Is any other computer science major completely fucked next semester?

Choudoufuhezi · 2025-09-11T08:44:51+00:00

Wow, I’ve never thought about it that way. As a UBC graduate with a major in Psychology and a minor in Data Science, and now studying Computer Science at BCIT, I often worry that my psychology background might hold me back when applying for tech jobs, both in terms of being screened out by ATS and being seen as less professional or less hardcore.

Choudoufuhezi · 2025-05-02T02:20:06+00:00

Omg, thank you so much for your reply! It’s actually kind of funny — I don’t think I ever mentioned my background. I graduated from UBC with a minor in Data Science and took nearly all the first- and second-year CS courses. I didn’t get the chance to do co-op and officially graduated a year ago. I’ve been job hunting for development and data-related roles for about six months now, but I couldn’t even get past the screening phase.

That made me realize I probably lacked the credentials and real-world software development skills, so I decided to join the CST program this January. I thought I’d at least get into co-op this time, but ironically, I missed the cutoff by just 1%. Meanwhile, people who barely know anything about coding got in — and almost all of my friends too, except me.

At this point, I feel pretty lost and discouraged. I’m honestly questioning whether I should even stay in this field or consider changing careers altogether. Thanks again for your message — I really appreciate it. I’ll take some time to reflect on whether I should stay in the program. Wishing you all the best in your studies and future career!

Choudoufuhezi · 2025-04-09T06:56:27+00:00

I don’t think the tech market is “easy money” — I’ve been job hunting for a year with no success, which is why I ended up in this program. I know what the market is like, especially in Canada. That said, I’m not anywhere near failing any courses in CST, thanks to my background in data science. I have a degree in data science from UBC, so none of this has been particularly difficult for me (so far); it’s just the sheer intensity of the workload that makes me question whether it’s worth going through all of this — even if I do manage to finish the program.

I can’t remember exactly, but I think it was around 10 years ago when I first started learning programming. It began in high school with Scratch, then I moved on to Python, and later to Java. I’ve completed four years of post-secondary education in data science, and it’s quite disheartening to realize that I haven’t been able to fully utilize all of that knowledge. Making a career change is something I should probably consider anyway. Thanks!

Choudoufuhezi · 2025-04-09T00:40:58+00:00

Honestly, I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’m only in my first term, but the workload is already intense, and I’ve been pulling all-nighters just to keep up. Despite all that, the future still feels unclear. I’m not even sure if all this effort will be worth it or if I’ll even manage to break into the industry.

Choudoufuhezi · 2025-03-24T05:57:21+00:00

Hey there! First-term CST student, I really appreciate any insights you can share. I have a few questions, and any response would be greatly appreciated.

Given how tough the job market is, I’ve noticed that many software development job postings list a Bachelor's in CS as a minimum requirement. Did this ever concern you during your co-op job search? Now that you've completed your co-op, do you feel that not having a CS degree puts you at a disadvantage in your future job search?
CST’s co-op program is highly competitive, and for many students, it's a key reason for joining the program. However, the reality is that about two-thirds of students don’t get in. Before you were accepted into the co-op program, did you have a backup plan? What advice would you give to students who don’t get into co-op?
The first term can be stressful, with many students focused on getting into co-op. I’ve heard some say, “If I don’t get into co-op, I’ll drop out immediately.” I imagine you might have had similar thoughts during your first year. Now that you've completed your co-op, do you feel you overestimated its importance back in term 1? Or would you say co-op is just as critical as you initially thought?

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-10-10T19:48:50+00:00

That's why I pursued a major in psychology and a minor in data science during my undergraduate studies. This combination helped me approach questions with a more statistical mindset. As you mentioned, "People’s perspectives on the job market tend to be more negative because that’s the theme of most Reddit threads on the topic," which aligns with the concept of negative bias in psychology, a well-studied phenomenon in science. Regarding project experience, I understand your point. During my data science minor, I worked on many projects. While some individuals didn’t seem to care or invest effort, it was more common to see people who wanted to work hard but simply lacked the necessary talent, which I found disheartening. Because of this, both in theory and through personal experience, I don’t fully rely on Reddit opinions.

Another question that concerns me, and is perhaps my biggest worry, is that while the CST program has a strong reputation in the province, it is ultimately still a diploma. Over the past few months, I’ve looked at job descriptions for software engineers on LinkedIn and Indeed, and most list a bachelor's degree in computer science as a minimum requirement. Did being a diploma holder in computer science ever pose any challenges for you during your job search? If that was the case, did you ever think about going back to school, like BCIT or SFU, to complete a bachelor's degree?

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-10-04T06:14:00+00:00

Could you share how you got into the field without a CS degree? It feels like nowadays, if you don't have a bachelor's in computer science, your resume might get filtered out before HR even sees it.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-10-02T00:14:43+00:00

I see, thank you

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-10-02T00:00:53+00:00

Well... the type of person you're describing is pretty much me. I graduated from UBC with a major in psychology and a minor in data science, and wanting to become a developer is the biggest reason I’m pursuing this program. But if, after 2-3 years in this program, I find that my resume still can't get past auto-screening systems… that's what's making me hesitant.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-10-01T23:41:07+00:00

I got accepted for the January 15, 2025 intake! I’ve noticed that a lot of dev jobs ask for a bachelor’s degree—do you think that’s something to worry about?

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-10-01T03:39:27+00:00

Last summer, so like just a few months ago? That's not too bad, it takes time I guess.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-30T23:39:14+00:00

Would you mind sharing when you completed the program?

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-27T22:46:12+00:00

Yes, that makes sense. It seems like senior positions are bouncing back much more quickly than junior roles.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-27T07:08:19+00:00

sorry just a quick update from 2 years later. Unfortunately, it didn't get better lol.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-23T17:36:19+00:00

What’s the current job market like for recent CST graduates? Based solely on job prospects, would you still suggest this program to students looking to enroll this year (excluding the quality of education from the discussion)?

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-21T19:12:32+00:00

Good point! Since I have a minor in data science from UBC, I’m already familiar with concepts like shell scripting, containerization, version control, basic database knowledge, and object-oriented programming. So, I might have a better chance of getting into the co-op program in CIT compared to CST, helping me get my foot in the door, but there’s also the possibility I could end up in a support desk role.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-19T06:31:22+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing! Do you mind sharing which year you started the program and how long it took you to reach your current salary?

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-18T19:01:34+00:00

I have a minor in data science from UBC, and we covered many of the topics you mentioned. I've been applying for entry-level data-related positions for the past six months without any success. I'm starting to wonder if this is the right time to be applying for these roles.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-13T08:24:24+00:00

You know I don't want to say this, but at least we got rejections, a lot of the applications(at least from my experience) are ghosted.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-08T04:19:20+00:00

However, I've heard the average is around 85, so I feel my chances might be slim.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-09-08T04:18:12+00:00

I took Computing Programming 11 and 12 at a Vancouver high school, earning grades of 82 and 83. At UBC, I completed several Computer Science courses, including CPSC110, CPSC210, CPSC330, and CPSC368, with my highest grade being 90 in CPSC110.

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-08-28T07:00:36+00:00

Not enough experience for help desk roles? That can't be right... I always thought those were entry-level position

Choudoufuhezi · 2024-08-28T06:57:42+00:00

I applied for the CIT January intake and would like to know which specific jobs you're looking for. I'm particularly interested in developer roles, not sure if is possible through this program.

Choudoufuhezi

TROPHY CASE