What is it with Science Majors?

College Majors Science Majors
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<p>What is it with this website and science majors? Most science major questions I come across usually include at least one person saying that to major in science is a huge mistake. Why are people saying this? Is it due to a lack of job opportunities or are the people complaining mainly referring to undergraduate degrees? In my opinion, science is one of those areas that people get into out of passion for the subject, not for potential income. Scientists are some of the most underpaid professionals on the planet, it should not be a surprise to potential science majors that they may not make a lot of money. I don’t see the point of some people who respond to science questions by attempting to dissuade the asker from majoring in science for a potentially more profitable major choice. </p>

<p>Are science jobs really that scarce or do people just want higher salaries relative to their study time and effort?</p>

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<p>Even with passion, the job market may kill your love for the field. The intense pressure to publish or perish, the constant competition for grants, all those other things that take away from actually doing the sciency part. Or, with just a bachelor’s degree, you only get to do grunt work for a salary that does not match what all those numbers you’ve seen elsewhere. Science isn’t as glamorous, fun or rewarding as it oughta be. </p>

<p>That being said, I don’t like the “do business instead” response. Students should be better informed about the real job market, and not come in believing they’ll cure cancer or unify quantum physics and general relativity, but picking a major just because “that’s where the money is” is just as short-sighted and illusory. When I was an undergrad, during the dot-com bubble, computer science was all the rage. Tons of people just flocked into it, many of them not having a clue what it really was about and not being particularly interested or passionate about the field. When that crashed, many couldn’t find a job in the field they trained for but didn’t like. A number of them wandered from one crummy job to the next. I know a number who settled with boring, underpaid jobs that at least provided some stability, chosing to make a living rather than having a life or career. If you pick a program for the money potential, you’re not thinking about getting an education. You could just as well pick a trade, really, plumbers and electricians make quite a decent living (at least if you look at the hourly wage) and there is a demand for them. If you value education and hard work, pick a major you like, find a decent university you can afford, and work you bottom off until you can find your place in the world.</p>

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<p>Outsourcing of ‘fun’ research and relegating domestic workers to either (1) doing the same thing as a business manager for 1/3 the money or (2) giving up and going to medical school, since we can’t outsource doctors. Throw in the tenure system at universities and how few academic openings that leaves… I’m sure this list goes on but as far as my personal experience goes I’ve never met anyone who majored in a traditional science like biology and ended up happy with it unless they were pre-med/pre-pharm</p>

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<p>The problem is that for career advancement in science, you need a Ph.D for the most part (or a masters at minimum for some fields), it is not until you complete your Ph.D and/or Post-Doc that you can obtain a true decently paying job.</p>

<p>The people you are obviously talking to are not at that stage in their life yet to obtain that job (as they do not have the qualifications) and people who are pre-health obviously do not continue in pure science as they obtain professional degrees and make more than a “Scientist”.</p>

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<p>Depends on which science. Applied math and statistics majors often do find jobs in finance or computer software (of course, taking a few computer science courses helps). Physics majors sometimes do so as well (as they tend to have strong math skills) or sometimes make their way into engineering areas where a PE license is not needed (i.e. mainly non-civil).</p>

<p>Biology and chemistry majors appear to be much less likely to find good job and career prospects, according to <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html&lt;/a&gt; . Note that biology is one of the most popular majors overall.</p>

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<p>As noted above, many Science majors are Biology and Biochemistry majors who entered college without any intention of becoming scientists. They were premed students who were planning on entering the profession of practicing medicine. The vast majority do not even reach the point of actually sending in applications to medical schools because they realize they would not be competitive applicants. However, this realization usually does not come untill it is almost impossible to change majors. Of those that do apply to medical school, most will not receive even one offer of admission. This means that each year a new large wave of new Biology graduates will be looking to fill a very limited number of positions.</p>

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<p>The field has just degenerated to the point where it is not worth getting the degree anymore.</p>

<p>The MBA’s running businesses have zero respect and value for scientists. They treat and pay them worse than blue collar workers and don’t even hire them directly of give them any benefits. Then they cry to congress saying Americans are too stupid and lazy to study science and they need more h1-b slaves. </p>

