Stereotypes -- 2

College Life
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<p>Stereotypes exist for a reason -- there is a truth behind them. They may be largely exaggerated and misleading, but normally it is beneficial to know what stereotypes exist and, more importantly, why.</p>

<p>I am speaking as a high school senior about common conceptions and stereotypes at college, especially with regards to the "type" or personality of people that study specific fields, be them law, medicine, business, etc.</p>

<p>From your experiences, what "type" of people tend to go into certain fields? I've often heard that engineers are "their own breed." I believe that knowing some of these stereotypes would be beneificial in helping me to decide some classes that I might want to explore.</p>

<p>If anyone has anything to offer, such as "shy bookworms do this, workaholics do this, the party'ers do this, etc.," it would be appreciated . Or anything related to this. I am assuming a connection between personality and likely career here.</p>

<p>**NOTE:</p>

<p>This thread is intended to remain on topic. I ask that people look a little further than the title of this post and try to remain on topic and perhaps provide some helpful advice and beneficial discussion for me on this.</p>

<p>Thank you for your cooperation.**</p>

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<p>Let me tell you why you are getting so few responses: The answers you seek can be directly inferred from the responsibilities of the job. If you're an engineer and you're crunching numbers all day, you might want to know a little math. If you're a primary care doctor and you're meeting patients, you might want to have some communication skills. You don't need us to tell you that.</p>

<p>Even though you think the discussion on your first thread has gone off topic, it really hasn't. The point of the discussion is that stereotypes really limit you as a person. You have obviously failed to grasp this fact. You want stereotypes? Here are some stereotypes: Engineers are anti-social. Does that mean if you're a social person you can't be an engineer? Stereotype #2: There are very few women in engineering. Does that mean if you're a woman you can't be an engineer? A little research will provide you with the answers you need, not some stereotypes.</p>

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<p>Yes, my previous thread did go off-topic. I did not ask for the impacts of stereotypes in people's lives, how accurate stereotypes are, or the fact that Asians do well in math. On the contrary, in my post I specifically addressed the problems associated with stereotyping, in order that people would try to discuss what I intended. Instead, as I presumed, I got the inevitable discussion on harmful stereotypes, wrong stereotypes, etc. </p>

<p>A little research I planned to do was to come here to this forum, College Life, to get some information from the people experiencing it first hand. Don't you think it would be unwise to research this topic in any other way?</p>

<p>I do not know the responsibilities of the many diverse jobs that people study for in college, thus I did not pose the question, "What is the nature of the work and the responsibilities that it entails for all jobs studied for in college?"</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks for the input. So, besides engineers, what types of people do most majors attract, such as business/law/medicine? I am interested to see if there is any major difference in the nature of the work that would attract some people but not others to these separate fields..</p>

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<p>I don't think that the forum got off-hand at all it was just that what you wanted was really vague and now I understand. I had a seminar on personalities and it is true that most of the same type of personality will pick a major or job. There are four types (you have a primary and a secondary to hopefully balance out weaknesses of the primary) Red, Blue, White, and Yellow. There is a motive for each personality. Red - Power, Blue - Intimacy, White - Peace, Yellow - Fun. Reds seem to go for careers in politics and business. Blues for social positions like teachers and social workers. Whites - engineering (actually I forgot), and Yellow - social positions and entertainment. Primary Yellow is the most rare personality.</p>

<p>I fit under primary yellow (secondary blue). When I said I was majoring in chemical engineering, the lady presenting was taken aback. I admitted that I wasn't like most other engineers and when it came to problems (phys class, chem class) I usually thought about them in a completely different way than my collegues. She told what I said resonated very much with her and most engineers are red or white. She also said that every major will not have the same type of people but most have similar personality attributes that makes them more likely to pick it. She said she has not met many primary yellow engineers and said she would be interested in how my career went there. (Most primary yellows like entertainment positions and really my true passion is to direct films and act. But I still like chem so.)</p>

<p>Now I know I am smart enough to become and engineer. I may be one of the few of my personality types going for the engineer position. The reason stereotypes do exist is that yes many do follow but their are exceptions. Does this make this harder for me? Yes b/c I see the normal problems presented in a completely different way. This can come as an advantage eventually when my creativity may help in a way that was never thought of before but now the problems should be looked at in one way not a more complex one (especially on an exam). So I guess I'm trying to say that personalities don't come with set boxes. The may come with some dotted lines but you can always progress outside of them. And there are many people who do. Those are the people who provide the difference. Those are the people that say I'm different but I don't care and I can do the job and get it done. I hope that answers some things.</p>

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<p>C0MPU73R 5C137157S 5P3AK 1N L337.</p>

