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earn a degree from a reputable school
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<p>What is an example of a reputable school?</p>
<p>I mean, I just don't see the point of going to school if I'm just going to make 60k a year for the rest of my life. My parents make that much and one of them didn't even go to college while the other just went to night school.
It's not like I have anything to present to the table either.</p>
<p>-"According to that study (which is obviously not the first nor the last study on the subject), the top three careers basically require a strong mathematics background if not a mathematics major proper. Probability is a senior-level course, the application of which finds quite a bit of work in insurance and the public sector."</p>
<p>I know math majors who work in the insurance industry who told me that the math they use is basic and minimal, not the type of intricate math only a math major could do.</p>
<p>-"Mathematicians are also heavily involved in the sciences. My calculus professor modeled bacterial movement largely because biologists did not have the mathematics nor the technical expertise to do so themselves."</p>
<ol>
<li>Your Calculus professor has a PhD in math.</li>
<li>You are talking about a one time gig.</li>
</ol>
<p>-"Further, mathematics is widely perceived as a difficult major and shows employers that you have the motivation to get through (what is perceived as) a challenging curriculum."</p>
<p>Depending on the person, math can be one of the hardest or one of the easiest majors there are. My guess is that the people who will be impressed by your degree in math are those who are not math oriented; they are the ones who might be inclined to think you are smart and offer you job, but one that perhaps has little to do with math. Those who are naturally inclined towards math, those who can give you jobs where a strong command of math is necessary, will be less impressed by your degree in math, and might very well just hire a person with a degree relevant to the industry, be it a physics, computer science or engineering major, all of whom can do math.</p>
<p>they are all useless/useful in some way.</p>
<p>some are just "more useful" in the professional world.</p>
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some are just "more useful" in the professional world.
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<p>Which ones?</p>
<p>TA - I guess pre-professional majors like Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Advertising, Communications, Engineering, Nursing, Journalism (useless if you ask me - what do they teach you, how to write an article? anyone can do that, i've heard it's better to get a degree in what you're interesting in writing about, like politics, econ, IR, science, or get an english degree). that's why in some colleges, people studying Journalism are required to double major. I'm personally not into pre-professional majors, but I guess it's good for some people. I'm doing lib arts (econ major IR minor) for undergrad, then I'm getting a professional degree (JD). </p>
<p>Yep some people with college degrees make more money than those who do - that's because they, like your parents, are smart and motivated. but our generation is different from our parents - more of us have/will have college degrees, making it more competitive. A BS/BA is a good idea if you ask me, as it will make you more marketable in the future. previous generations had it easier because not as many went to college so it was easier to be successful without a degree.</p>
<p>Business. You go into a business major in order to get a field in a company (duh) but they teach you diddly squat. I see all sorts of pricks go into a business major thinking that they'll make tons of money when they don't really have any knowledge. </p>
<p>Econ is almost equivalent and you actually learn something beyond "Happy workers work harder!" "This is how to make a proposal" or "If you have more money coming in then going out, you're making what's called a profit".</p>
<p>And anyone who is going to get their panties in a wad ("OMG LYKE I'm a business major and it's nothing like that and actually useful blahblahblah") save your breath please. It's an opinion.</p>
<p>Perhaps this makes me a snot but I don't see why people with LA degrees think that they're so much more cultured than the sciences and maths majors. They seem to have a "Oh I know people think your degree is more useful than mine but ALAS, I am more CULTURED and a broader person than you!" attitude, which is annoying. </p>
<p>I just look at it as an average person could get the benefits of a LA degree without necessarily having majored in it. The analysis that I've seen doesn't strike me as anything particularly insightful or something that only someone with a degree in the subject could do. On the other hand, you pretty much need to go to college in order to learn the stuff you'd learn in a math or science degree. For example, I speak better German than most juniors actually majoring in the damn thing, and I've never taken a class on the subject in my life. Since I don't think I'm any smarter than they are, I can only wonder why they spent 3 years majoring in something that can be learned much, much faster. </p>
<p>Just my two cents, as always.</p>
<p>Miss Silvestris, I have to disagree about the Business/Econ thing. Business involves a bit of Econ - a Business major takes a few Econ classes, some basic macro/micro stuff. However, while Business involves some applied Econ principles (as well as applied Psych and other social sciences), it isn't "almost equivalent". It's like saying Physics and Math are the same because they both involve Math - sure, a Physics major will take some Math classes and apply Math to principles, but he is not a Math major. A Business major picks a specialty, like Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Advertising, Administration, etc. I'm an Econ major, and my boyfriend is majoring in Business Administration, and our classes are really different. His classes involve a lot of basic applied Micro principles, but it's not anywhere close to the more advanced theoretical Economics. Business is a bit of applied Econ, but has its own unique qualities/classes. They're related majors, but nowhere near equivalent, imo.</p>
<p>Every day my AP Bio teacher drops comments about "not majoring in useless subjects like English or History". All he talks about is the sciences and that is where all the jobs and money are. He went as far to just generally call people who don't major in science/technology stupid.</p>
<p>I am so fed up with his class, I can name hundreds of jobs you can do with a History degree. Major's don't define your job for life. Liberal Arts majors know how to write, communicate and think critically, which I consider the three most important things a person can know how to do in this fluctuating economy.</p>
<p>He is so full of himself and I really am annoyed with him.</p>
<p>^hahah where the jobs/money are? Funny coming from a High School teacher - a BS/BA in a science like Bio/Chem/Physics is pretty limiting. Engineering is where the money is, and Engineers are more limited in terms of salary potential than say, a Business major. People in my Liberal Arts major have a higher starting salary than an Engineer (according to a website I just googled but can't link to thanks to CC). </p>
<p>I don't understand why some people think other majors are useless - obviously we need all kinds of people for the world to function - journalists, teachers, musicians, scientists, engineers, nurses, artists, politicians, economists, businesspeople, psychologists, etc....duh :) your Bio teacher sounds pretty illogical - but what can you expect, he's just a teacher, not a scientist :D</p>
<p>I've heard of a "Family Studies" major or something along those lines which is basically college version of home ec...I think they have it at Bob Jones University.</p>
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Perhaps this makes me a snot but I don't see why people with LA degrees think that they're so much more cultured than the sciences and maths majors.
