Reply to Old (2019) NYT article—“In the salary race, Engineering majors sprint, but English majors endure”

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why are many here continually making the assumption that kids are being pushed into CS by their parents? Our public school district has been laser-focused on touting the importance of competency in STEM skills since my now-HS kid was in kindergarten.

Additionally, if a kid shows a preference for and aptitude in math and science over social studies, language and literature, doesn't want to be a doctor or lawyer but wants to make a fairly decent living, engineering/CS etc. seem to be one obvious answer for them. [/quote]

I have know idea whether it's parental pressure or response to the STEM drumbeat, but the number of math majors has exploded.  I don't teach but I've heard from a lot of people who do, and math course are more unpleasant than ever.  The students that are taking classes because they like math are now very much drowned out by the people who hate the classes, hate the major, but think it will pay the bills.  It didn't used to be this way, but every field gets over run from time to time.[/quote]

College is not a place to continue your hobby paying shit ton of money.[/quote]

Nor is it the place to fail classes over and over in a subject you both hate & suck at, that you only picked because you thought it was the golden ticket. [/quote]

I don’t know where the failing classes part is coming from, it’s totally possible to get a stem degree with no skill beyond sit-on-your-butt. [/quote]

Yes, an environmental science degree.[/quote]

A math degree.[/quote]

It is not possible to get a math degree “with no skill beyond sit-on-your-butt.”[/quote]

It absolutely is, I know so many examples. Short of actual disability, anyone could get a math degree. I don’t know where this reverence comes from.[/quote]

I don’t think any idiot could get a classics or a philosophy degree either.

But I am truly confused about your assertion that one needs no skills to get a math degree.  I think most of us with average to high average IQs could handle the math that goes into engineering. But higher level math does require a certain type of mind.  Not saying those people are “smarter” but I truly don’t think anyone could do it.  [/quote]

Producing advanced math sure, completing a math degree absolutely does not require skill beyond sit-on-your-butt.  It's a lot more fun if you're the sort that just naturally loves it, but you can say that about any field.  Point is this is exactly what's going on in math departments right now, people are plodding through math degrees like other people plod through econ degrees.  (There are people who love econ, there are plenty who don't but get by all the same.)[/quote]

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