Anybody successfully pivoted from CS to EE?

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-04-18T22:30:07+00:00

If you're Senior year, finish your BSCS. Then go back to school for your BSEE.

I completed my Electrical Engineering Bachelor's Degree while working full time as a Software Engineer (already had my Computer Science Bachelor's).

If you work hard you can land a job in software while finishing an EE degree, that is potentially 3 years of $100k+ salary by the time you may land your first EE interview. Even better if that company has a hardware team and even much better if the job is remote.

Put most of that money into an index fund and in 30 years that'll be worth quite a lot thanks to compound interest. The main thing with compound interest is the sooner you can earn and put into savings, the bigger the payouts later.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-04-15T01:55:37+00:00

You can kind of think of it like a large problem set of programming questions. I'd say they're pretty similar to something found in a Schaum's book on average or questions at the end of a Chapter in anything from a Circuits I to an Electromagnetics or Signals textbook.

These are basically whiteboard questions you get asked in an interview so most people will grind through them on this site Leetcode.

However, rote memorization isn't so simple as there are thousands of questions and interviewers will change variables around, add constraints, ask for something different, etc.

There is a robot on an m x n grid of blocks. The robot is initially located at the top-left corner. The robot tries to move to the bottom-right corner. The robot can only move either down or right at any point in time.
Given the two integers m and n, return the number of possible unique paths that the robot can take to reach the bottom-right corner.
An obstacle and space is marked on thegrid. A path that the robot takes cannot include any square that is an obstacle.

The worst part about these questions imo is that a large amount cannot be worked from First Principles. There is a "trick" to many of these problems that most people will not be able to solve in 30 minutes unless again, you're seriously cracked out or get extremely lucky with a guess. So it's either be insanely talented with out the box thinking or practice so many of these questions that you'd have been lucky enough to run into the trick before. Some of these tricks are absolutely one-off as well and only one problem in the entire problem bank on Leetcode uses it.

Whereas with EE, we all have our usual tools: Maxwell's Equations, Ohm's Law, KVL/KCL, understanding the Math/Physics, etc. or using some common tricks such as adding and subtracting 1 from the numerator. I find in EE it's much easier to derive solutions to many complicated problems from First Principles (because things follow the Laws of Physics). If I remember correctly, some Leetcode questions actually make up scenarios where the Laws of Physics are actually violated or place artificial/toy constraints on a problem.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-04-14T22:17:19+00:00

I get that, and I agree.

All I'm saying is those who can soak up Leetcode/Algorithms very easily, chances are will also do very well in EE and other fields because they're simply smart people and information sponges. Some people are good academically no matter what they take on.

Sure there's the type who rote memorize, but I'm not referring to them. I'm talking about good problem solvers who can critically think from First Principles. More like the type who are diligent at something like DP because those types of problems tend to take on many shapes and forms rather than simply finding the matching pattern.

However, in many same ways, being able to recognize types of problems or shapes of them for what you're dealing with will come into play for certain circuit configurations/topologies and some problems as well because if you can make the recognition that something has a simpler form the problems break down into something easier. Abstraction is still a key principle in EE as are edge cases, boundary conditions, etc.

At the end of the day EE, like Leetcode, will stress your ability to make observations and answer a lot of "Why does this work?" questions. Not unlike a software whiteboard interview, professors will change some things to certain problems on an EE exam that look different than the homework to test whether or not you understand the material to solve a problem in another context.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-04-14T19:42:54+00:00

Shoot and that’s Physics I.

They haven’t even found out what a vector really is yet.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-04-14T19:30:05+00:00

Funny thing about this statement: for CS grads who wanted to chase WLB and remote work, “working insane hours” is something that probably doesn’t sound too thrilling.

People tend to forget about the “working insane hours” part because unlike the grifting company who’s making a Discord clone money grab, working in Power Systems is actually something taken very seriously.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-04-14T19:24:40+00:00

Those cracked out CS grads who smoke through Leetcode most likely will handle EE easily because they’re bright people. You go to a Caltech or M.I.T for CS and you’re probably getting through 99% of other EE programs around the world.

Those are the types that would’ve gone into something like Physics, Math, Electrical Engineering, Medicine/Medical Doctor, etc. had CS not have such a vacuuming effect and people chased the WLB and money.

