Computing Degree Choice

**JRR** · September 03, 2012, 04:57 PM

Hi,
I am currently in my last year of sixth form and I am thinking of going on to do a computer based degree at university, I need to make my final choice by October ready for submission and I have been doing some research but i thought i could get other people's views on it, I had a few questions that would help me with which degree to pick. Here are the two degrees that i am currently researching:

> Web Development
> Computer Games Design and Development

1. Which is the hardest to learn?
2. Which (Generally) has the most work opportunities after University? (If that is possible in the current state of the economy!)
3. Which would be the easiest to go 'freelance'/self employed with if i couldn't gain a place in a company?
4. Which degree in your opinion would be the most rewarding?
5. Which normally has the higher rate of paid work?

Hopefully this will help me to come to a more solid standpoint on what degree I wish to take without going into it and finding out that I picked the wrong thing and would rather pick the other. I am interested in both but I would like a few pros and cons from each to help get to a well thought out judgement.
Thanks for feedback and help

**Crazyeyesreaper** · September 03, 2012, 06:08 PM

Games design and development is far harder from what my college roommates were saying, he switched from game design to web development but both have different challenges.

**Bolkonsky** · September 03, 2012, 06:13 PM

Web development has more jobs. Game designers are a dime a dozen, at least among my circle, and most people are disillusioned video game addicts.

**Ybbon** · September 04, 2012, 05:49 AM

Well a long while since I graduated (1990, cough), but a few questions to ask yourself:

1. Where are you planning to go?
2. Have you considered any where else that offers alternatives?
3. What are you looking for in the longer term?

A good salary helps but it isn't everything, and maybe you should consider a more general grounding. My degree is in Information Technology but then I graduated before they had degrees in web design (hell, they barely had the web), or gaming, but something that covers programming, design, principles etc might be more useful in the longer run than specialising especially if you haven't decided what you want.

If you were hell bent on being a web designer or games programmer you wouldn't be asking so maybe you need to looks for something more general?
Going freelance when you are fresh out of college may be tricky - it happens but you probably need to have an idea that is what you want to do and even then, a few years working in a company probably would not hurt.

I think you could probably help yourself by focusing on what it is you want in the long term, don't worry about salary to start with as that may tie you to chasing ££'s now for a market that disappears in a few years with different trends.