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rayiner, how is it consistent with the rest of what you're saying that math/science degrees are worthless? Understand, I acknowledge you might have more knowle

rayiner, how is it consistent with the rest of what you're saying that math/science degrees are worthless? Understand, I acknowledge you might have more knowledge/experience on this, I'm just skeptical. I would think - and the tone of your argument seems to posit - that it matters more what you decide to do with that degree than what degree you have. Is it really worthless to have a good math degree if you become a quant? I understand market oversaturation, but that could be said of almost every degree, moreso liberal arts.

rayiner 13y ago
There are lots of jobs that will pay $60-$120k starting salary for people with math/science degrees, mainly finance and management consulting. But those jobs are open to very few of the huge numbers of people that graduate each year with math and pure science degrees. Those companies are looking for people with top grades from top schools. But your typical teacher doesn't have a 3.8 at Dartmouth, and the option to go make $80k/year as an energy trader at a major power company. They've got a 3.4 at the local second-tier school. Recruiters at those jobs won't even read these peoples' resumes. Their alternatives to teaching are entry-level jobs at laboratories. The average starting salary of a biology/life sciences major nationwide in 2010 was $33k: http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/11/college-degrees-best-salaries-leadership-careers-jobs.html http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/11/college-degrees-best-salari.... If you throw in math and physics, which pull the averages up, the average for the math/sciences category is $42k, not that much better social sciences at $37k: http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/04/15/college-degrees-with-the-highest-starting-salaries-3 http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/04/15/college-de....
- dylangs1030 13y ago
  Ah I understand what you're saying now. Thanks for the clarification :)

rayiner 13y ago

There are lots of jobs that will pay $60-$120k starting salary for people with math/science degrees, mainly finance and management consulting. But those jobs are open to very few of the huge numbers of people that graduate each year with math and pure science degrees. Those companies are looking for people with top grades from top schools. But your typical teacher doesn't have a 3.8 at Dartmouth, and the option to go make $80k/year as an energy trader at a major power company. They've got a 3.4 at the local second-tier school. Recruiters at those jobs won't even read these peoples' resumes. Their alternatives to teaching are entry-level jobs at laboratories. The average starting salary of a biology/life sciences major nationwide in 2010 was $33k: http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/11/college-degrees-best-salaries-leadership-careers-jobs.html http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/11/college-degrees-best-salari.... If you throw in math and physics, which pull the averages up, the average for the math/sciences category is $42k, not that much better social sciences at $37k: http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/04/15/college-degrees-with-the-highest-starting-salaries-3 http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/04/15/college-de....

dylangs1030 13y ago
Ah I understand what you're saying now. Thanks for the clarification :)