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What should I get a degree in?

hoopyfrood

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
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Going to college this fall. I have no idea what to get my degree in!

I want to do something interesting, but yeah... I've got nothin'. I like science and math, specifically astronomy and physics. But I'm also interested in making lots of money.

I know it's hard to tell someone what to do, but I need help deciding, I'm practically agonizing over what to do.

Just want some advice/suggestions on what to do in general.
 
Maybe a general arts degree to get used to college life etc
Second year pick a major or change schools
I say it shouldn't be that hard but I understand where your coming from

Big tip, don't think about money now. Think about studying something you will really enjoy and could be really good at

Good luck with your choice
 
What's a good degree for stuff in nanotechnology? Mechanical Engineering? ... maybe EECS?

That sounds somewhat interesting. So does space. An astronomer would be cool, but careers (I've checked out) seem boring and underpaid.

So I'm still at a loss. >.<

I try to ask myself... what would I do for free every day of the year? Nothing comes to mind. Maybe surfing/skiing... Yeah, good luck with a career in that. Maybe a degree in something useful while pursuing things that have no degree required. Blah!
 
I'd go into the college of engineering and stem off that.
Maybe try mechanical, and then aerospace or something.
 
So, you're going to school to get a degree that will make you a lot of money?

It's incredibly difficult to take courses that your heart may not be with fully, but if your heart is truly not in a degree, what's the point?
 
I said I'm interested in making lots of money. But don't assume that's the only reason I'm going to school. While money is a large motivation, I have higher priorities.

I value advice from people who have gone down similar paths that I may go down, and I'd like to hear their experiences. And while the idea of American materialism is bluntly printed on my brain, I have yet to see an ultimately unhappy rich person.

Hopefully that didn't seem too defensive. :P

I'm setting up a career for the rest of my life (I know I can change whenever, but still). So I want to be as informed as possible. :)
 
I didn't assume, that's why I asked. :)

Do you get good grades in science related courses? Are you currently in high school? The reason I ask is if you haven't been in college/university, your tastes may change when you get into university, as well as your priorities. If you're looking into the engineering track, a lot of science related courses are usually required for most engineering degrees, and you may find that you like physics or chemistry or something else better, which can lead you to well paid careers in the future.

Truthfully, when I switched my degree focus, I had no idea how in demand my degree is and what the pay was/could be like.
 
I very much enjoy science. And I enjoy math as well. I don't know how much I'll like upper division math, though. I found second semester Calc pretty easy (well, relatively, because I didn't do any of the homework), but once I get to university, I know the level of work required will jump up a lot, and I'll have to really commit.

If I'm going to commit to something like this... I damn well better get it right the first time.

High school science and math is a lot different than the upper division stuff, so I don't know. The subject I was most interested in (astronomy) turned out to be the wrong career for me (after doing some research on it), and I feel like most of the actual jobs in each degree aren't for me. So making money jumped up in priority a little bit.

For a while, I thought about setting my goal at phd for something math related, but there's not enough payoff. Bah, I dunno!

I'm just stuck, as you can see.
 
You have lots of time to figure all of this out. Providing you're in the U.S., you'll have tonnes of courses that you'll have to take in different fields which may appeal to you more than others.

Have you applied to any schools?
 
No problem. There's no problem with having a plan, if even a vague one, but there's no sense in trying to pick an exact major when you're still trying to figure it out yourself.

I'm hardly one to talk, I've switched majors 3 times and degree programs 4 times.
 
from what you said, in that you are good at math and science...

engineering.

a decent uni will give you foundation in mechanical, electrical, electronic, civil, telecommunications and then let you specialise afterwards.

i got the feeling that you might be suited towards electronic if you are intrested in nanotechnology. these degrees are often tied in or closely related to electrical.

in the UK, the best electronic engineers get the oppertunity to work for the secret service in developing the latest spy gadgets with major funding.

electronics also lets you branch into telecomms (mobile phone development) and its worth still involving electrical because its a bigger industry.

lastly, engineers are often considered for stock broking jobs so if you want to make big money you can always apply for wall st as they need strong mathematicians.

good luck.
 
Yeah I've heard both eecs and mech eng are good for stuff like that. I should really do some more research. Better yet, talk to an adviser. :) But yeah, engineering appeals to me.

I'm also really worried about how hard I can motivate myself to work. I know I won't do well if I put the same effort into this that I did high school. What have you guys done to get yourself going (if you've ever had that problem).
 
Electronic engineering, definitely!

