Forbes: The Most Lucrative College Majors

<p>^^^And many of the hires are degreed engineers.</p>

<p>Engineering, the practical choice.</p>

<p>Engineering, the mindless choice.</p>

<p>explain, chris?</p>

<p>Yeah, that doesn't even make sense.</p>

<p>It seems like everyone goes into college wanting to be an engineering major, it's the new pre-med and pre-law. Whether they know what it entails or not, they know it supposedly pays good money so they declare themselves an engineering major. And usually get praised for it too.</p>

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It seems like everyone goes into college wanting to be an engineering major, it's the new pre-med and pre-law.

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You're wrong. Engineering enrollment is at a low level. Pre-med & pre-law certainly are not.</p>

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Whether they know what it entails or not, they know it supposedly pays good money so they declare themselves an engineering major.

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Most people don't know it's as hard as it is, I'll agree. Doesn't mean it's mindless. It means that it's a hard major.</p>

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And usually get praised for it too.

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Because it's hard.</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure a lot of engineers are actually passionate about what they do, though I'd agree that some enroll in the program for the money. In any case, I don't find it surprising that they are paid well and praised, since their work tends to be very difficult and often socially important.</p>

<p>If students choose engineering without a sense of the rigor of the courses, many will not stay in the program. </p>

<p>The attrition rate for engineers at S's college is significant...don't have the numbers at hand to substantiate, sorry.</p>

<p>edit: Just did a very quick google search: several of the papers I looked at cited attrition rates in the 50% range.</p>

<p>The attrition rate is exactly what I'm talking about. So many people don't think about going into engineering, they just do it. Why should they be praised for that?</p>

<p>There are lots of other important jobs to be filled. I'm sick of the mentality that you're worthless if you don't become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer.</p>

<p>Hasn't Engineering Enrollment been falling across the country for a few years now?</p>

<p>Chris: I don't think you're socially worthless</p>

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I think the Computer Engineering group is misleading. It does not differentiate computer hardware design or computer software engineering. I have the impression that salary for computer software engineering raises faster than other majors although the starting salary may be lower.

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</p>

<p>These numbers are simply averages for a given major. Graduates of a given major will go into many different types of jobs, but that is not what this is measuring.</p>

<p>Well, the ones who will eventually graduated are most likely the ones who wanted to do engineering from the beginning. The attrition rate probably also depend largely on the individual college and the student distribution.</p>

<p>I don't feel most of the US has the mentality that you're worthless if you don't become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. That is probably better describes CC. I although I am going into Engineering ( cuz i love to make things), a lot of my friends are choosing various routes like environmentalist, artists, biology majors, teachers, etc, etc. They are even the stereotypical asian's whose parents are suppose to only let them be doctor, lawyer, or engineer.</p>

<p>Anyways, I would like to mention a few other perks of majoring in engineering, it's not THAT uncommon for new engineer graduates to find starting jobs with $80+ salary, you do have to be close to the top of your class though. Summer internships are widely available for a lot of engineering students. The paying can be as high as $30+/ hour and you get a lot of hands on experience that will help you lots down the road after you graduate.</p>

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So many people don't think about going into engineering, they just do it. Why should they be praised for that?

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</p>

<p>Maybe you and I have different experiences, but many people I know seem to have a genuine interest in engineering. Some of them make it, some simply can't and find something else. Either way, you can't blame them for trying. It would be mindless of people, though, to enroll in engineering simply for the money. </p>

<p>I think many people would hate to live in a world of just doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Other jobs might not have the prestige of, say, lawyers, but I think they are, or at least should be, appreciated.</p>

<p>Did I miss it or was the philosophy major not on this list?</p>

<p>So apparently Chemistry majors don't make much? Research and teaching just doesn't pay...</p>

<p>well you can't make much from Chemistry right out of college
most chem majors go through grad school then PhD programs.
But you can get 6 digit salaries with a PhD in chemistry, might take a couple years though.</p>

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The attrition rate is exactly what I'm talking about. So many people don't think about going into engineering, they just do it. Why should they be praised for that?

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Because they are attempting to go into a major that is universally known as being difficult?</p>

<p>I didn't realize engineering majors were heaped praise. I thought engineering was always looked down upon as nerds.</p>

<p>the data favors engineers because it excludes anyone who got a higher degree (JD, MBA, PhD), whereas many engineers just stick with their bachelors. an econ degree who goes on to get an MBA is going to be making a ton more, but is excluded from this survey.</p>