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<p>Here is what I've observed on my floor of about 30 people.
Engineers range from the workaholic to the hippie guy who happens to be good at physics. Most social people plan to major in Political Science, Psychology or Business. We have a pretty odd guy who loves Math; he's a bit socially-impaired, but a loveable character. A crazy outgoing girl who's majoring in architecture. Several serious people majoring in Pre-Med (Bio and such). I'd say pre-med has the most variety because some people are doing it to please their parents, some really want to help others, and some are motivated to make a lot of money because their parents couldn't. The friends I have are all pretty social and fun-loving people, but their majors vary considerably (comp sci, engineering, environmental econ, business, molecular biology, history, math, art). In the end, a little social ability and a lot of intelligence will take you a long way in any field.</p>

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<p>*I'd say pre-med has the most variety because some people are doing it to please their parents, some really want to help others, and some are motivated to make a lot of money because their parents couldn't. *</p>

<p>This is the one thing I absolutely despise about being pre-med. I can't believe that someone would go into medicine just for the money (or because their parents expect it of them)... IMHO, its really quite pathetic that so many people can be that shallow.</p>

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<p>What the heck is wrong with going into medicine just for the money? A lot of my friends are doing just that. I'm going into architecture because all the rock musicians I know are earning subminimum and I actually want to have food in the fridge. It's not 'shallow' or anything like that.</p>

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<p>A doctor that is in it purely for the money probably isn't a good one. Might as well be a lawyer. Those people that are not gone by taking the heavy science courses will probably be weeded out in med school.</p>

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<p>a doctor that is in it purely for the money can be a very good doctor. </p>

<p>doctor a cares only about money and is the best neurosurgeon in the country</p>

<p>doctor b cares about helping people but is the worst neurosurgeon in the country</p>

<p>so although money may be an unethical choice for going into medicine, everyone has a lust for it, and when someone declares this as their reason for going into medicine, they should not be criticized for everyone is greedy to some point.</p>

<p>(if you wanted to help people why not become a nurse or join the peace corps?)</p>

<p>just because someone has a desire for medicine only for the money doesn't mean that he will be a bad doctor</p>

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<p>a stereotype that is true is that equal employment especially in the math/science fields is very messed up.</p>

<p>now the first stipulation you must understand is that man and woman are equal from birth intellectually.</p>

<p>however, it is the way men are raised in this society versus how women are that changes how the brain thinks.</p>

<p>in general women are more compassionate, sentimental, and have that feminine characteristic, this is partially why you see so many women english leaning majors</p>

<p>versus men who are more amibitious, selfish?, overzealous and this makes them better at the maths and sciences.</p>

<p>now the president of harvard university is under criticism for saying that women should not be admitted into science/math programs without the proper credits (gpa, score wise etc).</p>

<p>I agree with him because the sole purpose for science and math is for the benefit of society.</p>

<p>If we allow women who are not qualified to go into engineering positions we are only stealing a position from another person who righteously deserves it.</p>

<p>if the woman however is qualified academically, then by all means she deserves the position but to give a woman who is interested in the sciences but has lower than average stats for a position is WRONG and harmful for the entire society.</p>

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<p>I agree with him because the sole purpose for science and math is for the benefit of society.</p>

<p>So philosophy, history, and other humanities are... not beneficial to society eh? Interesting...</p>

<p>versus men who are more amibitious, selfish?, overzealous and this makes them better at the maths and sciences.</p>

<p>Implying that there are no ambitious humanities majors (and no unambitious or selfish math/science majors)...</p>

<p>If we allow women who are not qualified to go into engineering positions we are only stealing a position from another person who righteously deserves it.</p>

<p>But men who are not qualified should be allowed into an engineering/math/science position?</p>

<p>::dumbfounded::
MMood, as a very motivated, intelligent, and male philosophy major (who apparently isn't going to benefit society in the least), I encourage you to rethink this very carefully. And with phrases like "english learning majors", you might want to look into one of those English classes yourself. ;)</p>

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<p>You know what I hate....</p>

<p>Why do so many people have a problem with people who want to be a doctor just for the money? If they do a good job and do everything correct, then who cares? I totally agree with MMood87....in the end, it is who ever does the better job, right?</p>

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<p>Because medicine is more than just a job - it is a profession, and one that deals with human lives. And it is one that requires good will and altruism, which is easily compromised by greed. Medicine should be about healing, not about making the most money.
As a healthcare provider myself, I make life-and-death decisions and have the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. For the less serious cases, just being able to help is reward enough. I love what I do, and would have no problem doing it for free. I look forward to med school, and sincerely hope that the people beside me in class will feel the same way I do.</p>

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<p>Although I personally plan my future around helping those who could not help themselves and don't really understand people who do things just for the money, that is how capitalism works. Because the profession pays so much, more people want to do it and we have a more qualified workforce in the profession overall.</p>

