[ale] Sort of OT: College Majors

[Parker McGee]

This past weekend I went to Ga Tech's Connect with Tech program. 
Going into it, I was all "Yeah, I'm going to major in Comp Sci, no one
can convince me to do anything else!!"  Now, they've convinced me.

I've always been a sponge for knowledge.  I've never turned down the
ability to learn something new.  During that program, I went to a
Physics 2 class, and realized that there are actually teachers out
there that can make Physics fun.  My AP Physics B teacher last year
was horrible, and Calculus based Physics makes so much more sense to
me than Algebra based.  I really, really enjoyed that class.

Meanwhile, I was meeting a lot of the other Comp Sci hopefuls, and
realized that a lot of them were the typical "l33t" computer user. 
"Whoa!  A degree!  With computers?!  And I can build video games!?!?!?
 I'm in!!  Wait... science?  Crap!"  And also, a lot of the Comp Sci
majors were even like that!  I don't think I could stand working with
people like that day in and day out for the rest of my life.

A good story: One of the high schoolers at the program talked all day
about how he was going to do computer science and nothing else; how he
loved computers and such.  Then, I was sitting behind him in the Study
Abroad seminar when the speaker said "Oxford College's dorms were
built in the 1300s but they even have Cat5 wiring now!"  He turned to
the person sitting next to him and asked "What's Cat5?"

Also, it seems like I'm going to be bored out of my mind for the AT
LEAST the first two years in the Comp Sci curriculum.  It's something
that I've enjoyed so much for the past two years that I've practically
taught myself 2+ years of college material.  I don't mean to brag,
that's just how it goes.  I think I can teach myself the rest of the
things I would be able to learn in that degree in another two years. 
The Internet is an amazing thing.  Going back to being a sponge for
information, I don't think I can take, much less want to take,
spending two years of college, when I could be learning tons, just
relearning things.

A good part of me wants to go get my PhD and become a college
professor.  Now, if it's people like my Cat5 friend up there that I'm
going to have to teach, I don't want any part of it.  I'm sure every
major has their "l33t krew" but it seems like Comp Sci has more than
its fair share.  I really enjoy the really out-there theory and almost
philosophy based AI theory.  A good part of the reason I want to be a
professor is that I will always have an excuse to learn something new.
 Like if I want to learn about a new Physics theory, I could just go
ask my friend the Physics professor.  I feel like in a 40 hour-a-week
job, I'm limited, and learning new things would have to be put on the
back burner as opposed to more of a "How can this information help my
company earn more money?" Because of this and my enjoyment of the
Physics class I took, I'm starting to get pulled me away from a Comp
Sci degree.  I honestly don't know what to do.

Part of me says pure Physics sounds interesting, but then I question,
"Well, what if I decide that PhD isn't for me?  What do I do with just
a Physics degree?"  The main majors I'm starting to lean towards are
Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering.  I'm still, of
course, thinking that maybe things aren't so bad as I think in
Computer Science and I should give it a shot.  I honestly feel that I
could major in anything and still be interested in it.  What I'm
currently leaning towards is Electrical Engineering with an emphasis
in Comp Sci, but then I go back to my original problem which is now
amplified, I don't have enough electives to get past the boring stuff
into the things that will actually be interesting to me.

I really don't know what I should do.  Does anyone have any
recommendations, particularly personal insights?  Anything is
hugely(!!!) welcome!  Thanks!!

Parker McGee