinating to a lot of people, but plenty of others find that they hate it.
Why?
To answer that question, we have to think about computer science in two different aspects.
Some people hate studying computer science, despite the fact that it is a popular degree program.
Other people hate working in computer science.
It’s a different animal, and that’s why I’m going to split this whole thing into two clear parts.
I’ll explain why people hate majoring in computer science, and I’ll explain why people hate their jobs when they work in this field.
What Are the Top Reasons to Hate Studying Computer Science? (5 Things)
Let’s talk about school first.
If you’re considering studying computer science, you might find out that it isn’t really for you, and there are more than a few reasons for that.
Computer science is challenging, and with that challenge comes some drawbacks that are easy to overlook.
#1 Long Hours
If you are going to major in computer science, you can expect a lot of long hours.
Homework problems tend to be long and involved.
The concepts are challenging, and you will have to study to get through the program.
Computer science is not usually rated at the very top of the list for programs that require the most time studying and doing homework, but it’s in the tougher half on that metric.
In computer science, you’ll work longer school hours than the average student.
That much is for sure.
#2 Tedious Problems
The thing about computer science is that you’re learning how to explain things in a way that a computer can understand.
Inevitably, you’re going to get hung up on that aspect of the work, and that’s when work can feel very tedious.
You might get through most of your homework and studying in a relatively short amount of time.
Then, you get stuck on one problem where the computer just doesn’t like what it’s being told.
The process becomes extremely tedious, and it can frustrate a lot of people.
#3 It’s Hard
Computer science is definitely a STEM field of study, and as such, it’s considered one of the harder majors you can pursue.
It’s not usually rated as the very toughest subject of all (that’s usually reserved for a handful of hard science fields like physics and neurobiology), but it’s definitely a challenge.
Some people want a challenge more than anything, and that might push them toward computer science.
But, if that’s not how you operate, then you might not enjoy the fact that computer science is constantly pushing your brain to its limits and forcing you to think in ways you have never considered before.
If you want a major that’s not quite so hard, then you might hate computer science.
#4 Limited Social Life
If you’re in a hard major that requires a lot of time studying and doing homework, then it’s going to impact your social life.
As you spend countless hours in a computer lab bashing your brain against tedious problems, you might find yourself jealous of other students who seem to have plenty of time to go out and have fun on a regular basis.
If networking, making friends, dating, and other social goals are paramount to your college experience, computer science might not be the right major for you.
This isn’t to say that computer science majors never get to do anything social, but if college majors had a social hierarchy, computer science would be in the bottom half.
#5 It’s Not Your Jam
The biggest challenge with computer science is that most people don’t enjoy it.
By all means, there’s a portion of the population that absolutely loves it.
If you’re in that portion, then you should probably study computer science and consider a career in the field.
But, if you’re not someone who loves it, you’re going to find it very difficult to get the work done.
There are some challenging fields where you can power through, and the rewards are worth it.
Computer science less often falls into that category.
The deciduous nature of many of the problems you have to solve is too much for most people, and it makes the rewards of becoming a computer scientist insufficient to power through.
What Are the Top Reasons to Hate Working in Computer Science? (7 Reasons)
The reasons to hate studying computer science are clear enough.
As we look into reasons to hate a career in computer science, you’ll find that only some of the points above translate into professional work.
That’s because working in computer science is substantially different from studying it in school.
All of that said, there have been plenty of people who regretted pursuing a career in computer science, and these are some of the top reasons why.
#1 Long Hours
Computer science majors spend more time each week, on average, than their other college counterparts in terms of studying and doing homework.
Professional computer scientists often work some of the longest hours in any industry.
Especially in the private sector, computer scientists often work on projects with time crunches.
This is especially true for professionals in some of the most prestigious positions.
Highly anticipated software launches are built on many long hours of labor.
The fact is that the work remains tedious, and even as a professional, you will often have to spend long hours at work to complete projects on time.
#2 Lack of Prestige
If you work as a computer scientist, you might tell people that with pride.
It’s fine.
But one thing is for sure.
There are no computer scientist groupies.
This isn’t a job that’s going to get you fame and fortune (usually), and it doesn’t come with the same kinds of prestige you might see for doctors, lawyers, entertainers, and people in a number of other professions.
That doesn’t matter to everyone, but if it matters to you, it’s one more reason to shy away from computer science.
#3 Being Underpaid
This will surprise a lot of people.
You have probably heard many times about how much money computer scientists make.
To be fair, that is sometimes the case.
The top people in the field can make a salary deep into six-figure territory, and with stock options and other benefits, some might even pull seven figures of income each year.
If you make your own products, then the sky is the limit.
After all, several of the wealthiest people in the entire world have worked as computer scientists.
But, the average computer scientist actually makes less than $100,000 a year.
That’s important to remember.
Computer scientists usually make an honest living, but when you consider the long hours and sometimes brutal workloads, a lot of computer scientists are underpaid.
#4 Unsatisfying Work
Another problem with working as a computer scientist is that you often don’t get to pick your projects.
There might be times when you get to work on things that genuinely excite you.
More often than not, you’ll have to spend hundreds of hours solving niche problems that fit into larger software problems.
Oftentimes, this won’t feel terribly rewarding.
It’s just a grind that you do for a living.
#5 Limited Career Growth
Once again, I need to be fair about this point.
Some computer scientists end up in management positions.
Some even become owners of the biggest and most profitable companies in the world.
That’s the exception, not the rule.
On average, computer scientists do not work as managers.
Those positions usually go to software engineers and people more specialized in management skills.
If you really want career growth opportunities, there is a good chance that you will need to pursue an MBA or otherwise strategize into a transition out of computer science and into management.
The simple fact is that the raw work done by computer scientists doesn’t fit into a long-term growth model.
#6 It’s Super Competitive
Even if you love computer science, you might end up hating the career.
That’s because it’s so incredibly competitive.
For years, everyone was told to learn to code.
So, everyone did.
As a result, computer science is one of the most competitive professional industries that you can find.
There’s a reasonable chance that you can find a job as a computer scientist, but getting a top job is extremely difficult.
#7 Lack of Job Security
Since so many people are in computer science now, and the industry is so competitive, it’s not surprising to see computer scientists get laid off or otherwise lose their jobs.
When companies have to downsize for economic reasons, one of the easiest things to do is roll multiple computer science jobs into one.
That means you lose a lot of job security, and there have been several examples of this during the economic downturn in the United States.
Even if you keep your job, there’s a good chance that your workload will explode with no extra pay or benefits.
- Hate Doing Computer Science: What to Do?
- Computer Science: Top Reasons to Love?
- Computer Science: As Second Degree?
- MBA vs. Master’s in Computer Science: Better?
- Computer Science Degree: School Matters?
- Computer Science: Controversial Topics?
- Computer Science and Psychology Combined: Guide to Careers
- Psychology & Computer Science Combined: Programs?
- Computer Science Internship: How To Get?
- Computer Science Dropout Rate: Why So High?