higher education and such

deafsigma · 11-03-2009, 08:44 AM

Hi all,

I currently reside in NJ, and just graduated from college back in may with a bachelor's in mathematics.

Currently, i've been looking for a job that makes use of that degree whether directly or indirectly, and I haven't had much luck. I do have a part time job with a test preparation company, so it's not like i'm unemployed, but it's not what i want to be doing.

Has anyone gone on for a masters or doctorate on the forum, and if so how hard was your job search afterwards?

**mods, you can move this post if it's in the wrong forum**

-deafsigma

sallylou · 11-03-2009, 01:10 PM

Have you considered getting a teachers certification to teach secondary mathematics? There's always a shortage of qualified math teachers. I used to be a math teacher.

I decided not to pursue a higher mathematics degree. I went to law school instead. I thought that my options would be more limited with a masters or doctorate in math. Most people who earn these degrees end up teaching in community colleges, which is not a bad gig because they pay more than state universities. If you'd like teaching in community college, go for it.

My BIL has a doctorate in math. He didn't want to teach at community college and wasn't successful getting into a post-doc program. He went back to work in the construction industry because he's also a civil engineer. He said that he just got tired of thinking so hard about theory all of the time.

Hope this helps. PM me if you want more info.

I'd be wary about taking out more student loans right now. The economy sucks and it's a tough market out there, even for highly qualified people.

Bottesini · 11-03-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sallylou

Have you considered getting a teachers certification to teach secondary mathematics? There's always a shortage of qualified math teachers. I used to be a math teacher.

I decided not to pursue a higher mathematics degree. I went to law school instead. I thought that my options would be more limited with a masters or doctorate in math. Most people who earn these degrees end up teaching in community colleges, which is not a bad gig because they pay more than state universities. If you'd like teaching in community college, go for it.

My BIL has a doctorate in math. He didn't want to teach at community college and wasn't successful getting into a post-doc program. He went back to work in the construction industry because he's also a civil engineer. He said that he just got tired of thinking so hard about theory all of the time.

Hope this helps. PM me if you want more info.

I'd be wary about taking out more student loans right now. The economy sucks and it's a tough market out there, even for highly qualified people.

Big Illiterate Lug?

Jiro · 11-03-2009, 02:27 PM

bachelor in math? sorry but.... there's not much use for it in terms of employment unless you're very good at it (ie. number-crunching ability). Most people who majored in English, literature, math, history, physics, or art tend to go to grad school to get teaching degree. but then... after that - it's extremely hard to find teaching job in a "nice town". The only available job is the low-paying teaching job at school in terrible neighborhoods.

I usually encourage people to avoid these kind of majors because the job prospect for those majors is not good and not lucrative. Math teaching job in NJ? good luck. extremely hard to find it. You're better off working for 7-11 and you'll actually make more at this job than what you're doing now. I know this because I have handful of friends who are high school teachers and one as college professor.... all in NJ and NY. because of economic situation - older teachers are not retiring so most of my friends are subs. few of them are lucky to land a job as full-time teachers.

My friend is a math genius and is one of the top math guys in NJ (from math competition). He ended up working for major bank company (I forget which) for number crunching stuff. My other friend is a math genius too but he was smart enough not to pursue it as major. He minored in math and majored in computer engineering (I think).... because of that - he landed a very lucrative job as System Engineer with ease at Lockheed Martins - working on UAV projects.

do not worry - all is not lost. Current economic situation is actually a great time for you and others to take opportunity in pursuing grad school but I highly recommend you to pursue something more "employable" such as engineering (defense contractors, gov't, etc), business (banks, financial corp, etc), accountant (banks, financial corps, SEC, etc), etc.

With your strong math background plus employable field.... there's no doubt that you can land a lucrative job anywhere, anytime - no matter what the economic situation is. NO DOUBT!

Good luck on your endeavor!!!

sallylou · 11-03-2009, 03:18 PM

LOL@Bott

Brother In Law

melissa · 11-03-2009, 04:59 PM

I have a BA in English Literature and Philosophy, and yeah- I'm unemployed. I want to work in IT though, and previous jobs have made use of my IT skills. They haven't paid particularly well, I could have done them from school- but that's the way things are at the moment for a lot of people my age (24). I don't drive and live in a small town so I think job opportunities are a lot different from in big cities.

I know a few people who have started Masters degrees simply because they can't find a job, and in my opinion I don't think that's wise. The added loan amount is not something I want right now, but everyone is different. I want to work in IT, I don't particularly care for money as long as I can get by and would like to afford to move out, so for me the best thing at the moment is to pursue IT jobs and save up. Having said that I am starting an ECDL computer course just to keep things more up-to-date, but as I'm not working it is free for me.

