Is is too early to wish everyone a Patrick Swayze Christmas?

I didn't need to get some fancy degree to learn that pain don't hurt.

Road House.

And which are, exactly, "the more general sciences"? Ric Romero reports that large corporations want IT and Business degrees. Whoodathunk?

FTFA: After computer science, the next most in-demand major is the more general sciences, followed by liberal arts, communications, and lastly, agriculture and natural resources.

Liberal Arts placed third? Many farkers' heads must be asploding right now.

8 inches: Is this the thread where I brag about how much money I make even though I don't have a degree? Or is it the one where I tell people to get an Engineering degree if they want to accomplish anything in life. I never can keep these straight.

MSEE so yeah - the money isn't too bad. My rule used to be make as much an hour as your age (ie. 28 yr old should make at least 28$/hr), now I guess I double that.

/at least it makes getting old fun

HMS_Blinkin: FTFA: After computer science, the next most in-demand major is the more general sciences, followed by liberal arts, communications, and lastly, agriculture and natural resources.

Liberal Arts placed third? Many farkers' heads must be asploding right now.

I read that more as 3rd through whatever are various sciences, then liberal arts comes in whatever place is next.

HMS_Blinkin: FTFA: After computer science, the next most in-demand major is the more general sciences, followed by liberal arts, communications, and lastly, agriculture and natural resources.

Liberal Arts placed third? Many farkers' heads must be asploding right now.

If I were hiring right now, I'd rather hire an english major or artist with an interest in computer programming than someone that went to school for programming. It's easy to learn the specifics, it's hard to learn correct grammar, interpersonal skills, and artistry.

A degree in cocksucking?

Lost Thought 00: A degree in cocksucking?

Now who's giving who what job now?

I have a degree in farking guys like you in prison.

HMS_Blinkin: FTFA: After computer science, the next most in-demand major is the more general sciences, followed by liberal arts, communications, and lastly, agriculture and natural resources.

Liberal Arts placed third? Many farkers' heads must be asploding right now.

Ahead of aggies and whatever natural resources is (forestry and mining?). I think that is a duh, talk about an extrememly constrained course of study. This was a study of overal demand. I would love to see the perspective job opening vs graduation totals instead of this.

There's always barber college.

Be nice... until it's time not to be nice

You're too stupid to have a good time!

As an engineer and computer scientist, I say get that degree in Mesopotamian Archaeology. The world still needs janitors.

I have a GED in law and can't find work in my field.

jjorsett: As an engineer and computer scientist, I say get that degree in Mesopotamian Archaeology. The world still needs janitors.

It's no wonder you're such an antisocial jackass. And 90% chance of neckbeard, 100% if you play a bass guitar.

Saiga410: HMS_Blinkin: FTFA: After computer science, the next most in-demand major is the more general sciences, followed by liberal arts, communications, and lastly, agriculture and natural resources.

Liberal Arts placed third? Many farkers' heads must be asploding right now.

Ahead of aggies and whatever natural resources is (forestry and mining?). I think that is a duh, talk about an extrememly constrained course of study. This was a study of overal demand. I would love to see the perspective job opening vs graduation totals instead of this.

They just had a thing on NPR that the oil extraction type engineers were getting jobs making bank straight away. They may not be in demand in terms of total number hired, but apparently the demand is higher than the number of people with the degree. Downside: they move you around and you start out in buttfark, Alaska (its near wasilla).

I don't know what the fark "liberal arts" is in terms of lumping it all together. Is a psychiatrist the same as a women's studies major is the same as a philosopher in terms of hireability? I doubt it. Not to mention "all science is the same" being category number two. What a stupid list.

The world needs ditch diggers, too.

dustlesswalnut: If I were hiring right now, I'd rather hire an english major or artist with an interest in computer programming than someone that went to school for programming. It's easy to learn the specifics, it's hard to learn correct grammar, interpersonal skills, and artistry.

What?

Also, this is the most uselessly over-discussed topic on Fark. Can we retire it?

Phil McKraken: Also, this is the most uselessly over-discussed topic on Fark. Can we retire it?

But how else will we enrage all of the engineers and tech people? There are only so many pieces out there about clueless HR people and H1B visas.