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<p>Really? In my case everyone only goes into LA because they don't know what else to do and because mommy and daddy expect them to be in college whether they truly belong there or not. What you're talking about is maybe 5% of LA majors and 99% of those reside in prestigious schools.</p>
<p>I actually envy people who are good at math or science because at least you actually have to be smart to get a degree in those majors and you have well paying jobs to look forward to. Who cares about culture? If one is really that talented in the arts, they wouldn't need college to succeed in it. Does anyone seriously think the greats went to college to enhance their craft?
We actually need math and science, without people with such abilities, the world would capsize on itself.</p>
<p>lololol.</p>
<p>I'm an LA major, and I don't care what other majors think of my choice, which makes me feel pretty free. Thankfully I decided on something which feels right to me, and that's all that matters.</p>
<p>Is your family wealthy? Will they find you a job once you graduate anyway? If so, of course you feel pretty free.</p>
<p>If one is majoring in something like Economics, that is hardly LA and is very practical as such knowledge is in high demand wherever you go anyway.</p>
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</p>
<p>Well, they may not be impressed in the sense of "I can't imagine someone can actually get through a math major," but the math major does show you have some serious reasoning ability. At a certain point in industry, it's a matter of adapting to what your employer wants, and a math major who learns the right skills has just as much of a shot as whatever other major. For instance, when it comes to learning some programming, etc.
I do know that this math major can help if you're doing BOTH CS and math or BOTH economics and math. </p>
<p>A pure, abstract math degree with nothing else, and no practical skills will obviously not get you a job in industry, but then again such people are likely not aiming for industry anyway. </p>
<p>In a sense, if you just want a job in industry, struggling through a hard CS program for instance may be a waste too, as it won't necessarily teach you what you need precisely. Lots of it is adaptation. This is why, studying a subject you like is really the best way to go -- and be flexible after that.</p>
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<p>I think what people mean by "useless" is really amounting to "does this major directly aid me in my career considerations." While the world needs mathematicians, the world seems to be very clear in saying it needs more engineers, and one has to be very, very, very top notch to have any shot at all at a career in pure sciences or the humanities in many cases (I'm referring to academia). I like your philosophy, which is to study what you like, but some people can't stomach studying what they like, and then not making a career out of it. If one is flexible, then studying what one likes is a good way to do things.</p>
<p>
Is your family wealthy? Will they find you a job once you graduate anyway? If so, of course you feel pretty free.</p>
<p>If one is majoring in something like Economics, that is hardly LA and is very practical as such knowledge is in high demand wherever you go anyway.
</p>
<p>Got one parent working who can handle a middle class lifestyle. Have no substantial connections in the area where I live/attend college.</p>
<p>My major isn't Econ. And I'm glad it's not. I've realized that I'm the kind of person who needs to feel passionate about something in order to succeed, and so I planned accordingly.</p>
<p>Unless this describes you: </p>
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one has to be very, very, very top notch to have any shot at all at a career in pure sciences or the humanities in many cases (I'm referring to academia)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Good luck with reality yanking the rug under your feet. It is common for college students to be idealistic and feel that they can do anything if they follow their dreams. Not so if you're the average person.</p>
<p>Oh, I'm fine without a rug, and I see the ceiling above me quite clearly. I thought a lot about different things before making my choice.</p>
<p>TA3021, "Average" in what way? Average in intelligence? Average in looks? Average in personality? Average in motivation? Average in determination and drive? Average in finances? Average in ability to communicate? Average in common sense? Average in "attained a degree from a public institution rather than a private institution"? </p>
<p>An average student in intelligence with great communication skills and personality will have better success in his field than an above average student in intelligence lacking communication skills and personality. Do you agree?</p>
<p>An above average student in intelligence with great communication skills and personality who earned a degree from a public institution will have better success in his field than an average student with average communication skills and personality and earned a degree from a private college. Agree or disagree?</p>
<p>Behind every major is the student who studied the major. The qualities that the student brings to the table during a job interview will be the determining factor. Employers are looking for the total package which includes intelligence, ambition, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, flexibility, work ethic, confidence, and outward presentation. Employers look for someone who will "fit" with the company. This "fit" is something that can't be quantified--it's a factor that isn't taught in one particular major. It's part of the character of the person that shines through between the lines of a resume.</p>
<p>the only useless majors are ones you have no interest in. If you plan to pursue something in the future, majoring in it is NEVER useless.</p>
<p>the end.</p>
<p>I just wanted to point at that math majors end up doing very well on tests like the LSAT and MCAT as well as the GRE. Math is more than just crunching numbers.
I would hardly say it is useless. In fact I would say that a math major could find a job in the financial world, or the economic world fairly easily. Especially because a lot of economics is based off of mathematical models. Most of the time people study across different fields of study. A math major isn't going to be completely immersed in all math classes over 4 years. They will also have other knowledge</p>