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Yes. STEM is not equal. I am a software engineer with the Master Degree in Biology. In biology, even if you have a PhD, the only way for you is a postdoc with

by swuecho 11y ago

Yes. STEM is not equal. I am a software engineer with the Master Degree in Biology. In biology, even if you have a PhD, the only way for you is a postdoc with a salary about 42,000$ per year. Many 'bad' majors, if you want to find a job, CS is the major to transfer or at least learn some programming. This is more true if you need sponsor to work.

jonesb6 11y ago
I wonder how long it will be before this becomes common knowledge. I remember when I was going into college (2013) a lot of my peers chose Biology and similar STEM paths with the anticipation it would yield the same salary as C.S. or engineering degrees. Needless to say, it didn't
- UmDieWelt 11y ago
  It's already common knowledge, which is why the amount of people majoring in CS is skyrocketing.
  - jonesb6 11y ago
    I would make the argument that it is common knowledge among most Silicon Valley tech workers, who I believe make up the primary user base on hacker news, but is it really common knowledge among everyone else? Anecdotally my experience at a large liberal arts university suggests most students tend to 'follow their dream' rather then making the best long-term career decisions in terms of their degree path.
- swuecho 11y ago
  only when people wake from their day dream. a lot of students are told follow your dream and never face the reality. However, after college, they can barely find a job.
- fweespeech 11y ago
  As far as I'm aware, at least in my social circles, it is. I used to work with a grad student who really, really wanted to do biology research and basically worked two jobs [student + lab tech] and 25hrs/week as a programmer to achieve it. He eventually ended up writing software for genetics research because they'd pay him double.
greggman 11y ago
what about biotech?
- swuecho 11y ago
  biotech is not good as well. too many graduates in biology majors and too few biotech jobs.
  - jonesb6 11y ago
    It's also my understanding that a large amount of biotech work is "grunt work" that requires a large amount of time and energy but not a large amount of skill.

by swuecho 11y ago

jonesb6 11y ago

I wonder how long it will be before this becomes common knowledge. I remember when I was going into college (2013) a lot of my peers chose Biology and similar STEM paths with the anticipation it would yield the same salary as C.S. or engineering degrees. Needless to say, it didn't

UmDieWelt 11y ago
It's already common knowledge, which is why the amount of people majoring in CS is skyrocketing.
- jonesb6 11y ago
  I would make the argument that it is common knowledge among most Silicon Valley tech workers, who I believe make up the primary user base on hacker news, but is it really common knowledge among everyone else? Anecdotally my experience at a large liberal arts university suggests most students tend to 'follow their dream' rather then making the best long-term career decisions in terms of their degree path.
swuecho 11y ago
only when people wake from their day dream. a lot of students are told follow your dream and never face the reality. However, after college, they can barely find a job.
fweespeech 11y ago
As far as I'm aware, at least in my social circles, it is. I used to work with a grad student who really, really wanted to do biology research and basically worked two jobs [student + lab tech] and 25hrs/week as a programmer to achieve it. He eventually ended up writing software for genetics research because they'd pay him double.

greggman 11y ago

what about biotech?

swuecho 11y ago
biotech is not good as well. too many graduates in biology majors and too few biotech jobs.
- jonesb6 11y ago
  It's also my understanding that a large amount of biotech work is "grunt work" that requires a large amount of time and energy but not a large amount of skill.