tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2068615175426357203.post8132347253657257379..comments2024-03-19T00:11:46.679-07:00Comments on The Prodigal Academic: What would you tell your kids about a career in science?prodigal academichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00433167641213112052noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2068615175426357203.post-33199658070722899692016-07-24T02:25:23.386-07:002016-07-24T02:25:23.386-07:00Hi xykademiqz! Thanks for the comment. I agree re:...Hi xykademiqz! Thanks for the comment. I agree re: business. It is the latest fad career. It will lead to a load of unemployed and underemployed business types, just like the state of law right now.<br /><br />Music is a great minor--it takes both talent and hard work to be successful. I have a friend who started out majoring in music, but then switched to a science major/music minor because she decided music was more fun as a hobby. She still plays in community groups and really enjoys it. Life isn't just about a career anyway. <br /><br />I loved history too, but I didn't really like the careers it led to, so I went with science (which I also loved).prodigal academichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00433167641213112052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2068615175426357203.post-85275009879269103492016-07-22T11:10:37.673-07:002016-07-22T11:10:37.673-07:00\begin{ramble}
It looks like my eldest son is lea...\begin{ramble} <br />It looks like my eldest son is leaning towards bio (we'll see what he thinks after he's had AP bio this coming year), but will minor (or double major) in music. He is a really good musician (choir and low brass, state-level awards) and while it may not be necessarily an obvious earning option, it's such a great enrichment to one's life to be able to make music that I am very happy to support him in any way I can. He's doing great at school, but other than music, history (blech, I hated it when I was in school), and psychology, he's not passionate about much in particular. He knows I want him to be able to support himself and that other than that he can do whatever he wants. As you say, it's his life, he should have the option to do what he wants with it. <br /><br />Re business, it seems to be what JD was a couple of decades ago. But there is such a thing as too many lawyers, and there is such a thing as too many managers/business executives. At the end of the day, someone has to have the technical skills to design and make the products that everyone expects to just "make money" on. In that sense, as Grumpy says above, what is really better than a science/math BS? <br />\end{ramble}xykademiqzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306861394466282929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2068615175426357203.post-40273945346995266922016-07-20T01:18:18.229-07:002016-07-20T01:18:18.229-07:00Hi Grumpy. I totally agree with you about followin...Hi Grumpy. I totally agree with you about following dreams--if you can't be idealistic when you are young, when can you be? Of course, the calculation has to be different if you have dependents, as some do in University, but if not, why not go for something that really excites you, good prospects or not?<br /><br />The anti-BSc folks suggested finance/business/economics. I think if you want your child to attempt the "Masters of the Universe" thing, a science undergrad is good prep for that too. The other suggestion was nursing, since they think a nurse will always be able to get a job and won't be tied to a geographic location (which is probably true, and nursing can be very flexible with shifts if needed, given the right specialty). Nursing seems like the kind of job that is great if you are interested, and awful if you hate it, and isn't necessarily open-ended in career path. prodigal academichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00433167641213112052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2068615175426357203.post-5677792440483253852016-07-19T15:28:39.995-07:002016-07-19T15:28:39.995-07:00I would strongly support a BS in a science/math fi...I would strongly support a BS in a science/math field, what major do they think is better!?<br /><br />I not-so-secretly want my kids to go into politics or perhaps be medical doctors. But I'd also be cool with them being photographers or whatever...life is too short not to be idealistic and follow your dreams. But that is probably coming from a place of naive privilege...Grumpyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06238708584935877026noreply@blogger.com