Ironically this is the exact opposite advice I would give, as someone 3 years out of undergrad with lots of SWE and non-SWE (PM, consultant, banker) friends. I

Ironically this is the exact opposite advice I would give, as someone 3 years out of undergrad with lots of SWE and non-SWE (PM, consultant, banker) friends. If a college student told me "I want to optimize for a career where I don't feel like a commodity, have lots of bargaining power (high wages, short hours, easy to switch jobs), and can easily start a business or consult on my own if I desire," I'd tell them: study computer science. SWEs I know at the big tech companies are being paid the same as my banker friends for half the hours (or less). The consultants and PMs are working longer hours for half the money and way less job security. By definition if you're selling your labor on the job market you're being a commodity. I can't predict the future, but for now at least being a SWE seems the best way for a recent graduate to win some bargaining power back.