I’m completely stuck choosing a career after high school — Engineering vs CS vs Finance/Accounting. What would you choose?
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I recently graduated from high school (science stream), and I honestly have no idea which career path I should choose. I’m hoping people here who are already working in these industries, especially internationally, can give me some realistic advice.
My long-term goal is to move abroad and build a stable career there, so I’m not only thinking about which degree I can complete. I’m also thinking about job opportunities, immigration/PR possibilities, salary, AI disruption, work-life balance, and whether the field will still be good when I graduate.
Right now, I’m considering engineering, computer science, and accounting/finance.
- Engineering — probably Civil or Electrical
My parents strongly recommend engineering because they believe it is one of the safest options if I eventually want to move abroad.
I understand why they say that. Engineering seems like a relatively stable and internationally recognized profession, and there seems to be demand for engineers in many countries. My idea would be to do my bachelor's here and potentially pursue a master's abroad.
The biggest problem is physics.
I come from a science background, but physics has always been one of my weakest subjects. Honestly, if engineering didn't involve so much physics, I would probably be much more interested in it. I’m especially unsure about Civil or Electrical Engineering because I don't know whether I would actually enjoy studying and working in those fields.
So I'm wondering: is engineering really worth forcing yourself into if you're not naturally good at physics? Or is physics mostly difficult during university and not necessarily representative of the actual career?
- Computer Science
CS is another option because I have a science background and I know it can provide opportunities internationally.
But I'm really confused about the current situation.
Everywhere I look, people are saying things like:
- "Don't study CS anymore."
- AI is going to replace software developers.
- Entry-level software jobs are becoming extremely difficult to get.
- There are way too many CS graduates compared with the number of jobs.
- Companies want experienced developers even for junior positions.
- The market is already oversaturated.
At the same time, I also see people saying that software, AI, cybersecurity, cloud, etc. will continue growing and that there will still be huge demand for skilled people.
I would graduate around 2030–2031, so I'm particularly worried about what the market will look like by then rather than what it looks like today.
I'm not someone who is obsessed with coding either. I could learn it and become good at it, but I don't know if I want to spend my entire career doing software development.
So is CS genuinely becoming a bad career choice, or is Reddit exaggerating the situation because the entry-level market is currently difficult?
- Accounting / Finance
This is probably the field I have the most personal interest in.
I actually find finance and accounting interesting, even though I didn't study accounting in high school. I'm considering doing a bachelor's degree alongside ACCA, and potentially moving abroad later for further study/work. My original long-term idea was eventually becoming a CPA in another country.
The problem is that I keep hearing that accounting and finance are difficult fields for international students, especially when it comes to getting sponsored jobs or permanent residency.
I've also heard that:
- Entry-level accounting jobs aren't particularly well paid.
- International students can struggle to find jobs.
- Some finance roles are extremely competitive.
- Certain countries have limited pathways to permanent residency for these professions.
- The work can involve long hours, especially in certain finance/accounting careers.
- AI and automation may also eliminate some basic accounting work.
But then I also hear that accountants will always be needed because businesses need financial reporting, taxation, auditing, compliance, etc.
So I'm really confused about whether accounting/finance is actually a bad choice for someone whose goal is to study abroad and eventually settle there, or whether I'm just seeing the negative side of Reddit.
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What makes this decision so difficult
I feel like every option has a major risk:
Engineering:
Good international prospects and potentially stable, but I hate physics and I'm not sure I'd enjoy the actual work.
Computer Science:
Potentially excellent salary and international opportunities, but I'm worried about AI, oversaturation, and the extremely competitive entry-level market.
Accounting/Finance:
I'm genuinely interested in it and could pursue ACCA, but I'm worried about international job opportunities, sponsorship/immigration, salary, and competition.
I also don't want to choose a degree just because everyone says it's "safe" and then spend four years realizing I don't like the field.
At the same time, I don't want to choose something based purely on interest and later discover that there are very few opportunities for international graduates.
I'm basically looking for advice from people who are actually in these industries rather than just people repeating what they've heard online.
If you were in my position, graduating high school in 2026 and planning to graduate university around 2030–31, which path would you choose and why?
I'd especially appreciate perspectives from people who have studied/worked abroad, hired graduates, or are currently working in engineering, CS, accounting, or finance.
I'm honestly pretty overwhelmed by this decision right now, so any realistic advice—good or bad—is appreciated.