Be very careful about math... I liked high school math - found it satisfying and straightforward - but degree level math was a different thing entirely. I'm from the UK, so it might no be the same.... but the last stuff I did in high school was basic calculus. The exams were pretty much "differentiate this", "integrate that". All very specific. Kids do math with numbers, then you do math with letters and symbols, then at uni it's just all words. Prove this, prove that, prove the other.
I wasn't so good at that, and really missed the applied stuff. Having proved the fundamental theorem of calculus more times and ways than I care to remember, I abandoned calculus as far as possible and took modules in stuff like abstract algebra (groups and rings). Very, very different from the math I'd done at school!

I don't regret it - I did a joint honours in computer science and math, and the math part gives me some credibility, even though I only really enjoyed the compsci part.

Don't do a degree in computer science or software engineering unless you're really, really sure. They vary too much - and while you may have picked an excellent course, employers have no way of being sure that you don't have a degree in Microsoft Excel.

Engineering!
 
so now you want motivation, jeez... next you'll be asking us to do the essays for u!

honestly, i had that problem.. so do what i done if u dare.

fuck about for 5years travelling and going in and out of dead end jobs, have people treating you like shit while u do mundane work with no hope of raise or better position, move around and live in crappy flats all with their own set of unique problems that make your life a living hell..

by the end of it u will be so frustrated that you will be grateful to study in a clean, sterile, intelligent environment with the hope it could get you a job that can give u a better life where people might actually respect u and not just assume ur a braindead lowlife piece of shit.

hope that helps.
 
I said I'm interested in making lots of money. But don't assume that's the only reason I'm going to school. While money is a large motivation, I have higher priorities.

I value advice from people who have gone down similar paths that I may go down, and I'd like to hear their experiences. And while the idea of American materialism is bluntly printed on my brain, I have yet to see an ultimately unhappy rich person.

Hopefully that didn't seem too defensive. :P

I'm setting up a career for the rest of my life (I know I can change whenever, but still). So I want to be as informed as possible. :)

I'm with you here. Making a lot of money is a goal of mine, but it's also not something I want to do just to roll around in it and such. Unfortunately, some of the things I am passionate about in life, such as travelling, adoption, charity donations, making sure that my parents can retire comfortably, etc. require money - the more the better. A lot of people are going to be quick, sure, and label you this or that for saying that making money is a goal, but that judgement's pretty crude.

And also, it can come down to how much of your own money you're shelling out for your schooling, as opposed to having family help at your disposal, when it comes to how important making money is once you graduate. If, for example, your parents aren't helping you much, then it's perfectly understandable for you to want to earn enough so as to pay off those loans and such ASAP.

If you want to see an "ultimately unhappy rich person," you should come meet my dad. They exist, trust me.

Haha, though, what comedian was it who said "Money might not buy happiness, but it sure can buy a Waverunner. Try frowning while on a waverunner!"

from what you said, in that you are good at math and science...

engineering.

a decent uni will give you foundation in mechanical, electrical, electronic, civil, telecommunications and then let you specialise afterwards.

i got the feeling that you might be suited towards electronic if you are intrested in nanotechnology. these degrees are often tied in or closely related to electrical.

in the UK, the best electronic engineers get the oppertunity to work for the secret service in developing the latest spy gadgets with major funding.

electronics also lets you branch into telecomms (mobile phone development) and its worth still involving electrical because its a bigger industry.

lastly, engineers are often considered for stock broking jobs so if you want to make big money you can always apply for wall st as they need strong mathematicians.

good luck.

Haha, not so much right now as we're in a recession and Wall Street's laying off their math/computer guys left and right :X

I agree about electrical engineering, especially if you like math. I have a higher degree in math, and my advistor for my thesis also did a lot of work in partnership with electrical engineers. You get some really, really cool math out of that field, trust me (though I'm a nerd ;) )

And also, I like the aerospace engineering idea, especially if you like space. Heck, learn how to build satilites (that is a booming industry).

I'm also really worried about how hard I can motivate myself to work. I know I won't do well if I put the same effort into this that I did high school. What have you guys done to get yourself going (if you've ever had that problem).

Staying motivated is HARD. Very hard. But just, in the end, be proud of yourself for what you are doing. You're going to college, something a lot of people don't get the chance to do, and/or don't bother to even try.

Getting a boy/girlfriend who is also into wanting to stay motivated can also help a lot, as you can push each other to do well.

Try and keep the partying to the weekends, and do the best you can to not let your sleeping patterns go all haywire.

If you really do feel like focusing is a true test for you, you can talk with a doctor about possibly trying some type of ADD drug out (though that is, as we know, playing with fire). Sometimes a good ol' coffee and a few ginko biloba I've found to be just as good, though!
 
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