<p>$16 an hour… that is surprising considering the amount of time put in to get a b.s. in chemistry. at least it is twice as much as minimum wage! :)</p>
<p>Do you guys know if it matters whether your undergrad and grad degrees were on the same subject? Like if you BS is in math and MA/PhD in something else physics/comp science whatever…something related, but different. Is it even possible and does it harm you later when trying to make some cash?</p>
<p>I read an article in The Economist a few months ago that was talking about a general brain drain out of the US. A lot of foreign students come here for the quality higher education, and many stay. However, some foreign governments have been creating incentive programs intended to lure some of these folks back home and there is some measurable success apparently. </p>
<p>These scientists and engineers move back overseas and create competitive programs in their home countries. American software engineers are already seeing the effects of this as their work is outsourced. Other engineers probably will see it more in their fields as well in the next few years.</p>
<p>@ pinker: You bring up an interesting point, and it’s one that I’ve often felt very sensitive about. You say that grad schools look at ALL your grades including CC (normal grades, retakes, and AR). However, honestly, how much weight is factored into first semester freshman year grades? I failed 3 classes my first semester when I was 16, and yes, I did receive Academic Renewal. I have paid my dues, have a 3.74 cumulative GPA now, and am aspiring to go onto get my PhD. </p>
<p>Will that 1 horrible semester screw up my GPA in the long run?</p>
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<p>Will grad schools/business schools really care all that much about grades that were from so long ago? </p>
<p>One last question lol, when exactly does one apply to grad school? Are there different dates to submit applications for law/grad/business school? I am currently considering all three. Would I apply first semester senior year?</p>
<p>@nicolles: I think it really depends on the field you are in and what your degrees are. For instance, I’m looking at eventually pursuing a masters at SIO (next to UCSD). They don’t care necessarily what your ugrad degree was-- as long as it was a science of some sort. So you couldn’t get a degree in French Lit. magna cum laude and then expect to gain admittance to a high-level science program.</p>
<p>In fact, I’d wager to say that some grad programs look very favorably on someone with a few different science-related degrees since so much science work is interdisciplinary nowadays.</p>
<p>That’s where something like a BS in Math (or in Physics!) comes in as useful. These two degrees serve as great foundations for ANY science related field.</p>
<p>If you study what you need in preparation, it doesn’t matter if you majored in mathematics and apply to graduate school for physics. The reason for this is because: What you learned in your senior year in undergraduate usually has nothing to do with what you learn in graduate school. </p>
<p>For example, senior year as a bioengineering major is design planning and presentation of a project idea. Most of the “engineering” core is in the junior year. </p>
<p>The best you can do is take physics courses while you’re in your junior and senior year. In fact, a lot of math majors take physics in place of chemistry since it’s a physical science. </p>
<p>My math professor has a master’s from Stanford in Mathematics and another master’s from Stanford in Computer Science. His undergraduate was Mathematics. The thing is, as a math major he had to take programming anyway and physics has circuitry. </p>
<p>In ways, a lot of the science fields are interrelated. A Bioengineering or Chemical Engineering major has to take organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry and circuitry. Those are chemistry major and electrical engineering and physics courses. Likewise, in engineering itself a lot of classes are interrelated. Many of the bioengineering upper division classes have chemical engineering titles. </p>
<p>In fact, some of the best MCAT scores come from liberal arts majors who go on to medical school. </p>
<p>@james: I realize that. I was merely giving chemistry as an example to squash the whole “science majors are smarter and make more money.” Quantitatively we’re more capable sure. But James, you know yourself, there’s nothing “hard” about Calculus or Chemistry or even Physics. Those classes can actually be fun! In fact, I’m skating on thin ice between a B and C in Political Science, but I’m acing Calculus. What makes our curriculum difficult is that we have sequences. You can’t just take Calculus 3 or Differential Equations “because you feel like it”. You have to take Calculus 1 before 2, 2 before 3 and 3 before Linear Algebra. </p>
<p>Plus, since they’re abstract conceptual ideas, you have to be able to envision them taking place. But when I was learning integration and derivatives, I was surprised how easy calculus is compared to pre-calculus and intermediate algebra. </p>
<p>I don’t think scientists or engineers are smarter than anyone. I think we just want to know how things work and we want to find new ways to make them work. Liberal art majors are just as capable, but they want to witness or stimulate their mind. It takes just as much intellectual capacity to analyze an abstract canvas as it does to differentiate a fourth degree polynomial. It just takes two different desires to make each one happen.</p>
<p>@essenar you know what would be even better? Doing both. I wonder if it’s impossible to get a math/eng lit double major. Hmmm…</p>
<p>@Essenar: Well, I slightly beg to differ. You <em>can</em> take Lin. Alg. before Calc 3. I know because I did it, and I recommend it btw. :)</p>
<p>Calculus <em>should</em> be easy. It’s easy because your entire math career up to college has been building up to it. It’s a far far far greater hump to learn the abstract reasoning required to perform simple algebraic tasks than it is to learn calculus-- presumably by the time you reach calculus, the mind-training required to think abstractly is already done. Calculus is essentially 1.5 years of learning only two new operators and all the baggage that comes with them-- plus other non-calculus stuff that they throw in like power series.</p>
<p>I do agree that liberal arts majors are just as capable. I think there is a lot to be said about the creativity and organizational skills needed to express oneself in print or on canvas; or the analytical skills needed to search patterns in literature and history and then form ideas based on them to communicate to a larger audience.</p>
<p>Don’t turn down the possibility of a minor! If you’re young, definitely consider a double major. </p>