Is this the thread where people with Philosophy/Communications degrees boast about how they manage a tech team of 30 while beta testing their new product with their left hand, penetration-testing their network with their right hand, and splicing fiber-optics with their toes? Something like "I didn't need math and science to make it in your world because Plato had already enlightened me"?

Communications made the good list? Color me shocked.

There are lots of women and quite a few men who got a degree in cocksucking.

Smackledorfer: Saiga410: HMS_Blinkin: FTFA: After computer science, the next most in-demand major is the more general sciences, followed by liberal arts, communications, and lastly, agriculture and natural resources.

Liberal Arts placed third? Many farkers' heads must be asploding right now.

Ahead of aggies and whatever natural resources is (forestry and mining?). I think that is a duh, talk about an extrememly constrained course of study. This was a study of overal demand. I would love to see the perspective job opening vs graduation totals instead of this.

They just had a thing on NPR that the oil extraction type engineers were getting jobs making bank straight away. They may not be in demand in terms of total number hired, but apparently the demand is higher than the number of people with the degree. Downside: they move you around and you start out in buttfark, Alaska (its near wasilla).

I don't know what the fark "liberal arts" is in terms of lumping it all together. Is a psychiatrist the same as a women's studies major is the same as a philosopher in terms of hireability? I doubt it. Not to mention "all science is the same" being category number two. What a stupid list.

A friend of mine from law school did that, the money was good but they stuck him out in the middle of the desert for 3 out of every 4 weeks. He quit after about 5 months and went to law school. Now he's out in Seattle with a fark ton of student loans looking for a job and waiting on his bar results.

/CSB

dustman81: Computer science is more than learning how to program. It's about logic, computing theory and the application of theory.

As someone who has a CS degree, I took foreign language, literature, psychology, sociology and writing, in addition to my CS and math courses.

Everyone else took their GECs, too. I'm not negating the relevance of your degree, I'm sure it's going to be very useful to you in your life, I was just saying that if I were hiring for a programming position today, CS majors would not be very high on my list or people to interview.

HMS_Blinkin: FTFA: After computer science, the next most in-demand major is the more general sciences, followed by liberal arts, communications, and lastly, agriculture and natural resources.

Liberal Arts placed third? Many farkers' heads must be asploding right now.

Just think of all those jobs that a few years back only required a HS diploma that are now requiring a 4 year degree, I would imagine that most of those are liberal arts degrees. Plus now there is a big need for things like social workers and I would think that is a liberal arts degree. In fact my little brother's girlfriend has a degree in communications and now 5 years out of school she is making $60k as a recruiter for a major company, so go figure.

gadian: Aaand this list will change in a few years. It always does. Besides, in many colleges, Engineering (perennial aspie fark favorite) falls under a liberal art.

These jobs are hot now. When I was in high school it was "learn to build a website, websites will feed you for life". When my sister was in high school (and she's only a few years older than I) it was "embrace the inner artist, artists will succeed in anythng". When my parents were in high school it was "pick a trade, a college degree will never be worth as much as a steady hand". Now its "everyone needs an engineer - nevermind that we can't actually define what 'engineer' means in this instance" or "Be a nurse! People be gettin' old". Whatever.

Do what you like and be flexible with it.


BAEE or BAME?

Nah - more like BSEE. Science not Arts - what school classifies engineering as an art? Seriously - what accredited university does that? I actually want to know.

MatrixOutsider: 8 inches: Is this the thread where I brag about how much money I make even though I don't have a degree? Or is it the one where I tell people to get an Engineering degree if they want to accomplish anything in life. I never can keep these straight.

Yes, and don't forget the people who will jump in and say that everyone with ivy league degrees are not that smart. They will use anecdotal evidence to try to prove their point. There are also the requisite posters who will summarily dismiss online degrees and a few who will post their success stories. Finally, you may get a couple of idealistic posts about how one must major in something they love rather than what will earn them the most money.

I have seen at a source I consider reputable, that the average M and Q SAT scores for the Ivy league schools is around 1350. Compare that to UT-Austin , a school with a decent academic reputation, where the average is a touch over 1200.

I've got a history degree. Making 30k+ a year right out of school typing. whatever, I'll take it.

