Post: #51

^^Apologies, thanks for the correction.

Post: #52

I think with STEM you have to be very careful to ensure that there are some real prospects out there once you graduate in your field. Non specific degrees have reduced in value hugely over the last 20 years and for folks coming out with say, a mathematics degree, it can feel like a huge amount of time and youth wasted when employers aren't bending to shake your hand on graduation like you were promised in school. It's a huge gamble to take on a 'hard' STEM degree just for the hope that it will land you on a grad scheme at a later date.


Most science degrees aren't worth shit either. Any 'bio' degree usually enables you to a life of PHD work, comission sales, or pipetting samples in a laboratory for little more than minimum wage. I know plenty of guys with physics degrees also who basically had to start over after graduation.

Engineering degrees tend to be best because they're generally formed around actual industry practices; with many courses providing experience in work placements and basically training for the job you're going to be doing.

Chemical Engineering - yes
Petroleum Engineering - yes
Computer Science - yes
Medicine - yes
Dentistry - yes

Maybe a few others that I can't think of. But for pretty much all else, you're being put through the ringer, likely surrounded by nerdy guys and zero girls. I don't think it's necessarily because STEM degrees are so 'hard' that people drop out - it's because they can be quite miserable and people realise there is likely to be zero pay off.

Personally if I could advise folk I would say not to go to generic university, unless you can attend somewhere so prestigious that it guarantees grad interviews.The few guys I knew who went for employer paid training at 16 are doing bits now. University paid for and basically 6 years ahead of graduates trying to get into their workplace.

Post: #53

(11-28-2018 06:28 AM)duedue Wrote:  What is your career in?

I work in the STEM myself and it has definitely given my an advantage however what I don't like about it is that it's not so easy to be entrepreneurial with your STEM skills. I've also always worked in the academia and would like to switch to corporates (or better start my own business) to have more options and a better salary.

Mining/oil/gas.

Best way to go entrepreneurial and escape the crushing hours is to go consultant and form your own company.

You can then set your projects, income and working conditions - if you are good enough.

When on a project, you just can not escape the long hours, difficult work and usually in remote shitty locations... but you get paid the big coin for it, and it makes you tougher and normal life is easy and relaxed after a hard swing.

Post: #54

(11-29-2018 06:49 AM)mr-ed209 Wrote:  I think with STEM you have to be very careful to ensure that there are some real prospects out there once you graduate in your field. Non specific degrees have reduced in value hugely over the last 20 years

Very true. I am kind of in a very similar spot right now and I have quickly learned first-hand how crueless getting a prospective job in a life sciences / pharma industry is. That said, I eventually managed to get one after +- 100 applications. I turned it down in the end in order to continue with doing masters, but life would surely be much easier with a more specific Bio degree.

Still, in the midst of useless degrees having one in STEM is surely a top-pick anyway as it has lots of uses. But you can't hope the job will fall right in your hand after graduation if you didn't get acquire necessary skillset during college that will right away allow you to perform in your job. You have to do something, that will let you stand out in the crowd yourself if you even want to be considered.

And yeah, the typical laboratory work is heavily underpaid. If you don't have PhD and you plan on reaching a financially comfortable situation, well, better to use your degree in some other field; requalify, and learn a new skillset with your STEM degree acting as a supportive element to your career.

That's how I see it, at least for now. We will see in two years, I guess.

And well, that applies mostly for young guys I believe, but our perspective changes very quickly. Just 6 months ago I still thought landing an E/L job in relevant industry is much easier task than it actually is. Two years ago I didn't even think of finding a job and was doing shitty jobs just for some extra money with much less worry, and 3.5 years ago -- so right before starting University, I didn't give a fuck where to go and my life relvolved around hitting gym, going out and playing video games with my high school friends. Rapid change in life goals and overall perspective.

That applies to most people I guess. Hardly anyone thinks through their career option, what they would be good at and what kind of life they want to live when they are not even in their 20s. I would probably study a bit more and try my chances in Medicine or at least something much more specific if I were to go back in time.

Anyway, I believe it's mostly YOU -- not the degree, that matters the most. Even if you tend to make a shitty choice, you can still think of something to get you closer to the life you want to live. Thing is (another observation I have made), most people are not willing to put in the extra work and are fine with settling for a soul-draining middle-wage corporate career with the hopes of getting promoted by the time they are 40s to have a more luxury, once a year two weeks vacations