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Students aiming for admission to top US universities often face the dilemma of choosing the right major, a decision that can profoundly impact their academic journey and future career prospects. Today, we'll delve into why engineering and particularly computer science (CS) are highly sought after in the US, and why the competition is fierce. These fields not only promise academic rigor but also open pathways to lucrative careers and cutting-edge innovations.



Why Engineering and Computer Science Are Popular


Abundance of Job Opportunities

The first compelling reason why engineering majors are advantageous for employment in the US lies in the dominance of IT companies within the top 10 rankings of American corporations by JUST Capital. (※ Click here for more information about the rankings.) These industry leaders not only power the US economy but also generate abundant job opportunities, particularly in the swiftly evolving domains of software and web/app development. Their innovative integration of technology into traditional sectors underscores the dynamic growth potential within these fields. Preemptively researching the current US job market and the specific demands of these companies for professionals can help design a more structured life plan post-graduation.

Overcoming Language Barriers

Within engineering departments, particularly in computer science, programming languages are utilized. Unlike majors in humanities and social sciences, proficiency in English is less of a barrier for students whose native language is not English. Especially in software development, where personal value is primarily assessed based on coding skills rather than national, cultural, or language backgrounds, international students can be recognized based on their abilities in employment or promotion-related aspects without discrimination. 

For example, the active participation of many foreign engineers with exceptional skills in mathematics and engineering in Silicon Valley illustrates how relatively unimportant language is in the field of CS (Computer Science), indicating that there are many opportunities for foreigners to work.

Expandability

While there are various programming languages like C/C++, Java, specializing in one language makes it relatively easy to learn another computer language. Therefore, if a student has the expertise in computer languages and basic coding skills, they can handle various tasks such as system software, Linux, and Windows application software (web service development), iOS/Android programming (app development), and web programming.

This programming technique is needed in all industries, not just IT companies, such as commerce, food, medical, and finance, and therefore, students majoring in computer science have a high potential for expansion in choosing a career.

 

High Salary

The last and most important reason is that computer science departments are much more likely to receive high salaries early in their careers compared to other departments. According to the payscale site, the expected average annual salary for graduates of the prestigious (top school) EECS department in the United States who started their careers as software engineers is expected to be between 73-148K.