You are not your major. It may be hard for of you kids to realize, but the knowledge you gained from your CS/Engr degree will be useless and out of date in just a few years. I graduated college in the mid-80s, and tech knowledge from that era is as useful to modern IT as stone knives and bear skins. We didn't even have the Web yet.

To be economically viable, you have to continue learning your entire life, and sometimes your career goals will change and you will move into different fields that you could not have imagined when you were 19.

Smackledorfer: They just had a thing on NPR that the oil extraction type engineers were getting jobs making bank straight away. They may not be in demand in terms of total number hired, but apparently the demand is higher than the number of people with the degree. Downside: they move you around and you start out in buttfark, Alaska (its near wasilla).

It is probably shortsighted to major in that.

They will hire you if you have mechanical eng degree, actually any engineering or science degree if you can prove you work hard.

While I did work in Liberal KS for 6 monthsm then 6 more in Tulsa, I did get to spend a few years in SE Asia and a whiel in Egypt before I wanted to do soemthing besides rape the environment.

ongbok: HMS_Blinkin: FTFA: After computer science, the next most in-demand major is the more general sciences, followed by liberal arts, communications, and lastly, agriculture and natural resources.

Liberal Arts placed third? Many farkers' heads must be asploding right now.

Just think of all those jobs that a few years back only required a HS diploma that are now requiring a 4 year degree, I would imagine that most of those are liberal arts degrees. Plus now there is a big need for things like social workers and I would think that is a liberal arts degree. In fact my little brother's girlfriend has a degree in communications and now 5 years out of school she is making $60k as a recruiter for a major company, so go figure.

The market says their is no need for social workers. Social Workers are paid very little, are not in demand, and most of those jobs are state give away jobs. I mean what else are you going to do with your liberal hippy useless bleeding heart son or daughter? You donate a lot of money to the people in power and then get them a job as a social worker.

EatHam: dustlesswalnut: If I were hiring right now, I'd rather hire an english major or artist with an interest in computer programming than someone that went to school for programming. It's easy to learn the specifics, it's hard to learn correct grammar, interpersonal skills, and artistry.

Me too, assuming I was hiring a technical writer, and not a programmer.

Heh. The hard part of programming isn't learning the syntax. Any monkey can learn that fairly quickly. In fact, Yerkish is kind of a programming language, if you think about it. When I've interviewed for programming jobs, especially the ones where I didn't know the language specifically, but knew a related one, I'd specifically point out that learning new syntax is easy, and that the hard part is internalizing the logic necessary to write good code.

If you have someone who thinks logically, but who doesn't know how to program, I can teach them how to be a good programmer in at most a few days, simply by teaching them the syntax of a particular programming language*. For people who don't already think logically, I can teach them the syntax in the same amount of time, but their code will be greatly inferior, if it works at all, to that of a logical person.


*Depending on the particular language, of course. Some are easier to learn than others, but the principle still applies

What matters most is that you can spin what you know into something employers want, which may or may not have much to do with your degree.

dittybopper: EatHam: dustlesswalnut: If I were hiring right now, I'd rather hire an english major or artist with an interest in computer programming than someone that went to school for programming. It's easy to learn the specifics, it's hard to learn correct grammar, interpersonal skills, and artistry.

Me too, assuming I was hiring a technical writer, and not a programmer.

Heh. The hard part of programming isn't learning the syntax. Any monkey can learn that fairly quickly. In fact, Yerkish is kind of a programming language, if you think about it. When I've interviewed for programming jobs, especially the ones where I didn't know the language specifically, but knew a related one, I'd specifically point out that learning new syntax is easy, and that the hard part is internalizing the logic necessary to write good code.

If you have someone who thinks logically, but who doesn't know how to program, I can teach them how to be a good programmer in at most a few days, simply by teaching them the syntax of a particular programming language*. For people who don't already think logically, I can teach them the syntax in the same amount of time, but their code will be greatly inferior, if it works at all, to that of a logical person.


*Depending on the particular language, of course. Some are easier to learn than others, but the principle still applies

Pretty much this. I certainly wasn't saying I'd hire someone with zero experience or interest in programming, just that a CS degree wouldn't sway me towards a candidate that possessed one. I've just seen far too many excellent candidates slip through the fingers of previous employers because they didn't have some arbitrary piece of paper.