<p>It’s not “STEM in general.” These days, it’s certain kinds of engineering, computer science, and high-level math that seem to represent a kind of golden ticket upon graduation.</p>
<p>But one of the reason there’s so much demand for EECS types now is because we essentially slaughtered a whole generation of them a decade ago. I hope it doesn’t happen again.</p>
<p>I remember interviewing law students in 2004. Every one of them was interested in IP law, and had had a great job at a tech company before going to law school (because there were no more great jobs at tech companies). Kids I knew who graduated in 2000 and took great jobs with princely compensation get laid off within a month of starting (if they even got to start) – just enough time to spend money on moving and to sign a lease on an expensive apartment that couldn’t be re-let because all the other people who would have wanted to live there had just lost their jobs, too.</p>