<p>"And not having to worry about losing a job or paying for the bills and provide for their families.</p>
<p>Besides, what else CAN you do if you are an immigrant? Engineering, medicine, and business are the jobs of the 20th century. Many minorities choose practical jobs because that's what they came to this country for: opportunity that their countries didn't have. These jobs exist and pay well because there is a demand for them because they benefit society and, most importantly, exist in part because of ECONOMICS. I used to live in student housing with my parents and, believe me, it sucked. I can only imagine a world in which hardworking minorities choose joke majors like English and Philosophy if it's their passion."</p>
<p>How is it that if they choose "joke" majors like english, philosophy that they have to worry about losing jobs or providing for their families? they CAN still find jobs with those majors, it just that it may be unlikely to deal directly with their major. For instance, physics majors often end up finding employment as engineers. If those with "joke" majors find jobs directly related to their field of study, say become professors, even at a community college, that should provide enough income to stay above the poverty level. </p>
<p>I can understand how NEW immigrants would want to pursue jobs becuase of the money, in fact thats what my parents did. But students who are 2nd, 3rd,... generation but are part of racial minority and whose parents make steady income should by then be able to pursue what they want.</p>
<p>Where you go to college is much more important. And I study at lowly McGill, so I'm majoring in economics w/a minor in math. So I agree, if you go to Podunk U, you better study something useful and get a good GPA.
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<p>This is the crux of the matter. It all comes down to what kind (tier?) of university you're attending.</p>
<p>i guess my major point here is that it is hard for me to believe that ALL of the indian people (esp. ones who grew up in america and parents have good jobs etc) are really going into these fields b/c they truly love it. if you find the human body and how it works really interesting and thats why youre going into medicine, kudos to you. but seriously all of the indians that i know personally that are part of our generation are going into one of these fields, and it just makes me think that they all cant be doing it for the right reasons. sure, i understand the viewpoint that you need a practical job that will get you through life, but i think its different for each case. if you are becoming a doctor just for money, i dont think its a good idea. you are dealing w/ people when they feel like crap and are most vulnerable, and they dont want an insincere doctor whos just waiting to get out of the office/hospital and get paid. if you are a piano prodigy (and loved playing piano) and then decide to give that up b/c its "impractical" and then struggle through science classes for med school, what good does that do? you had a god-given gift that you gave up for something that you didnt love as much.
i dont mean to offend anyone, im just sharing my opinion...</p>
<p>Well, many Asian (and international parents in general) came from poverty and only want the best, most secure lives for their children. And from their experience, business, medicine, and law are the only way for their children to have a nice lifestyle making great money.</p>
<p>And prestige is deserved through their through hard work unlike other people who become prestigious by being born into an elite social class.</p>
<p>My dad's parents were farmers, my mom's parents were factory workers, and I'll be damned if I can't get a prestigious job given my intelligence and hard work.</p>
<p>Well, many Asian (and international parents in general) came from poverty and only want the best, most secure lives for their children. And from their experience, business, medicine, and law are the only way for their children to have a nice lifestyle making great money.</p>
<p>I think prestige is a very important factor for Asian families, so money is not the sole reason for pursuing those careers.</p>
<p>My dad's parents were farmers, my mom's parents were factory workers, and I'll be damned if I can't get a prestigious job given my intelligence and hard work.</p>
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<p>The same ideas hold for me. My parents are immigrants and are not university (American)-educated. They expect a lot from me.</p>
<p>Some of you need to stop putting down English majors. If it wasn't for us, those Engineering books you read for your classes wouldn't be nearly as helpful. </p>
<p>On top of that, I think it's funny that generations of Asians and Indians are going into those fields. I mean, they're good fields that pay a lot of money, but at the same time...they're oversaturating those fields. They're only making it harder for themselves.</p>
<p>I wouldn't be surrprised if in the next few years the median salaries for those jobs goes down.</p>
<p>There is actually a shortage of engineers in the U.S. right now. I've worked in a few places, and they have all complained about the shortage of quality engineers. I've heard that the number of law and/or med school graduates is actually controlled by their respective professional associations. Perhaps someone can confirm or reject this. </p>
<p>You hit the nail on the head. But wanting your next generation to be highly qualified in top disciplines is not limited to Asian parents that are not educated.</p>
<p>Both me and my hubby are Asian parents with graduate education in this country. We too try to influence our S. Not so much because of money.</p>
<p>It's more because we would like to see him do as well as us or better than us educationally.</p>
<p>Education stays with you. You get your MD degree or a PhD, and it will nurture you for life. In today's world of divorce, husbands and wives can come and go, children get older and fly the coop......but your education will stay with you and help you for life. </p>
<p>This is generally why Asian parents (Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and oriental) push their kids to achieve the most in their careers.</p>
<p>I spell out Asian above since I notice that most Americans don't know that Indians, Pakistani, and Bangladesh are actually ASIANS too......</p>
<p>
[quote]
Some of you need to stop putting down English majors. If it wasn't for us, those Engineering books you read for your classes wouldn't be nearly as helpful.
[/quote]
Not that I have anything against English majors, but those textbooks are written mostly by people who have PhDs in the math, sciences, and engineering, not some guy with a BA in English.</p>
<p>It's funny how people always gang up on the English and Philosophy majors. Engineering or Medicine is not for everyone and if everyone started to major in English or Philosophy (or any major in the College of Liberal Arts) how would Borders and/or Starbucks fill their workforce? When I want a recommendation for a good book or a damn good cup of coffee it's the English and Philosophy majors who save the day. Thank God for these self-sacrificing individuals. God bless them.</p>