For years, Berkeley’s Computer Science program was a direct pipeline to top-tier tech jobs. Didn’t matter if you were just "above average"—if you made it through, you'd land a solid job with a great salary. But now? I’m watching some of the most brilliant students, the ones with perfect 4.0 GPAs, prestigious internships, and research experience, graduate with nothing. No offers. No interviews. Just radio silence. Professors are noticing it too. Students who should be drowning in job offers are instead emailing their advisors in a panic: “What do I do now?” “Should I apply for grad school?” “Was this all a waste?”

And here’s the part that really scares me—this isn’t just a temporary downturn. The people who should know what’s going on—our faculty, career services, recruiters—have no answers. They just keep telling students to “network more” or “apply to startups.” But those startups? They’re laying people off too. The harsh reality is that a UC Berkeley CS degree is no longer a ticket to job security. The system that promised students a clear path to success is breaking down, and the people in charge are too scared to admit it.

I don’t know how this plays out, but I do know this: If you’re a student banking on a Berkeley degree to guarantee your future, you need a backup plan. Because the old rules don’t apply anymore.

The question is—what happens when the smartest students in the country realize the system has failed them?

https://archive.ph/PMb00 Contact Professor James O'Brien