You've only been graduated since May- I really think, if you want to work full-time, you should give it more time. After finishing uni in June a few years ago it took me til September to get my first job, and it was the September after that when I got an IT related job. I had personal issues though which meant I didn't search as much as I could have. Everyone suggested teaching to me but a) the govt don't want English teachers so they won't give grants for that, and b) I don't want to be a teacher- I'm not a people person and I'm impatient.

It was hard for me to adjust coming home after uni, being back into 'working life' as I'd never really had a working life before, but it does wear off.

My questions/thinking points for you are:
Do you only want to do a postgrad as you're having trouble finding the job you want? Did you want to do postgrad anyway? If someone offered you the the job you want, which would you choose?
How long would you look for said job before you opt to do postgrad?
Do you miss the university lifestyle?

I know it's difficult- the economy royally sucks, and after uni I had a huge existential crisis of 'oh crap I've got a huge loan I can't afford to pay back and a crappy job and what was the point of all that', but I spent a lot of time figuring out what I want to do and I'm comfortable at the moment.

Jiro · 11-03-2009, 06:04 PM

simply put - if you do not know what you want to major in.... simply pick the employable field. English Literature and Philosophy are not exactly widely employable field. I would call it a "transferable skill" or "add-on skill". What I mean by that is that it can apply to whatever you're doing at work.

For ie - you can major in IT and minor in English (or double-major it)... that way - you can be the copywriter for IT companies because many websites need people to write something for their products, policy, etc. Your English Literature background will not go to waste. it is relatively hard to find people with good writing skill plus IT skill because together - it makes a huge huge difference when it comes to e-commerce business. Which one are you more likely to shop? a site full of pictures with shoddy, confusing sentences or a site with clearly-understood and fresh writing?

Nowadays - the most important skill is IT. You really need to know how to use computer and Internet. Any other add-on skill such as math, writing, history, etc... it will put you ahead of others. For practical purpose - college is not a place for your "interest" because it is expensive 4-years investment for you. You will be in shitload of debt after you graduate. Finding a job is hard enough already. College is an investment for your future. You must major in something EMPLOYABLE. For your "interest/hobby" - it doesn't hurt to minor in it to learn more about it but do not major in it because most of time - it does not pay well and it's not very employable.

sallylou · 11-03-2009, 06:07 PM

English majors and other humanity majors, two words-- law school. Writing skills will get you far there.

Jiro · 11-03-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sallylou

English majors and other humanity majors, two words-- law school. Writing skills will get you far there.

i forgot to say this. Philosophy major will help you pretty good for law school as well.

Loghead · 11-03-2009, 06:13 PM

PolySci is one of those majors that you have to go to law school/teacher's college for if you want a chance of getting a job, right?

sallylou · 11-03-2009, 06:14 PM

Yes, it does. I also took logic which is a class in the philosophy department and it was really useful.

The economy will get better. I always tell people to follow their heart and the rest will work out. We need to stick together and help each other until the job market improves.

sallylou · 11-03-2009, 06:16 PM

If you're going to study poly/sci, it's probably a good idea to get certification to teach social studies (history, government, etc.) Then you have a fall back plan and can teach until you get everything set for law school. Otherwise, there aren't many jobs for that major.

Jiro · 11-03-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loghead

PolySci is one of those majors that you have to go to law school/teacher's college for if you want a chance of getting a job, right?

yes and no.

yes it is nice to have in your background to show but it is not a very employable field when you're fresh out of school. Who wants to hire person with that skill but no experience? The entry level in this field is very very very very tough... even brutal. Your key to success in this field is connection via fraternity/sorority.

shel90 · 11-03-2009, 06:23 PM

I have a Master's in Elementary Deaf Ed. It took me 7 months to land my teaching job.

Oceanblue7 · 11-03-2009, 06:24 PM

You can do a lot with your math degree, working an engineer job, aerospace environment career maybe, hope that helps can't think of any others right now.

sallylou · 11-03-2009, 06:27 PM

To answer your question about admission, law schools look for diversity. With good grades in any major and a good LSAT score, you'll get admitted to a law school. Study what interests you most and concentrate on doing well.

Biology, chemistry and engineering majors typically become patent attorneys. Sorry, but you can't get in the patent bar with a math degree.

