Prospects for a computer engineer?

Career Confusion? Electrical Engineer or Computer Engineer?

• Well When i was a small kid i used to make Small Magnetic crane .....even if a toy broke i used to open it and fix it and also did some external modification .......and i was mostly interested in learning how do they work.........But at that time i didnt have computer....so i was interrested in this electrical stuff......BUT AFTER SOMETIME my father bought me a computer........then i was totally into.....it......I mean to say...i was totally a dumbo in computer i didnt even knew A of it.......BUT after..some time....like two years or something....i Was really good in computer...i really wanted to know about new operating system like ubanto,FEDORA I was able to fix every problem in computer....mostly the Hardware problem....when my friend used to ask me my isnt there computer showing black screen....Then i use to think like this.....naturally...."DATA FROM HARD DRIVE GOES TO RAM THEN TO MOTHER BOARD.....SO if MONITOR IS SHOWING A BLACK SCREEN THIS MEAN THAT THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH RAM.....and i was 100% sure about that.....and it was!!!!!...I swear i never learn it from anyone.....i just opened the cpu 10 time...and used to watch the circuits.........i went to learn even learn "C lang" in summer classes......and i was really good in it......but i wasnt really interrested in it....cause i really hate glaring at screen and compiling programs......I just want to DO something Practical.........but now iam not interested in fix computer problem any more.......What should i do...Should i go for electrical or computer engineer........is it possible to be a computer engineer after doing Electrical Engineer....Please answer......in detail..if possible....

• Answer:

  It sounds like you are a generalist (vs. specialist) at heart. I know because it takes one to know one and I definitely am. I do have areas that I love and others I hate, but I'm interested in quite a lot. I too like software but couldn't do it year after year, I like variety too much. The up side is that if I'm bored, I can just do something else for a while. And the more things you know how to do, the more valuable you are to employers (i.e. higher salary). But avoid being a "jack of all trades and master of none" like a handyman. You should learn a lot about an area before you move on to the next. I would recommend going for the EE degree because it opens the door to so many different areas including circuitry, systems, power, ICs, aerospace, and of course software. Some schools offer a dual degree (Electrical & Computer Engineering) so you don't have to pick. But beware, if this is really your nature, professors and especially employers will try to pigeon-hole you into a certain area so you have to keep looking for other opportunities to stay general. Hope this helped and good luck!