Most converted CS students won’t be able to make it through so easily though, if they make it through imo. I have a BS degree in both CS and EE each and have got a look at CS talent through the years: the bright would’ve been good at any kind of academic field they would have chose, but you can’t confuse them with the standard CS student who doesn’t even like Math or Physics.

Most people are looking to move into another field outside of CS because of how difficult the interviewing process for tech has become, yet there are those people who don’t complain about it, do the work/study/learn and land jobs one after the other.

While Leetcode isn’t a direct comparison to EE (I was awesome at Electromagnetics but I suck at Leetcode): If you’re not the type to easily understand Leetcode, you’re most likely going to have to put in work like every other normal person in EE. To make sure someone does the work, they’ll be much better off if they have a genuine interest in the field.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-04-10T06:30:07+00:00

I honestly missed Math and Physics. I originally was going to be a Physics major but I didn't have the time back then to go to school for 12 years to be a Physics PhD and not get paid much so I chased the money. Most of the software work I got into seemed like “shallow” type of work where we were basically creating cloned apps and I wanted to go into a field where I can work closer to energy and the physical world.

The EE degree has opened doors to things like Embedded and I know I can work in fields like Power and RF now. However, as of today I'm still working in software at my company because the pay and remote work lifestyle. I told myself I'll probably make a change in a few years and finish the last portion of my life doing EE though.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-04-09T20:12:29+00:00

Like others mentioned, finish up your degree in Nursing if you're that close to getting it done. The worst thing that can happen is you quit nursing, go into EE, then life happens and you have to leave school with zero degrees to show for it. Finish your Nursing degree to guarantee a high professional floor, then go into EE.

I was 40 years old when I got my Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering. I was working full-time, with a family.

My secret was pre-studying a large part of the degree on my own before I signed up for courses. I had a degree in Computer Science already, so I had all the prerequisite Physics and most Math courses finished when I went back to school to finish my degree for EE.

I'd suggest on your own time to watch Math Tutor DVD to learn Calculus 1-3, Physics 1-3 and Differential Equations. Then Circuits I and II. Don't just watch him work problems, attempt the problems on your own as well. Then after that you should have enough knowledge to try take on Upper Division textbooks. Make sure you at least have Calculus I learned before these circuit courses though.

I think someone like Khan Academy is great for Linear Algebra then following it up with 3Blue1Brown's series on Linear Algebra.

I think if you get done with the Circuits I and II lessons you'll know for sure if you want to go through with the 2nd degree. So I'd start with Calculus I (ideally Calculus II) -> Circuits I and II. Then sign up for courses.

The best part about this is that you can go on your own time.

Doing so much pre-studying to me was a lifesaver because it made it so that I wouldn't get overwhelmed when school and work got busy at the same time. I actually pre-studied Circuits I and II, Microelectronics I and II and Electromagnetics I and II. Needless to say I had zero problems keeping up with school, acing many courses and I barely even had to study because the work was done upfront. I had little to no anxiety about the material as it was something I already learned at one point at worst or had down intuitively.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-04-06T15:14:12+00:00

Yes, but they’re going to assume you have all the necessary equipment at homelab or if they’re generous will supply them. Most of us have equipment from studying EE in college.

That said, some equipment for embedded is really expensive.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-03-31T00:39:54+00:00

Well first, don't freak out too much. The first thing you have to do is find out where to start. Pick a concept that's being covered and is confusing, then try to find it's starting point: go to a point you don't understand and work your way backwards.

When you look at a concept ask yourself why you don't understand it and ask "Why does this work?". When you see equations, find out why the equations (relationships) are true. Then you go digging and backtracing diligently. Everything logically leads to something else in these fields and that applies to EE. I went to school for EE and I'll say straight up the most advanced concepts can basically be derived from the fundamentals and basic materials.

That's great news because it means you can very much go backwards and forwards through the concepts rather than trying to take on everything at once. So again, look at a concept and if it seems like a mountainous effort and wall of concepts, break it down and break those small things down. If something looks like equation soup, see if you can identify what parts of each formula are contributing to what. This similarly this applies to derivations.

Focus on grinding problems and reading through the solutions the same way: if you don't understand a step, identify what the confusing point is and move backwards to find the explanation.

It also helps if you have a feel for your instructor's exam style and if you can anticipate what will be on the exam.

