[kumarski]

high paying code writing or going into physics/engineering.

Engineering is much different than software architecture.

One requires hard sciences competency, whereas one you can go into for years with none, and be successful.

[LightskinKanye]

But when the smartest undergrads are looking at potential career choices they see engineering and CS as means to a good life.

Without the support and money from companies who care, many will choose the highest paying option

[walshemj]

I think you will find that doing what google does at scale does require some "hard science" :-)

[kumarski]

Exceptional case. Most don't.