<p>So is it worth it for an American within the top 10% in intelligence to use that intelligence, fork over tens of thousands of dollars, work harder and longer than most other majors spending long hours in the lab, then come out and either be unemployed or fight for a temp job for $15 an hour with no benefits and no prospects to ever advance? It seems pretty clear to me the answer is no.</p>

<p>Even if you have a passion for science $15 an hour without benefits is not a viable income for an American to live on even as a single and certainly not to raise a family on. There is not reason why someone that intelligent should accept that either. That is abusive, an insult, and slap in the face.</p>

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<p>This is a very good thread because I’m an engineering major going into his freshman year of college, but I’ve been planning on changing it to physics. I already knew that actually being a physicist requires a doctorate and postdocs after that, but do companies seriously only pay $15/hr wages to people who spent more years in school than just about anyone else? </p>

<p>Engineers with just a bachelors degree often seem to quickly find good jobs and many seem to have a relatively easy time working up to 6-figure salaries. So how is people that dedicate their lives to cutting edge research are treated like crap by employers?
I would understand if there was an overflow of bio and chem majors rejected from med schools, but what about physics majors? Do they fair just as poorly?</p>

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<p>@iborpastan: I disagree that you absolutely need a Ph.D. and post-doc positions for physics. Those are only required if you plan to follow a research career. Physics majors can find positions in Radiation Health Physics, finance, patent law and the engineering and software industries without a Ph.D. You need to understand how to sell your specific skills.</p>

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<p>True, physics majors generally do better than biology or chemistry majors due to finding those types of jobs, but if those are the actual goals (as opposed to backup plans behind a goal of PhD and physics research), why not just stay in engineering (or CS for software jobs)?</p>

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<p>Yeah, I agree, those are often backup jobs. They’re generally good jobs, but if you really wanted to go in any of them, you have a better shot at just majoring in economics or business, English or political science (for patent law), or computer science or engineering a minor in physics to go along with any of those majors. I always thought the ultimate goal for physics majors is to get their doctorate or at least masters, do research, teach at least at the undergrad level, or work as a scientist for the government at NASA, or in places such as the Argonne National Laboratory. Unfortunately there’s the belief among the American public and politicians that yeah, we need more people good at math and science, but at the same time there’s an impression that science itself is a waste of money (and a defense budget that far surpasses every other country in the world isn’t?).</p>

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<p>I have noticed that some of the same people are out here jumping onto the science threads and bashing the job prospects of almost all science majors again and again. This has been going on for a couple of years, to the point where I don’t even post questions or look for info out here because pretty much every conversation on it is hijacked before long…</p>

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<p>Most of the people come to this site looking for the career prospects for a given major. That is not hijacking that is answering the question as is the case for this thread. I am not going to tout trite cliches or give the politically correct party line like science can lead to a variety of careers or we need more science majors or the one I absolutely hate the most “follow your passion and the money will follow.”</p>

<p>see video for further explanation
[RSA</a> Animate - Smile or Die - YouTube](<a href=“RSA ANIMATE: Smile or Die - YouTube”>RSA ANIMATE: Smile or Die - YouTube)</p>

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<p>intparent I agree with you. Must be some frustrated Bio majors that couldn’t find a job.</p>

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<p>I don’t think jobs in the sciences are that scarce - I think a lot of students think that a science career is either engineering, medicine, or get a PhD and do research. My husband and I were both Bio majors. I became a certified Medical Technologist and worked for years, and now I teach high school Biology. My husband was a veterinarian, and now teaches college Biology. This is my opinion, and I know others disagree, but I think it is ridiculous if you love science to go into business or finance because the money is better. Not trying to be melodramatic, but you only have one life, and you spend most of it working - why not fill those hours with something you really enjoy doing? As the sayings about life & money go, you can’t take it with you, and there are no do overs (as far as we know!). I get a magazine called “The Science Teacher” and each month they highlight a different science career. I’ve listed a few that most people wouldn’t think of:</p>

<p>Art conservation scientist
Aquaculture veterinarian
Scientific photographer
Scientific illustrator
Sports biomechanist
Diabetes educator
Oceanographer
Herpetologist
Food policy researcher
Bioaccoustician
Adventure therapist
Ice scientist
Bone detective
Honey bee scientist
Oyster wrangler
Cosmetic chemist
Musical acoustics scientist
Animal nutritionist
Roller coaster designer
Industrial toxicologist
Landscape architect</p>

