<p>i didn’t mean to direct my comment towards you, its just the general cc stigma is ridiculous. </p>
<p>some physicians have a god complex, hence thinking 175k is too little. in fact, a 6-7 year “investment” (med school + residency) is actually a pretty good deal since it pretty much GUARANTEES you a 150k++ income for the rest of your life and practically 100% job security. in fact, there is no other career/professional school which guarantees an income that high</p>
<p>Maybe having such a “low” salary makes it too difficult to pay off your student loans.</p>
<p>Actually, I know MDs who earn $100K & less; it all depends on the individual, where they practice & what they want.</p>
<p>Pharmacists starting out generally earn about $100K, but not sure how much higher their salary gets afterwards. I think it plateaus fairly early. There are some signs that it is subject to some outsourcing.</p>
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<p>That’s what I find distressing in this whole discussion—the consensus that a great many of the career fields once thought to guarantee stable and lucrative jobs, can no longer be counted upon to do that. That one can faithfully practice intense academic industry throughout one’s educational life, only to suddenly find oneself “downsized” or just plain unable to find work in one’s “guaranteed safe” field of expertise, has got to be the ultimate sucker punch. Fields like engineering, law, finance, and computer science don’t vouch-safe jobs anymore? Well then, what do we tell our kids? Even though the cost of higher education dependably outstrips inflation year after year, take on huge college loans in the interest of entering a career field which may or may not provide you with a way to earn a living? If college graduates (and increasingly, those with advanced degrees in highly technical fields) can’t count on the ability to earn a living, what do we do about the burgeoning rate of high school drop-outs, who certainly lack the education for any job more complicated than fast food?</p>
<p>Public school, engineering. Problem solved. Low debt on a job that can dependably make 50k/year.</p>
<p>We tell our kids they need to learn how to think and reinvent themselves. That’s the message we’ve been trying to give them from kindergarten, since at the time, we were told that kids their age will likely have mulitiple CAREERS in their lifetimes. We have told them that they will likely end up doing things that have not yet been invented before too long. </p>
<p>Getting a good education with low debt is always an important strategy. Taking a wide range of courses, learning how to work with lots of different people, solve problems with a group, know a bit about a lot of things are all things our kids need.</p>
<p>Engineering is a good base for a lot of folks (that are good at math & science), but they may end up with different fields than they expect down the road as well. Knowing how to communicate effectively in writing, orally, & via electronic means are all important skills as well.</p>
<p>There aren’t a lot of “easy answers.”</p>
<p>I think being a clandestine chemist is pretty lucrative. It’s funny how chemistry opens up another kind of door.</p>
<p>One time I was talking to a colleague at a fast food restaurant how I could theoretically make Ecstasy from tyrosine or L-DOPA, if I wanted to. The next thing I know, he’s trying to recruit me to make drugs for him. Maybe our lobby person has “connections”. (It makes sense – he’s a 40+ smooth-talker but has no kids. Spells “gangsta” to me!)</p>
<p>Two of my 5 Ds have graduated and have been working in their desired fields, one is a teacher and the other is an actor and playwright. I have one in law school and one doing a Masters in Social Work, both of whom have jobs lined up for after graduation. My youngest is still in undergrad. I think it’s important for kids to follow their passions, and we’ve encouraged all of our kids to do just that.</p>
<p>While it’s true that the legal profession has been experiencing changes in the past couple of years, those $160,000 first year associate jobs were lightyears beyond the possibilities of all but the very top students (and usually from top schools). The fact that fewer of those are now available will affect some but not all of those top students. They are looking elsewhere and most of those who we know have found jobs. There are too many law schools in the U.S. and too many students going into huge debt to attend law school who never really have any hope of getting even a good job, let alone a great one, upon graduation. This is not a recent problem, it has existed for a long time. Canadian law schools have had an increase this admissions cycle, partially due to American students applying. We have 16 law schools and the most expensive is $23,000/yr, with most being between $5,000 - $10,000. It boggles my mind when I see the debt that so many students are graduating with in the U.S.</p>
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<p>The former (which may be called “software engineer” or “software developer”) tends to be considered more prestigious (and pays more) and usually incorporates more design work and creativity.</p>
<p>At some point not long ago I looked at the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ forecasts (through 2016) for software engineers and programmers, which are listed separately. The number of “software engineering” jobs was expected to increase significantly, and the number of “programming” jobs was expected to decline significantly.</p>
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<p>Unless you chose to work in manufacturing, Mr. P. I personally know of 2 people in their 50’s who are un- or underemployed who worked in manufacturing as engineers w/good degrees and experience. The rug can be pulled out of anyone anymore.</p>
<p>As for software, I think (and truly wonder what others think) that the colleges blew it on this field. You can get a “Computer Science” degree with wildly varying degree requirements. I am finding it hard to determine at what level of rigor the degree is basically useless. I say this a someone who knows 2 “Computer Science” degree holders who are not really working in the field - one is on a help desk at a big employer, helping computer uses in India mostly. The other went to an even less rigorous program and that degree is apparently useless as anything other than a generic degree.</p>
<p>There are CS degrees out there that are essentially computer technology degrees. A local school has a CS degree and there is no CS (math and theory) in it. It basically teaches students how to use a bunch of industry standard programs. There is a use for that but it isn’t computer science. Parents and students certainly don’t know what they are getting.</p>
<p>Schools do this because they know that there’s demand for CS graduates so they cobble something together and call it CS. That’s how you get students and keep departments running. There are those that come into the engineering forum and ask about what CS, CE, SE, CIS and what tech degrees are. The Association of Computing Machinery does a good job explaining what the various degrees are but it doesn’t help when schools misname majors.</p>
<p>So employers look at the school, the major and give extensive interviews or give students tests.</p>
<p>These “weaker degrees” tend to be in continuing education programs or schools which take students with lower credentials.</p>
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I worked in manufacturing in college. I decided I didn’t want to work in that field due to instability and continuing cost pressures from foreign & domestic competition. That was a good decision because that plant is now closing down.</p>