[michaelstewart]

The ups and downs of the economic cycle especially in the valley where they are somewhat amplified do not directly correspond to your employment prospects as a Software Engineer. Here are just a couple things that will likely happen over the course of your career as software engineer:

- Most consumer and commercial vehicles to be driven completely by machines

- Machines will become better than doctors at diagnosing patients

- Telepresence software will allow you to travel to any country in the world within minutes

- Everyone will be able to print almost any object they would want in their home

- Virtual reality will become indistinguishable from reality

- Humans will travel to mars

The development of new software will obviously be required for all of the above and this list doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the ways in which software algorithms will change the world. I can't think of many majors that you could study that will give you the skill-set that you need to create more value over your career than computer science.

PS. Don't call yourself a programmer http://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-pro... (By patio11)