My husband's gazillionaire financier friend told our kids to study engineering

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Claims he hires people in spite of business degrees, doesn't target them. Engineers learn real skills and content, business is learned by doing it.

Just thought I'd share for those weighing college plans.

The problem is, the majority of kids who could hack a business degree couldn't hack an engineering degree. He's hiring much smarter kids by targeting engineering grads.

I hate this stereotype that many kids can't "hack" an engineering degree. This notion is patently wrong. Yes, not everyone can, but who is concerned that their kid can't "hack" a degree in journalism, or history? It might take work, but it's useful. And engineering programs are no longer so focused on "weeding out" but on getting kids to all learn the material. It can be done, but adults tell people they can't do engineering is not going to help.

Probably something to do with the dropout rate of engineering programs vs. History or Journalism. Sorry, it takes a lot more brains to be an engineer than it does a historian or journalist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Claims he hires people in spite of business degrees, doesn't target them. Engineers learn real skills and content, business is learned by doing it.

Just thought I'd share for those weighing college plans.

The problem is, the majority of kids who could hack a business degree couldn't hack an engineering degree. He's hiring much smarter kids by targeting engineering grads.

I hate this stereotype that many kids can't "hack" an engineering degree. This notion is patently wrong. Yes, not everyone can, but who is concerned that their kid can't "hack" a degree in journalism, or history? It might take work, but it's useful. And engineering programs are no longer so focused on "weeding out" but on getting kids to all learn the material. It can be done, but adults tell people they can't do engineering is not going to help.

Probably something to do with the dropout rate of engineering programs vs. History or Journalism. Sorry, it takes a lot more brains to be an engineer than it does a historian or journalist.

PP here again. This is exactly my point. It takes brains, and hard work, to do anything well. I teach engineering at a top ten school and I can tell you from a lot of experience teaching both those students and many less privileged, less gifted students, that hard work is 90% of what it takes to succeed in engineering. telling yourself that you don't have the brains for it is just a form a laziness. Not everyone will be the next Bill Gates or Nikola Tesla, but if you buckle down you can do it. I see it every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Claims he hires people in spite of business degrees, doesn't target them. Engineers learn real skills and content, business is learned by doing it.

Just thought I'd share for those weighing college plans.

The problem is, the majority of kids who could hack a business degree couldn't hack an engineering degree. He's hiring much smarter kids by targeting engineering grads.

I hate this stereotype that many kids can't "hack" an engineering degree. This notion is patently wrong. Yes, not everyone can, but who is concerned that their kid can't "hack" a degree in journalism, or history? It might take work, but it's useful. And engineering programs are no longer so focused on "weeding out" but on getting kids to all learn the material. It can be done, but adults tell people they can't do engineering is not going to help.

Probably something to do with the dropout rate of engineering programs vs. History or Journalism. Sorry, it takes a lot more brains to be an engineer than it does a historian or journalist.

PP here again. This is exactly my point. It takes brains, and hard work, to do anything well. I teach engineering at a top ten school and I can tell you from a lot of experience teaching both those students and many less privileged, less gifted students, that hard work is 90% of what it takes to succeed in engineering. telling yourself that you don't have the brains for it is just a form a laziness. Not everyone will be the next Bill Gates or Nikola Tesla, but if you buckle down you can do it. I see it every day.

+1
It was hard work and perseverance that got me that degree. I'm thankful for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Claims he hires people in spite of business degrees, doesn't target them. Engineers learn real skills and content, business is learned by doing it.

Just thought I'd share for those weighing college plans.

The problem is, the majority of kids who could hack a business degree couldn't hack an engineering degree. He's hiring much smarter kids by targeting engineering grads.

I hate this stereotype that many kids can't "hack" an engineering degree. This notion is patently wrong. Yes, not everyone can, but who is concerned that their kid can't "hack" a degree in journalism, or history? It might take work, but it's useful. And engineering programs are no longer so focused on "weeding out" but on getting kids to all learn the material. It can be done, but adults tell people they can't do engineering is not going to help.

+1. The whole having or not having a "math brain" is the most cringe-inducing thing ever.

Saying some kids "can't hack and engineering degree" is not the same as saying some kids are not good at Math and therefore can't be good at engineering. It's true that some kids can't handle engineering, but the reason is that they are lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Claims he hires people in spite of business degrees, doesn't target them. Engineers learn real skills and content, business is learned by doing it.

Just thought I'd share for those weighing college plans.

The problem is, the majority of kids who could hack a business degree couldn't hack an engineering degree. He's hiring much smarter kids by targeting engineering grads.

I hate this stereotype that many kids can't "hack" an engineering degree. This notion is patently wrong. Yes, not everyone can, but who is concerned that their kid can't "hack" a degree in journalism, or history? It might take work, but it's useful. And engineering programs are no longer so focused on "weeding out" but on getting kids to all learn the material. It can be done, but adults tell people they can't do engineering is not going to help.

+1. The whole having or not having a "math brain" is the most cringe-inducing thing ever.

Saying some kids "can't hack and engineering degree" is not the same as saying some kids are not good at Math and therefore can't be good at engineering. It's true that some kids can't handle engineering, but the reason is that they are lazy.

It's both one or both of being lazy and/or lacking sufficient ability.

