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I think the issue these days is that it's so hard for young people to tell what will be useful 4+ years from now. For example, with nursing, I know it's really competitive to get into the legit nursing programs. From what I've been hearing, most hospitals are starting to require a BSN, so it's not even just as simple as getting the 3 years for the RN anymore (once you have the prereqs to get yourself into the RN program in the first place.)
In the other "hot" fields, so many people are going into those programs that there ends up being a glut of graduates and the competition for the jobs available by the time the students graduate 4-6 years later that those majors aren't so economically useful anymore either.
I think the issue these days is that it's so hard for young people to tell what will be useful 4+ years from now. For example, with nursing, I know it's really competitive to get into the legit nursing programs. From what I've been hearing, most hospitals are starting to require a BSN, so it's not even just as simple as getting the 3 years for the RN anymore (once you have the prereqs to get yourself into the RN program in the first place.)
In the other "hot" fields, so many people are going into those programs that there ends up being a glut of graduates and the competition for the jobs available by the time the students graduate 4-6 years later that those majors aren't so economically useful anymore either.
Petroleum engineering became very popular during the oil boom. Texas A&M saw the bust coming and reduced the number of people it admitted. It's happened before that petroleum engineers and geologists were struggling to find jobs during a previous oil bust.
Very interesting conversation. We have a 16 year old daughter so I am e-mailing alot of the links to her. We are gently guiding her towards a career in Medicine (either on the MD or reearch side), but getting a STEM degree as an undergrad so if life hits her hard before completing grad school she can get decent employment.
I started life wanting to be a classical musician (trumpet player). As I was starting college as a music major I was meeting so many talented players who were just scraping by financially in their 40s. I just didn't want that.
So I retrenched and went into Mechanical Engineering instead. Now 2/3 of the way through my career I make a decent living (around $200k) and even though I'm not overly passionate about it, I like what I do generally.....but make no mistake,it feels like a job.
No regrets here, but very much admire the great musicians that stuck with it.
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