I'm a high school student trying to decide between a strong Computer Science program and an even better Math program at a university that offers great co-op and job opportunities, particularly with FAANG companies. If I choose the Math program, will FAANG companies only hire candidates with a CS degree? If I specialize in areas like data science, computational math, or statistics, will I still have a good shot at landing a job with them? Or should I just go for the CS degree at another university like McMaster?
2 Answers
Not exactly! A lot of successful tech people come from math backgrounds. For instance, one of the folks who developed Angular at Google studied math. It really comes down to how you apply what you learn. Just keep in mind that advanced math and CS have a lot of overlap, so it could work out well for you.
If math is where your passion lies, go for it! Having a strong foundation in mathematics can be super beneficial in tech, and FAANG companies value diverse skills. If you really enjoy both fields and you’re thinking long-term, aim for the path that excites you the most.
I get that! Since a lot of jobs require both skills nowadays, it's worth thinking about how you can blend the two.
That's good to know! But does that mean it could be tougher as a math major trying to break into FAANG compared to CS?