I should add in the interest of completeness that it’s not all idolization. 
This board’s archive is full of my bitching and moaning about specific incompetence, and assholishness from the users and IT infrastructure, so I won’t bore with the details.There are many users who it’s not that much fun to help when you really want to tell them to fuck off and die. You have to learn how to blow off your anger, and get back to it the next Monday. For me whining anonymously on the internet and large quantities of beer usually do the trick. 
[quote=“Agent_Foxtrot, post:1, topic:563535”]
[li]What’s the major difference between a computer programmer and a software engineer? I understand software engineering requires more school and you have to get certified. Why would I want to be a software engineer over a programmer?[/li][/quote]
No certification, at least not in the US. I associate certs with IT. SE is the common corporate title for programming.
[quote]
[li]What is my expected salary when I graduate with a B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics? I plan to move to Europe or Oceania (Australia or New Zealand) after I graduate… will I take a hit on my salary if I do that?[/li][/quote]
I have no idea about hit on salary. SEs salaries vary widely in the US. The highest I’m aware of is Microsoft – starting salary for fresh out of college kids is over 80K. And on the other extreme end is – you can get a monkey job for barely over minimum wage. I’d say about 85% of people who program for a living make fairly low pay, and the rest, typically Silicon Valley or Big Corp, will make comfortable 6 digits.
[quote]
[li]What professional organizations should I join? Is there any point to me joining IEEE?[/li][/quote]
Pointless unless you’re going to work in computer science. (Edit: I was thinking of ACM. I used to belong to both, I thought it’d give my career a boost but both were pointless. Do know a couple of guys really into that stuff, though.)
[quote]
[li]Finally, how long before I burn out? I am 31 now and will probably be 33 when I graduate. I have heard (from two stepbrothers who are both programmers themselves) that programmers generally have a shelf life of about 10 years before they burn out and move on to management. Is this true?[/li][/quote]
Yes and no. What you describe is the most common path, but you are what you make of yourself. Babysitting doesn’t appeal to me.