Your second paragraph implies that there is little to nothing to gain from your college experience other than your specific course work, a mindset that I disagree with. Given what most HS math teachers make, it could be argued that most math majors should apply their education elsewhere for better rewards anyway. I have a family member who has a math degree, followed by PhD in business and is now a university research professor doing quite well. He would say that those math skills have served him rather nicely, especially while doing financial research.
I did say "partial waste". That leaves a lot of room for interpretation as to whether that is a 10% waste or a 90% waste (I don't have a strong feel for how much of a waste it would be). There is no question there can be benefits to a STEM degree outside the field of STEM jobs, and I mentioned that. I also said that a math degree is typically used for something other than a "math job". I recognize that the U.S. economy depends a fair amount on having enough people in STEM jobs to develop new products and other advancements.
Interesting information. I've never read any other similar info pieces and can't say about the percentage, but not all the people who have a diploma work in the same field. It can be said about law, finance, psychology, and so on. Sometimes people decide to study STEM, law, etc because it's "fancy", well-paid, and so on. But without real interest, there will be nothing good in that. Each major can be a terrible investment if there is no real interest.
Tell you what ….. aside from an extremely competent and talented ER physician ….. there’s no more important professional than an AC technician in Florida during the summer or a great plumber when you have a water/sewer problem. Well, great LEOs, EMTs, and firefighters are pretty darned valuable, too. Also, the people involved in the grocery supply chain are extremely valuable.
This board continues to make the mistake of thinking of college as a job training program. I hire 40 people per year. Half straight from college, all with a degree. No one is ever pre-trained to do the job. They are pre-trained to learn to do the job. Almost any degree will do. We pick business and math degrees generally because they are likely interested in business and math, but some of our best have been liberal arts.
Yep, I know someone who got a law degree because that is what was expected. I'm sure he picked up plenty of people skills/knowledge and is quite successful, but has never actually practiced law.
Most professions hire college grads with some specific training and knowledge in a particular field - accounting, engineering, law, medicine, etc. I don’t know who you work for or what you hire them to do.
You just named two fields that require advanced degrees designed specifically to train the people for that profession. And speaking for lawyers, law school really doesn't prepare you all that well to practice law. The most effective thing it trains you to do is think like a lawyer.
Are you sure? Perhaps this is true, but I wonder what you are basing this on. This is def not most professions. I harken back to what citygator stated, which is that job-training is not the primary purpose of higher education. It is for certificate programs like teaching, but very few degree programs offer a license for specified employment.
https://www.usnews.com/best-college...opular majors at,; Agricultural/Animal/Plant/ University of Florida Majors Ten Most Popular Majors for 2022 Graduates Engineering 13% Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 12% Biological and Biomedical Sciences 11% Social Sciences 11% Health Professions and Related Programs 8% Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs 7% Psychology 6% Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields 3% Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services 3% Visual and Performing Arts 3%
Maybe the Dem students realize that their core course studies are not worth much and they don't want o take STEM type majors to make it worth their effort?
That’s just a list of popular majors??? Has nothing to do with what % go to work directly in their fields of study. I’m sure some fields are decently high (yet none near 100% for undergrad), and I’d bet low single digits of psychology majors work as professional psychologists or end up MD’s with psychiatry specialty. Most work in tangentially related jobs, but zero direct training, or use it as a stepping stone degree I’d say “general business” as an undergrad isn’t really proving much to an employer either other than they got a degree from UF, and UF cranks out soooooo many of those. I bet a lot of “business majors” go work for Hettz Rent-A-Car or Manage fast food. But I guess that’s what they were trained to do as undergrads! I’m not even disparaging that as college grads have to start somewhere. If some theatre major ends up in that same career: “that woke degree was such a waste”! I can never take these discussions seriously unless undergrad business and other relatively lower quality but high volume degrees are on the chopping block as well. I will continue to maintain its about the value proposition of the school, not just the subject of study. Of course it would be crazy to drop $200,000 and study “art history” at some trash low tier but very expensive liberal arts college. It would be decidedly less crazy if one had that interest and was Harvard tier student. It’s all about the schools rep, and it’s performance at having students pay back loans. I also think state schools can more appropriately have these programs, as they generally have small budgets, and at least the students aren’t burying themselves in debt at a state U.
Well, you always call me a Dem but here I am in Munich at TUM with my youngest (Bio/Math major at GT) visiting my oldest (CS undergrad, Masters student in Math at GT). Oldest is here on research project for the summer. I'd say their effort is pretty good.
It’s all garbage in garbage out. Good buddy here in Atlanta. Graduated from Georgia southern. First job paid him 20k. 20 years later he is 7 figures annually in medical sales. My wife went to a directional midwestern school and 800k Annually..:but works her ass off an earns every penny. I have advanced degree from UF and contribute about half of what wife does annually. All 3 were worth it but I’m the only one with advanced specialized degree and make the least( although I work the least too ).
Lol... I don't dislike you at all, NavyGator93. I just feel that, and this has nothing to do you you in particular, the drop on college popularity might not be politically motivated. By the way, thank you for your service to our country.
I've said it before, college is not the answer for everyone and you certainly don't need it to be happy or financially successful.
Ha!!! I didn't say you dislike me, I said you call me a Dem sometimes but maybe that's one and the same for you.
