“Google offers Rs 1 crore package to a B.Tech graduate!” This is what attracts the majority of people looking for unique courses nowadays. There has been a lot of talk in town about how the person next door hacked a company to earn XYZ dollars. Such is the fan following of a CS graduate and its pay that nearly everyone is lured into taking some course in a CS-related field. You may have seen a dozen YouTube advertisements promising a 178% salary increase with their 30-day courses on the “biggest and most promising market trends.” But do you need that course? Is the course actually for you?

         You won’t get a thousand-dollar job by picking a computer science niche. The field involves so much depth that to understand and comprehend the fundamentals thoroughly; you need to opt for a conventional degree (conditions apply: you ought to have the interest). A B.Tech degree in computer science differs from a B.Sc degree, as does the BCA. There is a reason why these compel you to devote three to four years of your life to a particular domain. A traditional college will allow you to grasp the field more profoundly and open up many possibilities.

         The myth to be finally busted is that CS is the ultimate major of the 21st century, without changing the fact that we need highly qualified computer scientists. Not everyone must be a software developer to contribute to this critical vacancy. Computer science requires logic, math, aptitude, problem-solving skills, and an unceasing learning attitude. If none of this interests you, you should avoid computer science to have a secure career. If you enjoy art, you could become a multimedia artist, animator, art director, or graphic designer. If you are good with money, you can work as an economist, financial risk analyst, data analyst, financial planner, or accountant. A medical practitioner is your best bet if you are eager to respond to healthcare emergencies.

         A highly skilled workforce is required in CS niches and in-demand market trends such as bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, and competitive programming. People who want to work in this field are typically interested in computers, mathematics, data analysis, programming languages, and other related topics.

         Passion, rather than trends in the market, should be approached.

         Simply enrolling in computer science courses or listing it as a major to have a good but mediocre career does no good. Consider India, which annually generates approximately 3 lakh graduates in the field of computer science, but only a tiny percentage have the necessary skills. Why would Google and Facebook hire hordes of costly software engineers if the courses were all there was to software engineering? IT firms employ tens of thousands of computer scientists in low-skilled positions. There are many people with low and medium skill levels, but they fall short at the top of the skill set. Most of us are unqualified individuals who identify as credentialed computer professionals—a broad statement, albeit somewhat accurate.

         Unfortunately, blindly following the hype benefits no one. If your genuine desire is to explore the area of computers and the science it entails, then you should take up the subject. However, if your interests dictate otherwise, you should spend your time and energy on something that brings you joy while working eight to ten hours a day until you retire.