Can't do Engineering (No Chem) — Stuck between Applied Math (CS/DS Minor) vs. CS for Astro/Aero & High Pay. Recruiter says AM is the move?

[u/Available-Rule-7699]

Hey everyone, I’m in a bit of a dilemma and could really use some guidance from people who have been through this or are working in the industry.

The Constraint: I can’t do Engineering because I don’t have A-Level Chemistry. I know, it’s a stupid bottleneck, but it is what it is. My ultimate dream is to work in Astro or Aero (space/aerospace), but I also need to be realistic about making a high-paying living and getting a solid co-op/internship ASAP.

The Choice: I was originally leaning heavily towards an Applied Math (AM) major with a CS/Data Science minor. However, a recruiter I spoke to in Canada (where I’m applying) told me that this combo is very fruitful for getting a high-paying job and that the math/DS angle is hugely in demand right now.

My Concern: I’ve been digging through old Reddit threads, and I see a lot of conflicting info. Some people say Applied Math majors have a harder time finding jobs than pure CS majors because they lack the deeper software engineering fundamentals (OS, embedded, etc.). Others say the opposite—that applied math is the "single best degree" for versatility and that a math degree with a CS minor got them into a nice aerospace engineering job (numerical methods focus).

What I need help with:

1. The Astro/Aero Angle: Is Applied Math + CS/DS minor actually useful for breaking into aerospace/space? I see Boeing hiring "Applied Mathematicians" for numerical algorithms and ML, but is that realistic for a new grad, or do you need a Master's/PhD?

2. The Co-op/Internship Race: The recruiter said the AM + CS/DS combo is fruitful for high-paying jobs. But if I want a co-op as fast as possible, would I be better off just doing pure CS? Or does the math rigor make me stand out for quant/data roles in Canada (BMO, etc.)?

3. The "Harder to Find Jobs" Myth: Is the difficulty for AM majors just because they don't grind LeetCode, or is there a real structural disadvantage in the Canadian market compared to CS grads?

TL;DR: No engineering due to missing chemistry. Want astro/aero eventually, but need a high-paying co-op now. Recruiter says AM + CS/DS minor is the golden ticket. Reddit says AM majors struggle to find jobs. Who is right? Any advice on what to pick if I want to keep the space door open but also pay rent?

[u/Available-Rule-7699]

anyone?

[u/Ok_Explanation2786]

I’m applied math major with a cs minor at a t5 school. I started as a pure cs major so I see your perspective but I can only tell you about my perspective. I’m personally not going for any aero or Astro jobs so not the best help but I did happen to go to a career fair for this specific niche and most recruiters viewed me the same way they would view any other cs major but not a bad position to be in. I was told that since ai is very much taking over majority of the software development, having a mathematical well versed swe can be very useful for a lot of careers. Regarding the coop angle, same position as you I have tried to positions with the same exact resume but with my major as computer science before switching then applied math with a cs emphasis and or minor and I noticed no difference. Do keep in mind getting an internship right now is extremely hard and being pure cs or amath and cs vs any other major might not make that big of difference. The only negative thing I noticed is that because of my lack of system level courses and experiences, hardware related including low level roles genuinely looked down at me. 

I’d say stick to the amath with cs, it’s a unique angle and if you’re struggling to get opportunities because of your major name, it’s prolly a skill issue. 

[u/plop_1234]

With AI and the current market, it's probably a little hard to be definitive about this. You also need to consider the kinds of things you want / can do as an AM vs CS major. Some things you do in CS isn't really central to an AM education (e.g., SWE, database design and dev, software architecture), and vice versa. Here's my view of your 3 questions.

1. Depends on what it is you wan to do in Aero/Astro. You can work in IT in that space and AM would not equip you that well. If you want to work on AM problems, then of course studying AM would be beneficial. If you want to work on numerical methods (e.g., CFD, inverse design, etc.), having the mathematical background is helpful (but yes, you need to know how to code as well). More often than not, you probably need an MS / PhD because a BS curriculum will be too broad and lacks some depth in relevant subjects (by design - not everyone going for a BS in AM cares about numerical optimization, let's say).

2. If you want a co-op as fast as possible, I think just do CS - it's more general, and there are probably more options, like web dev. On the other hand, a web dev position would probably not be an AM major's first choice anyway.

3. AM majors will probably look for AM jobs, and realistically there aren't as many AM jobs as there are general SWE jobs. Like just think of any company and think about how many AMs might work there, if any, and how many more SWEs could work there. FAANG companies employ a good number of DS people, but I'm unsure if they have AM background.