I need advice about my major......

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by mathwhiz
http:///forum/post/2510518

Sorry to get off the subject of the original post, although I found your statement interesting about your college professor. I majored in education with math emphasis and have been teaching math from 6th to 12th grades the past 12 years. I have just completed a masters degree this past year and that was of my own choosing, Not a 'get a masters or lose your job' situation. Maybe different colleges require different programs.
Does seem bizar. Lord knows we could run rings around our math teachers in highschool minus the upper level cal and physics teacher.

 

[mathwhiz]

Originally Posted by KerriAnn
http:///forum/post/2508268
have you ever considering majoring in finance?? that way, you're not tied specifically to accounting but have other options if down the road you lose interest you have other sides of the field to explore.
i was torn when i was in college as well. i was a math major with the intent of becoming a math teacher for my first two years of college until my advisor finally confessed to me that i had to get a bachelors in math and a masters in sec ed when i finally confronted him about why he's not recommending any ed classes for me to take! knowing that i was paying for college myself and that coming out of college with a math major in pittsburgh would be a lost cause i decided to explore other options. knowing that i enjoyed math i started to look into accounting and finance - obviously - and decided to do the finance thing. found a great job with BNY Mellon and have more than enough opportunities if I begin to lose interest in my current job!
just another major to think about...exhausting, i know! just remember, there is no dream job - each has it's ups and downs. it wouldn't be "work" if it was fun all day long. find something you like to do and find a company that you enjoy working for/with.

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2510550
Does seem bizar. Lord knows we could run rings around our math teachers in highschool minus the upper level cal and physics teacher.

Not quite sure what you meant by that comment? If you are indicating that your hs math teachers were not intelligent, please do not put all math teachers in one category. My own hs math teachers were not exactly wonderful and without my brother, I probably would not have made it through the classes. I learned a whole lot in college math classes and really try hard to be a better teacher to my students than what I had.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by mathwhiz
http:///forum/post/2510560

Not quite sure what you meant by that comment? If you are indicating that your hs math teachers were not intelligent, please do not put all math teachers in one category. My own hs math teachers were not exactly wonderful and without my brother, I probably would not have made it through the classes. I learned a whole lot in college math classes and really try hard to be a better teacher to my students than what I had.
no no, well, ok mine weren't intellegent. Minus the teacher for the upper level classes. But I'm just saying I can't imagine someone saying you need a masters to teach HS math. Most districts around here are hurting so much for teachers all they want is a bach degree and a teaching cert. And you are in.

 

[bdhutier]

Look, whatever you do, consider the money factor... I majored in something I LOVE, German Military History. It was great, but there's pretty much nothing I can do with it to make any real money, until I can get into grad school. So I'd say, find something you enjoy where you can make some good money first, then branch into what you love as you progress in your career.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by bdhutier
http:///forum/post/2510585
Look, whatever you do, consider the money factor... I majored in something I LOVE, German Military History. It was great, but there's pretty much nothing I can do with it to make any real money, until I can get into grad school. So I'd say, find something you enjoy where you can make some good money first, then branch into what you love as you progress in your career.
lol german military history? Man, those guys were figgen smart. swept wing, first cruise missiles. Good thing einstein was a jew or we'd all be speaking german.

 

[mfp1016]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2510406
I graduated may 07. I got lucky and got an 8 to 5 job. I have a double major in economics and international business. But some of the jobs offered to me were horrible. Upper 20's. I would seriously consider an engineering degree. You like in the oil capital of the USA. And all these companies are hiring like crazy. And they are all going offshore. If in 4 years you come out with an engineering degree. You'd just have to breath and have an engineering degree to get hired. The company I'm working for is looking to hire 1500 more engineers in the next 4 years. You'd could be on the water. And these companies are all "going green" so someone who has an appreciation for our oceans would go along way.
As someone who worked retail for 4 years while in college. I'd get out of restarant management in a heartbeat. Unless you like working 60+ hours a week with no overtime pay.
Yes, I can't think of many companies that aren't hurting for engineers. There are also many areas in engineering that recession proof. Also, companies love engineers, they almost always comprise most of upper management save for savvy business/entrepreneurs, and lawyers(God help us).
I will tell you I am definitely biased towards engineering, seeing as how I am one. However at my university our engineering college has a 99% employment rate out of school (for those seeking it, ie grad students dont count). Starting offers are generally anywhere from $55k to $85k depending on you. I highly recommend engineering for those who do not even wish to go into the engineering industry per se as I have seen engineers cross over in to almost all industries.
If you're prime for making the big bugs, I would consider a mechanical/biomedical/ or chemical engineering degree and a law degree in intellectual property.
Lastly, its one of the few degrees that really only requires a bachelors. So consider $65k/4 years of school. Sure doctors or lawyers make more starting out, but dont forget they have an extra 3 or 4 years of school. By then you will have easily made your way to an equal salary, plus you won't have $400k in student loans to pay off. Yikes.

 

[mfp1016]

Originally Posted by mathwhiz
http:///forum/post/2510560

Not quite sure what you meant by that comment? If you are indicating that your hs math teachers were not intelligent, please do not put all math teachers in one category. My own hs math teachers were not exactly wonderful and without my brother, I probably would not have made it through the classes. I learned a whole lot in college math classes and really try hard to be a better teacher to my students than what I had.
I've known plenty of guys from throughout the years who were in engineering only to retire early and teach math/physics/chemistry at the high school and junior college level.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by mfp1016
http:///forum/post/2510602
Yes, I can't think of many companies that aren't hurting for engineers. There are also many areas in engineering that recession proof. Also, companies love engineers, they almost always comprise most of upper management save for savvy business/entrepreneurs, and lawyers(God help us).
I will tell you I am definitely biased towards engineering, seeing as how I am one. However at my university our engineering college has a 99% employment rate out of school (for those seeking it, ie grad students dont count). Starting offers are generally anywhere from $55k to $85k depending on you. I highly recommend engineering for those who do not even wish to go into the engineering industry per se as I have seen engineers cross over in to almost all industries.
If you're prime for making the big bugs, I would consider a mechanical/biomedical/ or chemical engineering degree and a law degree in intellectual property.
Lastly, its one of the few degrees that really only requires a bachelors. So consider $65k/4 years of school. Sure doctors or lawyers make more starting out, but dont forget they have an extra 3 or 4 years of school. By then you will have easily made your way to an equal salary, plus you won't have $400k in student loans to pay off. Yikes.
Looking back, I wish someone had the foresite to tell me that because everyone and the dog have "business" degrees.

 

[kerriann]

Originally Posted by mathwhiz
http:///forum/post/2510518

Sorry to get off the subject of the original post, although I found your statement interesting about your college professor. I majored in education with math emphasis and have been teaching math from 6th to 12th grades the past 12 years. I have just completed a masters degree this past year and that was of my own choosing, Not a 'get a masters or lose your job' situation. Maybe different colleges require different programs.
that was simply the way slippery rock did it. we couldn't get a bachelors in sec ed/math. every other sec ed course you COULD do with a bachelors but for some reason they felt that math was the exception

 

[earlybird]

My sister graduated with hotel management something... Sweet job. She's living in Cabo San Lucas managing an office that rents villas. Before that she worked at the South Seas Plantation (big hotel/resort) on Captiva Island in Fla.