HEAR ME OUT ON YOUR GEOMATICS DEFERRAL
- geospatial data science is a niche field HIGHLY IN DEMAND worldwide and still uses programming aspects
- AI has a MUCH LOWER chance of reducing your job opportunities from geomatics compared to CS
- jobs in GIS/GIS SWE are widely considered LESS STRESSFUL especially compared to traditional swe jobs
- the geomatics course load itself is very NOT STRESSFUL compared to others, allowing for better co-op hunt and social life
- CO-OP? UW geomatics undergrads have a 90%+ EMPLOYMENT RATE in both co-op and upon graduation; big tech isn’t unheard of in geomatics but ofc you gotta grind harder than usual if u want it (might be easier now with the better program name)
- WORK-LIFE BALANCE? GIS jobs are known to be VERY FLEXIBLE (42% working either hybrid or fully remote with extra benefits)
- MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING ASPECT? those specialized gis positions get PAID MUCH MORE AND ARE IN GREATER DEMAND
- now the SALARY? geomatics grads make MONEY ($60-70k+ entry level, $70k-100k+ average not including compensation); is this as much as swe jobs in big tech or unicorns? Not usually; it’s around the same as qcomm grads, but this comes with LESS STRESS, MORE FLEXIBILITY, and GREATER JOB SECURITY (= less layoffs and AI automation) than high-paying swe jobs.
BONUS: using the shit u learn to create fantasy maps in ur free time is fun, esp if u like d&d and worldbuilding
edit: this is mainly for ppl who arent 1000% set on cs and arent fully committed to getting jobs in specialized cs roles (ai, ml, cybersecurity, etc. if ur fully set on those then do cs)