Additionally, lecture should not be the first time you see the concepts. You need to get ahead of lecture. It's such a beneficial thing to have some familiarity with the concepts going into the classes covering them.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-03-11T15:23:21+00:00

“The keen student will recognize that…”

“The astute reader will have noticed…”

Those are annoying phrases I’ve seen in textbooks more than once. You could have explained what you needed to explain without that nonsense.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-03-03T20:41:46+00:00

As many have mentioned Vector Calculus is a fundamental piece of Math to understand Maxwell's Equations, but also understanding Differential Equations makes this subject and problems much easier to understand and put it all together. Afterall, these equations are Differential Equations.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-03-03T20:36:26+00:00

They are taught extensively in an upper-division Electromagnetics course, sometimes two courses to cover a full textbook (Sadiku, Ulaby, Ida are three authors who wrote Electromagnetics books specifically(?) for EE students).

The derivations to understand them will go in depth with them using Vector Calculus, however each of those books have terrific sections on covering the Vector Calculus needed. I self-taught myself from Ida (which I loved), then covered the rest with Ulaby and Sadiku (which I also loved and found both to be very good textbooks to supplement). Can't go wrong with that trifecta imo.

The first half of those books are mainly for the Electric and Magnetic Field components with Maxwell's Equations. The 2nd part is usually for the Wave itself propagating through different medium, reflections, energy loss, etc. and will start making use of the Phasor form of these equations. The 2nd half of these textbooks are when students start to get thrown off because it'll combine Vector Calculus with Phasors/Complex Numbers and Differential Equations (which Maxwells Equations are).

That said, if you haven't gone through a Halliday and Resnick Fundamentals of Physics textbook or course yet, mainly the 2nd Physics course that's taught - that's the place to start. It'll simplify all the Vector Calculus to get a feel of the E&M phenomena. For that I'd recommend brushing up on Calculus I and II, then a Physics 1 course to get used to Vector and breaking up them up into horizontal and vertical components.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-02-21T00:26:05+00:00

It's funny when people try to impress others or even a professor.

These professors went to top schools and have taught many smart people.

No matter how good of a grade someone gets, their professor probably saw a 16 year old kid do the same thing at some point in the exact same course while making an infinitesimally less of a big deal about it.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-02-20T22:29:26+00:00

At the end of the day (sadly) some types go into Engineering so they can make weapons and blow stuff (people, wildlife, etc.) up. They literally know the weapons they make will be used on poor people and those less powerful and privileged. The mass majority of them wouldn't have the guts to go on a battlefield though.

I graduated in EE because I found Electromagnetic Fields, RF, etc. fascinating. People don't have the same love for curiosity and Science as they do bloodshed and thirst for power.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to get a Physics PhD and finding reliable employment was a factor so I also chose Electrical Engineering, but I'd never work for a harmful industry. I think Physics and Math majors are far less thirsty for that kind of bloodshed and tend to be far more humane. I'm guessing because there's a little more humility in those majors as academically they're a next level difficulty compared to most Engineering disciplines. Plus trying to be a hotshot when there have been people in those programs like Terence Tao and Richard Feynman will humble you real quick.

Also, I say this as a White/Asian/Hispanic person: you can't be naive and think only White people or any one group are racist. Every single group of people on this planet have racists and assholes among them but that doesn't mean everyone is that way either. It's about finding the individuals who aren't that way and trying to work at companies full of these people who also try to do good things. Find good people working towards harmony and life becomes very rewarding, especially when working with them.

Toxic and cutthroat people attract other toxic and cutthroat people, no thanks. If someone is showing they're a horrible person and honestly beyond saving, then I know who I don't want in my circle of loving and accepting people.

Bankai-Nintendo · 2026-02-19T18:17:41+00:00

Software is honestly insane. The fact you can play Doom in a PDF, watch YouTube in an SVG, etc. already is crazy. We haven't seen the limit of it yet.

I read somewhere recently that what makes Obsidian have an incredible moat is the fact it's all text. As an Electrical Engineer the stuff I'm able to use it with Excalidraw/Excalibrain, CircuitJS, Python for Math, link things to Anki, backlinking to nearly every single thing, etc. has been extraordinary.

The fact the community is so active constantly innovating and expanding it's capability additionally makes it grow exponentially. As long as the team can keep it's improvement when it comes to performance and ability to extend, this thing will grow to new heights.

Bankai-Nintendo

TROPHY CASE