[Anonymous]

Why is it never acknowledged that some people just don't want to study engineering? People are automatically labeled as less intelligent or lazy. To many people it's boring and dry and even if it pays more in the long run, they'd rather pursue something they truly enjoy. Not everyone who is strong in math and science enjoys it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Claims he hires people in spite of business degrees, doesn't target them. Engineers learn real skills and content, business is learned by doing it.

Just thought I'd share for those weighing college plans.

The problem is, the majority of kids who could hack a business degree couldn't hack an engineering degree. He's hiring much smarter kids by targeting engineering grads.

I hate this stereotype that many kids can't "hack" an engineering degree. This notion is patently wrong. Yes, not everyone can, but who is concerned that their kid can't "hack" a degree in journalism, or history? It might take work, but it's useful. And engineering programs are no longer so focused on "weeding out" but on getting kids to all learn the material. It can be done, but adults tell people they can't do engineering is not going to help.

+1. The whole having or not having a "math brain" is the most cringe-inducing thing ever.

Saying some kids "can't hack and engineering degree" is not the same as saying some kids are not good at Math and therefore can't be good at engineering. It's true that some kids can't handle engineering, but the reason is that they are lazy.

Says a person who has no idea what they're talking about. NOT EVERYONE LIKES ENGINEERING OR WANTS TO STUDY IT. Laziness has nothing to do with it. Why is this so hard to understand? I know plenty of brilliant kids who are used to working their tails off, but would never consider engineering because it doesn't interest them so they want to study something they love and use other skills in their day to day worklife. I also know plenty of brilliant kids in both science and math who have no interest in engineering. Does that mean they're lazy? No. It probably means they can think for themselves and know engineering isn't a profession for them -- as opposed to the kids who will be railroaded into engineering by their parents and well-meaning folks like OP and then come to find they hate it and have always wanted to write, or be an anthropologist, or be in business doing anything BUT engineering and will then have to become very good at explaining why they studied something they didn't like (fear) and why we should believe that whatever they want to switch into is their true passion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Claims he hires people in spite of business degrees, doesn't target them. Engineers learn real skills and content, business is learned by doing it.

Just thought I'd share for those weighing college plans.

The problem is, the majority of kids who could hack a business degree couldn't hack an engineering degree. He's hiring much smarter kids by targeting engineering grads.

I hate this stereotype that many kids can't "hack" an engineering degree. This notion is patently wrong. Yes, not everyone can, but who is concerned that their kid can't "hack" a degree in journalism, or history? It might take work, but it's useful. And engineering programs are no longer so focused on "weeding out" but on getting kids to all learn the material. It can be done, but adults tell people they can't do engineering is not going to help.

+1. The whole having or not having a "math brain" is the most cringe-inducing thing ever.

Saying some kids "can't hack and engineering degree" is not the same as saying some kids are not good at Math and therefore can't be good at engineering. It's true that some kids can't handle engineering, but the reason is that they are lazy.

Says a person who has no idea what they're talking about. NOT EVERYONE LIKES ENGINEERING OR WANTS TO STUDY IT. Laziness has nothing to do with it. Why is this so hard to understand? I know plenty of brilliant kids who are used to working their tails off, but would never consider engineering because it doesn't interest them so they want to study something they love and use other skills in their day to day worklife. I also know plenty of brilliant kids in both science and math who have no interest in engineering. Does that mean they're lazy? No. It probably means they can think for themselves and know engineering isn't a profession for them -- as opposed to the kids who will be railroaded into engineering by their parents and well-meaning folks like OP and then come to find they hate it and have always wanted to write, or be an anthropologist, or be in business doing anything BUT engineering and will then have to become very good at explaining why they studied something they didn't like (fear) and why we should believe that whatever they want to switch into is their true passion.

Haha. Thanks, but I'm an engineer. I know a little bit about what it takes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it never acknowledged that some people just don't want to study engineering? People are automatically labeled as less intelligent or lazy. To many people it's boring and dry and even if it pays more in the long run, they'd rather pursue something they truly enjoy. Not everyone who is strong in math and science enjoys it.

And that's fine. I don't want to study business either, but I can certainly "hack" a business degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is it never acknowledged that some people just don't want to study engineering? People are automatically labeled as less intelligent or lazy. To many people it's boring and dry and even if it pays more in the long run, they'd rather pursue something they truly enjoy. Not everyone who is strong in math and science enjoys it.

And that's fine. I don't want to study business either, but I can certainly "hack" a business degree.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is it never acknowledged that some people just don't want to study engineering? People are automatically labeled as less intelligent or lazy. To many people it's boring and dry and even if it pays more in the long run, they'd rather pursue something they truly enjoy. Not everyone who is strong in math and science enjoys it.

And that's fine. I don't want to study business either, but I can certainly "hack" a business degree.

True. I received BA in Economics, MBA and law degree from top schools but I know I could not hack a CS degree. It's also true that STEM degree is preferred over other majors including business majors in finance and especially at HFT/Quantitative finance firms.

[Anonymous]

Thread reminds me of all my prestige-hounding friends from undergrad who couldn't handle the pre-med requirements so they went to law school. Scared of blood? More like couldn't pass orgo chemistry.

[Anonymous]

There is a very bitter failed business major who started this thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does "business" include economics is the question?

Economics is a useless degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does "business" include economics is the question?

Economics is a useless degree.

Oh, O.K.

Regards,
Harvard, Yale, UChicago, Northwestern, Princeton, Duke