Sujit Singh:
If you have 2.5 years to go for Civil Engineering Degree, but you want to get into Computer Science - I would think it would not be too difficult to go ahead and switch majors. It may take you an extra semester to graduate - but if you really want to get into Computer Science then do it.
Regarding your decision to take
SCJP. The exam preparation is a lot of work (for me at least), so balancing your study schedule between Civil Engineering and SJCP is going to be tough.
The SCJP will NOT be a waste of time. Even if you decide to pursue a C/C++ job after
college, listing the SCJP on your resume will only help your cause. More than likely, it will separate you from the rest of the pack - and that's what you will be trying to do.
In addition, the SCJP will make you a better programmer overall. If, you put the time into trying to understand the technology - not just passing the exam.
Don't worry about the Java marketplace at this time. Who knows what is going to happen in two or three years (your timeframe). Furthermore, the software market economy in India may be totally different than in the USA.
John Coxey
(jpcoxey@aol.com)
[This message has been edited by John Coxey (edited March 06, 2001).]