<p>Could you imagine if teachers were paid a lot? The quality of public education would skyrocket. Or if a cure for AIDS had more money-making potential than Viagra, we'd probably be a lot closer to finding</p>

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<p>icarus don't flatter yourself.</p>

<p>my english is well above average as demonstrated by my 760 on the verbal (100 percent on reading comprehension). this is a forum where everything is laid back so forgive me for not sticking a pine cone up my ass everytime i write informally. </p>

<p>You: So philosophy, history, and other humanities are... not beneficial to society eh? Interesting...</p>

<p>it is, but the sciences are the reason why WE HAVE THE HUMANITIES IN THE FIRST PLACE. I'm not going into specifics, you can figure htis one out by yourself.</p>

<p>versus men who are more amibitious, selfish?, overzealous and this makes them better at the maths and sciences.</p>

<p>You: Implying that there are no ambitious humanities majors (and no unambitious or selfish math/science majors)...</p>

<p>Me: look at the typical man and how he is raised. women are more affectionate and maternalistic then men are. women are raised to think this way not by force but naturally. i'm not saying all women are, but most women are more tolerant and aren't as "territorial" and aggressive as men are. </p>

<p>f we allow women who are not qualified to go into engineering positions we are only stealing a position from another person who righteously deserves it.</p>

<p>But men who are not qualified should be allowed into an engineering/math/science position?</p>

<p>Me: I was hoping i didn't need to explain this part which is easily implied. I wrote previous how women who are qualified academically obviously should be given the proper credits and positions they deserve. therefore, the same goes with men with lower ability and skill. So much goes for your amazing philosophy skills huh?</p>

<p>YOu:
MMood, as a very motivated, intelligent, and male philosophy major (who apparently isn't going to benefit society in the least), I encourage you to rethink this very carefully. And with phrases like "english learning majors", you might want to look into one of those English classes yourself. </p>

<p>I really don't think you're going to benefit society in the least because you'll be making 20,000 as a janitor come by graduation fool. Even as a philosophy major, i have yet to see any amazing rebuttals or statements of wisdom that make me or anyone else respect your opinions. All you do in your posts is bash other people's intellect when clearly this is a forum for opinions not for english grammar.</p>

<p>so icarus, hush up and be a good boy and philosophize why you have no friends</p>

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<p>"however, it is the way men are raised in this society versus how women are that changes how the brain thinks." </p>

<p>Brains of men and women work differently. Men tend to use more gray matter while women tend to use more white matter. Although women's brains are smaller in sizes, they have more connections (glial cells) to make up for it.</p>

<p>(You can think of glial cells as connecting various pieces of knowledge and formulating an idea or concept. On a different note, Einstein had a very high concentration of glial cells and astrocytes. Gosh, I can't remember where I read that from and I'm sorry I can't provide a more thorough tangent. :p)</p>

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<p>Going back to the topic, another thing with medicine is that people who originally enter med. school have all these plans for helping people in the congo or going on a crusade to help others.</p>

<p>by the time they graduate med. school do their residencies and finally get to practice they're about 30 years old.</p>

<p>that means 30 years of education, and still not in the work force, and they have a debt on average of about 200,000 dollars.</p>

<p>no wonder so many doctors forget their original intentions and have to start thinking about money.</p>

<p>then after gaining their licenses they can't just help everyone. do not forget about medical liability. doctors can pay up to 100,000 dollars a year just to save their asses. They can't just "help" anyone without fear of getting sued and losing their license permanently. Thus, the very people the doctor sets out to help screw the doctor in the end. </p>

<p>in our present state of conditions, this country cannot be an altruistic nation unless drastic changes are made regarding the regulations for medicine and the liabilities practitioners face. medical tort reform is the first step.</p>

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<p>crayon and icarus you guys missed the entire point in my argument.</p>

<p>are you blind or just stupid? I stated that women and men are equal intellectually from birth till death.</p>

<p>its how men and women are raised that patterns their type of thinking and rationality.</p>

<p>in NO WAY did i say women are stupider or not as able as men. i'm saying that a woman who is not academically competitive with other people in the sciences should not take the position of a more abled person. </p>

<p>and since society cannot exist without science (your liberal arts, icarus's philosophy, the very clothes you wear, the water you drink, the electricity you have, etc etc), it is imperative that only the qualified enter the field.</p>

<p>edit: crayon, i thought your post was being sarcastic, i didn't know that was actually true (that is if it is)</p>

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<p>Mood, I did read what you posted and I responded to what to what I wanted to respond to. Yes, environment does affect how you think. I agree to a certain extent. </p>

<p>It is true (my previous post).</p>