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Old 10-23-2017, 09:45 PM
 
387 posts, read 491,066 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector View Post
I'm not saying that the approach taken with some of the curriculum isn't flawed. I would say that, out of the 50 or so semester courses I had to take to obtain a BSEE with a CS minor, a solid 10 were irrelevant. I would also say that the curriculum involved in 20 out of the remaining 40 would likely never be learned outside of the classroom.

A liberal arts education is fine, if that's what you're into. I just don't believe that most who go that route have any real idea of why they're doing it -- and I'm not just singling out liberal arts degrees. I have a cousin who has a degree in biology. 10 years removed from college and she still can't justify the course of study.
Will as you know you could get a degree for nothing.
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:16 PM
 
4,361 posts, read 7,173,361 times
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Why would you?
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Old 10-24-2017, 04:46 AM
 
Location: Cleveland and Columbus OH
11,052 posts, read 12,434,904 times
Reputation: 10385
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector View Post
I'm not saying that the approach taken with some of the curriculum isn't flawed. I would say that, out of the 50 or so semester courses I had to take to obtain a BSEE with a CS minor, a solid 10 were irrelevant. I would also say that the curriculum involved in 20 out of the remaining 40 would likely never be learned outside of the classroom.

A liberal arts education is fine, if that's what you're into. I just don't believe that most who go that route have any real idea of why they're doing it -- and I'm not just singling out liberal arts degrees. I have a cousin who has a degree in biology. 10 years removed from college and she still can't justify the course of study.
In addition to college not being necessary for many/most people, I also think that many/most people don't really want to be there in the first place, they just do it because that's what you're supposed to do.

Biology is easily the most useless scientific subject to study in terms of career prospects.
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Old 10-24-2017, 07:18 AM
 
11,610 posts, read 10,423,272 times
Reputation: 7217
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjimmy24 View Post
Biology is easily the most useless scientific subject to study in terms of career prospects.


By "useless," do you mean job prospects and the economic utility of the degree?

Many medical fields and other jobs, including in the food processing and pharma industries, require biology training. Many biology majors pursue further training to qualify for jobs in the medical and other industries.

The problem in many technical fields, including accounting, is that many employers want graduates with good grades and demonstrated knowledge of the field. Sadly, some persons graduate with degrees but, lacking demonstrated competence, aren't of interest to many employers.

E.g., my hunch is that physics majors, and especially astrophysics majors, have fewer jobs prospects than biology majors. And then there is paleontology.
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Old 10-24-2017, 07:44 AM
 
Location: Cleveland and Columbus OH
11,052 posts, read 12,434,904 times
Reputation: 10385
Quote:
Originally Posted by WRnative View Post


By "useless," do you mean job prospects and the economic utility of the degree?

Many medical fields and other jobs, including in the food processing and pharma industries, require biology training. Many biology majors pursue further training to qualify for jobs in the medical and other industries.

The problem in many technical fields, including accounting, is that many employers want graduates with good grades and demonstrated knowledge of the field. Sadly, some persons graduate with degrees but, lacking demonstrated competence, aren't of interest to many employers.

E.g., my hunch is that physics majors, and especially astrophysics majors, have fewer jobs prospects than biology majors. And then there is paleontology.
It's very well known that Biology degrees on average yield the smallest STEM salaries. Physics is also not all that great. The fact that some people make big money after studying biology (and then going to med school, perhaps) doesn't change anything. Some women are taller than some men too.


https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/stem-...higher-salary/

What's Your Science Degree Worth? | Science | AAAS

https://www.theatlantic.com/business...rrated/279931/

STEM Majors Earn A Lot More Money After Graduation - Business Insider

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-n...ake-big-bucks/

I'm not saying nobody should study biology. I'm just pointing out that it's the STEM major of lowest reward.
IMO the post you responded to was thoroughly uncontroversial.

Last edited by bjimmy24; 10-24-2017 at 07:55 AM..
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Old 10-24-2017, 11:45 AM
 
11,610 posts, read 10,423,272 times
Reputation: 7217
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjimmy24 View Post
It's very well known that Biology degrees on average yield the smallest STEM salaries. Physics is also not all that great. The fact that some people make big money after studying biology (and then going to med school, perhaps) doesn't change anything. Some women are taller than some men too.


https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/stem-...higher-salary/

What's Your Science Degree Worth? | Science | AAAS

https://www.theatlantic.com/business...rrated/279931/

STEM Majors Earn A Lot More Money After Graduation - Business Insider

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-n...ake-big-bucks/

I'm not saying nobody should study biology. I'm just pointing out that it's the STEM major of lowest reward.
IMO the post you responded to was thoroughly uncontroversial.
In many STEM fields, higher salaries are available only after earning graduate degrees, and you can't earn the graduate degrees without taking the undergraduate classes.

<< According to their data, only 51 percent of students who enrolled in medical school in 2012 majored in biological sciences....

Majoring in the biological sciences is desirable because not only is it interesting, it is also very convenient since most biological science majors have already incorporated all the medical school prerequisites.>>

https://www.usnews.com/education/blo...medical-school
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Old 10-24-2017, 12:25 PM
 
4,361 posts, read 7,173,361 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjimmy24 View Post
In addition to college not being necessary for many/most people, I also think that many/most people don't really want to be there in the first place, they just do it because that's what you're supposed to do.
Without question. Too many also believe their degree is a ticket to a good salary which is usually not the case. It might be a ticket in the door somewhere, but you still have to prove your worth.

Quote:
Biology is easily the most useless scientific subject to study in terms of career prospects.
As a BS, I'd tend to agree. It's far too general. Similar to something like PoliSci or English, you have to follow it up with a specialization. Of course, this means more schooling.
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Old 10-24-2017, 12:30 PM
 
4,361 posts, read 7,173,361 times
Reputation: 4866
Quote:
Originally Posted by WRnative View Post
In many STEM fields, higher salaries are available only after earning graduate degrees, and you can't earn the graduate degrees without taking the undergraduate classes.

<< According to their data, only 51 percent of students who enrolled in medical school in 2012 majored in biological sciences....

Majoring in the biological sciences is desirable because not only is it interesting, it is also very convenient since most biological science majors have already incorporated all the medical school prerequisites.>>

https://www.usnews.com/education/blo...medical-school
Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is the point. Medical school expense and completion is an ocean away from a biology undergrad. The biology degree is essentially a prerequisite to something else entirely. It is not worth much on its own whereas an engineering or computer science degree usually is.
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Old 10-24-2017, 12:35 PM
 
387 posts, read 491,066 times
Reputation: 294
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector View Post
Why would you?
Read all the replies below.
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Old 10-24-2017, 12:43 PM
 
Location: Cleveland and Columbus OH
11,052 posts, read 12,434,904 times
Reputation: 10385
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector View Post
Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is the point. Medical school expense and completion is an ocean away from a biology undergrad. The biology degree is essentially a prerequisite to something else entirely. It is not worth much on its own whereas an engineering or computer science degree usually is.
This was the point (of course, clearly). Thanks for your understanding!
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