Ask HN: Advice for an Indian Student?

1 points by subtra3t 98 days ago | 1 comment

Hi HN,

I'm in my last year of high school, about to enter university. I'm undecided on which field I would like to major in and would appreciate some words of advice.

During the pandemic, I completed a few online courses (including CS50x) and worked on some small programming projects, so I’m familiar with programming fundamentals. For a long time, my plan was to study computer science or something closely adjacent to it.

Even now I'd like to study in some computer science adjacent field if possible. However, I'm aware of the intense competition as it is probably the most sought after field to study in. I'm confident in my ability to stand out among others at least in terms of hard work if not intelligence, but I also think I am underestimating the sheer level of competition in this field. Add to the mix how AI assistants like Claude have supposedly eliminated the need for many jobs, and my worries of finding a job after I graduate have compounded. Just a few days ago, the introduction of Anthropic's new offering crashed the stocks of many massive Indian IT companies.

I want to add that I have a strong affinity for math so I would likely do well in fields that leverage it.

So, given all this:

- Is majoring in computer science (or a CS-adjacent field) still a good idea for someone starting university now in your opinion?

- Do you think there are any other fields that would be a better bet? Hopefully something with not as much competition as CS

- What would you think of doing today if you were in my position?

Please let your advice be as expansive or restricted as you would like, I would appreciate any kind of advice.

I know that my English doesn't necessarily flow the best so please let me know if I need to clarify anything or need to supply more information.

Have a great day.

ht_th 98 days ago |

I'd not worry too much about picking a major yet. Or rather, students typically need a couple of years in undergrad to figure out what exactly it is that they want, what motivates them, where their interests lie, etc.

I've seen top-students who got fed up with the field, or with academics in general, and moved into industry after a bachelors. I've also seen average performing students discovering a love for research and going that route successfully. And anything in between.

Heck, even discovering that a field isn't for you and switching majors or dropping out for a bit is fine.

So, I recommend going someplace/some major you feel at home and then try as many different courses and activities until you discover what drives you. Then decide where to go next from there.