<p>I’m thinking of minoring in either Economics or Japanese Studies. (I took Japanese Language 1-3 at my CC, so I’d only need to take 4 upper division Japanese studies classes. Coincidentally, I can take Econ 1-3 in patches around my remaining Junior year and then finish Econ upper division my last two quarters my senior year because I’ll only have 8 or 9 units each)</p>
<p>As an engineering major, I think it will enrich and diversify my resume. Not to mention I’ve always wanted to work in Japan.</p>
<p>James: For YOU yes, because you took Linear Algebra at Mesa. For me, I’m starting out at Calculus 3 after transferring, and at UCSD you have to take Calculus 3 before you can take Linear Algebra. :(</p>
<p>I think in this economy, it’s more about knowing multiple ways of making your degree/experience applicable. I’m studying bioengineering but I’m not eliminating the possibilities of doing many other things as a graduate. Maybe lead my own firm, or travel to Japan and do research there, or work in manufacturing in Europe. Who knows? I need to minor in something to enrich my resume.</p>
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<p>Brush up on your keigo! :)</p>
<p>I lived there for 4 years as a software developer and worked with many engineers and scientists. It was a hell of a lot of fun, but you won’t be paid nearly as well as you would in the US.</p>
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<p>Ah that sucks. Yeah, it pays to get as much of the lower-division stuff out of the way at the CC before you transfer. That’s kind of a shame they require Lin. Alg. after Calc 3 because that means you get introduced to stuff like div and grad in Calc 3. IMO Lin. Alg. has a more gentle introduction to it and a few other concepts. There’s stuff about Diff Eq. in Lin. Alg. too, but they don’t require 20D first. :/</p>
<p>I have to take 20E at UCSD (this summer) so I feel your pain.</p>
<p>@Essenar</p>
<p>I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from pursuing their passion. All I’m saying is that people need to be more proactive and know what lies at the end of the tunnel instead of having that sense of entitlement. In this world, it’s always about who you know. One of my friends from high school majored in English at CSU Long Beach and now works at Ernst and Young, one of the big 4 accounting firms, in their HR department; a position many business/econ majors would kill for. She got the job via internship that her boyfriend’s dad vouched for her. My brother’s fraternity bro majored in integrative bio @ Cal and now works for Genentech making 60k with very nice benefits. He got the job through a fraternity alumni connection. </p>
<p>Of course there’s also the unfortunate liberal arts or science major that ends up working retail/fast food but sometimes life is a game of luck. Some people have to stack the odds in their favor, like what I’m trying to do now. When it comes to paying off bills/loans, that’s usually when reality sinks in.</p>
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<p>Very true. Your science or engineering degree provides you with a great background for securing your first job (regardless of whether or not it is in the sciences), but after that it’s all networking and experience.</p>
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<p>I transferred from CC with a 3.9 gpa and now maintaining a 4.0 as a bio and business economics double major. My study habits have not really changed much cause the classes I took at CC were very rigorous. I would say my schedule is even more relaxed than it was when I was in CC. My classes at CC were longer, had homework, and a majority of the classes included long labs. I am happy with the 50 min lectures, no labs, and usually no homework just midterms/finals (I am a good test taker). The only turn off are the huge classes and less 1 on 1 attention from professors.</p>
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<p>I agree with ixr. People have to really question if college is really worth it now a days. If I had to pay 25k a year in tuition just for my degree, I would say no. But luckily I was offered a good financial aid package where I get free tuition and extra money for books/gas/etc so I am happy 
. But really if I had to pay 100k for a degree, I would NOT major in liberal arts. I would probably major in engineering, nursing, or business just make sure that my ed was worth it. Other wise you are better off not going through the trouble just to be in debt to end up with low paying job.</p>
<p>The thing that is wrong with society is that we are making it a REQUIREMENT to go to college. The societal pressure now a days is that you either go to college or you will be treated like a 2nd hand citizen. I don’t like this idea. Loan companies and diploma mills know this and are really taking advantage of people. They promote education blah blah blah when they just secretly just want your money. Well that is my take on things. </p>
<p>Also there is degree inflation going on. Getting a bachelors is just not as valuable as it used to be in the old days. A bachelors degree now a days is becoming the new high school diploma. It has very little value cause everyone has one.</p>
<p>Last week i was really stressing out about all of this. I have a heavy passion for chemistry, and chose to pursue that major when i transfer to UCLA. my problem was that i didn’t want to major in chemistry if i was going to end up homeless after college, and so i saw myself forcing an interest in chemical engineering. </p>
<p>after a weeks worth of research i was set on pursuing chemical engineering instead, but i was very unhappy. i felt like i was ditching my passion just to major in something that seemed financially logical. after talking to a bunch of people, and even talking to the Head director of RnD at my current job (ASP), they reassured me to follow my passion and to make something of it.</p>
<p>i plan to go further than a BS in chemistry, up to a PhD in Chemistry, or even Pharmacy or Graduate school for ChemE (if i gain interest).</p>
<p>Can someone please reinforce this recommendation of following your passion and working hard to make something of it?</p>
<p>this thread has gotten me a little shaky…</p>
<p>Here’s my two cents:</p>
<p>Yes, it is great to follow your passion–following the “financially reasonable” route is logical as well but make sure you can actually STAND what you’re doing bc you may be doing something related to it for the rest of your life. </p>
<p>There is that cliche of following your passion but make sure that while you are pursuing your degree, you make yourself MARKETABLE. after all, a crucial task after college will be finding a job. I heard of someone here majoring in math but worked on his job skills and got hired at Google later bc of them. So yes, it is great to follow your passion, which is chemistry, but you must also remember to do activities that will be noteworthy to your employers/grad school admission staff.</p>