<p>In addition, being a physician isn’t the only career in medicine. If someone realizes they may not be able to get into med school, but really like health care, there are many allied health professions, with requirements ranging from a certificate from a certified program to a doctorate. you can find professions with lots of patient contact, no patient contact, flexible schedules. Below is a link to some of these professions and their salaries.</p>

<p>[Health</a> care income ranges](<a href=“http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/careers-health-care/health-care-income.page]Health”>http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/careers-health-care/health-care-income.page)</p>

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<p>What about math majors?</p>

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<p>Why would one major in English or political science for patent law? Patent law prefers those with science or engineering bachelor’s degrees, and physics and engineering majors who take the LSAT do better than English or political science majors who take the LSAT.</p>

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<p>Common destinations for applied math majors include finance, actuarial, and computer software jobs. Pure math majors may have a harder time, but those wanting to prepare for backup jobs in case PhD study in math does not pan out should have enough schedule space to take some “applied” courses.</p>

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<p>“What is it with Science Majors?” - that is a question that rings true to my life. </p>

<p>Day after day when people ask, “what do you wanna major in?” a lot of responses tend to be “oh, idk, something medical.” It only allows me to infer that it may be a pressured choice, a popular option, indecision, or simply because it is a popular field that so happens to yield many jobs with good salaries/incomes. The thing that irks me the most is that it seems to me that many people who respond this way may not be truly passionate for the field. And surprisingly, if there are any who actually pursue it, only few are successful. “Medical” majors aren’t the only majors that can give you good salaries, nor is it an “end all be all” to high paying, exciting careers. I’d like to think that the major anyone ends up choosing allows them to be in a satisfying career, not just a job. Besides, how will anyone earn good money if they are sick of their job? </p>

<p>Science fields are vast. So many different careers and majors to choose from; so many positions and degrees to get; so many options and honestly, it is very flexible. I believe the reason why so many people like the idea of science majors is because of the feeling of security. Like what i said before, people are attracted to it because the popular majors tend to produce a lot of a lot of popular successful people. Key word here is POPULAR. Not all bio and chem majors will be doctors. Not all physics majors will be the next Einstein. The time, the effort, the amount of schooling, THE LOANS ESPECIALLY all add up. </p>

<p>Let’s not forget to mention the pressure to have a successful career that earns a lot of cash. I think that a lot of students in our generation feel like if they’re not good in science or in math they won’t do well and they won’t earn good salaries. And I think that a lot of people are deterred from their preferred major(s) because of the idea that it won’t make a lot of cash. So they may stick with a science major even if they don’t necessarily feel they can excel in it. Take for example nursing, it was popular then and still is mostly because of the cash and while no doubt there are people who are dedicated and who excel in it, there were still loads of people who were shocked to find out the kind of work it took to be a nurse so they dropped it. (It’s either that or they just don’t like it). I’m not saying they’re lazy. I’m just saying that it’s not what they expected. </p>

<p>So people please, before you start calling yourself a science major please research into it. Know exactly what you want to do and what job you want to get into because just saying “idk something medical” doesn’t really help you. Saying “idk something in science” won’t help you. It isn’t a guaranteed ticket to riches. </p>

<p>On the other hand if you truly feel like science is your calling please still do research. Please be patient because I know that it’s a challenging time. Plan what you’re actually GONNA DO with that major! A bio or psychology major won’t help you none if you don’t know what YOU GONNA DO after college. </p>

<p>Main point: RESEARCH AND DON’T ASSUME. DON’T just do the popular choice! Actually think about what you do best in or what you enjoy, and think about your future and career! You don’t need to make a decision now, but it’s good to actually know what you want to do with your life, right?</p>

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<p>My D, who graduated from Barnard in 2009, was an unexpected science major! Her original plan was to pursue dance/performance while getting a challenging academic degree in something like English Lit. But then she “discovered” a love of neuroscience.</p>

<p>She is now pursuing her PhD, and it’s fully funded. So after graduation (from undergrad), instead of madly seeking any kind of job (or auditioning for shows while tutoring or something to pay the bills), she is doing research (which she LOVES) while earning her PhD and supporting herself. Is she rich? Nope. Is she happy? Yep. Are her “prospects” good? Yep.</p>

<p>Point is, if science is your thing and you are a good student, it’s an exciting path to follow!</p>