Loghead · 11-03-2009, 06:29 PM

I have been thinking about how PolySci might not be a good idea. I've been looking at a major in Public Administration. I have also thought of maybe taking a minor in PolySci with it. Public Administration is fairly usable, correct?

sallylou · 11-03-2009, 06:34 PM

Here's a link about it:

Public Administration Major | What Can You Do With a College Degree in Public Administration?

I would think that you would need at least a masters. It might be wise to focus on health care. Maybe someone else has more info.

Jiro · 11-03-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loghead

I have been thinking about how PolySci might not be a good idea. I've been looking at a major in Public Administration. I have also thought of maybe taking a minor in PolySci with it. Public Administration is fairly usable, correct?

yep! Public Administration = a very employable field but hard (still better than polysci major). Together with PolySci... it'll make your background stands out from "typical background". Most important is to rack up internship experience and part-time job experience relating to this.

Most end up in government sector but most requires Master's and license (such as Professional Engineer). Public Administration - Master Degree program at my work (a small private university) is one of the most popular majors in here. Majority of these students are in government jobs - mostly for NYC and Homeland Security.

Jiro · 11-03-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oceanblue7

You can do a lot with your math degree, working an engineer job, aerospace environment career maybe, hope that helps can't think of any others right now.

For that - engineering major should be your primary. With math degree as minor or double-major - the chance of your job prospect will be much higher! You cannot do math in those field if you do not have engineering background. Math is a very very broad skill. You need a specific training and knowledge in certain field in order to apply math to it. For ie - math knowledge for civil engineering will not work for electrical engineering. Completely different math formula.

That's why my friend majored in Computer Engineering (I think) plus math... and that's how he landed a job as System Engineer for Lockheed Martins.

Loghead · 11-03-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

yep! Public Administration = a very employable field but hard (still better than polysci major). Together with PolySci... it'll make your background stands out from "typical background". Most important is to rack up internship experience and part-time job experience relating to this.

Most end up in government sector but most requires Master's and license (such as Professional Engineer). Public Administration - Master Degree program at my work (a small private university) is one of the most popular majors in here. Majority of these students are in government jobs - mostly for NYC and Homeland Security.

So if I was to do a double major degree program in Public Administration and Political Science, then it would look pretty good? I would probably want to go out and work for a while and if I didn't like where I was, I would consider law school.

Another question... are Public Administration and Public Affairs and Policy Management pretty much the same thing? The reason I am asking is because I notice that the university I want to go to doesn't offer Public Administration, but Public Affairs and Policy Management. The other university in the area offers Public Administration and Political Science but I'm not sure if I want to go there because it is required that you do some courses in French.

melissa · 11-03-2009, 07:06 PM

Jiro, funny that you mention it as my last long-term job was writing product descriptions and uploading photos for an online shop!

I'm the only one here who doesn't subscribe to 'major in something employable'- (except sallylou who said follow your heart- I agree!) I went to uni because I loved my subjects- if I wanted a job when I was 18 I would have got one. But I'm not under the illusion (anymore!) that my degree automatically entitles me to well-paying jobs- I think experience is more important, at least in the area where I live it seems to be.

I also noticed that everyone is discussing subjects to study at uni and the job prospects thereof- my opinion/advice to the OP is that it's your humongous loan, so you really should study what you enjoy. Don't expect it to equal a job, though: for me, job experience or hands-on volunteering etc equals a job.

My first impression of the OP's post it's not really about what jobs he can get with a Masters in Maths, or a BSc in Maths, but about what to do now the expensive degree has not got you the sort of job you want. I apologise if I'm misinterpreting, and I don't mean to sound harsh in any way. I just feel a concern that getting another loan and degree because you haven't found the sort of job you want is rather extreme, but again I don't know if the OP has always wanted another degree, I'm just speculating.

Incidentally- I'm the only English poster so far- perhaps my opinion is reflective of differences in society between the US and UK- or maybe I'm just bitter because I never had a graduate job and I'm poor ;-)

Jiro · 11-03-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loghead

So if I was to do a double major degree program in Public Administration and Political Science, then it would look pretty good? I would probably want to go out and work for a while and if I didn't like where I was, I would consider law school.

I would like to say yes but I cannot answer that for you. I can simply tell you to look for employable field.. like Public Administration. Will you get a job after you graduate? I surely hope so! If you are pretty good in this Public Administration major along with work experience, I believe you will do pretty good in life.

Mind you - political science is a hard major. It requires tons of readings and writing. So does Public Administration. If you're up to that task, go for it!

because I'm almost 28 years old and in that age - you see a lot of thing, hear a lot of thing, know a lot of thing... a life experience. This is, of course, subjective. It is up to you to take it with a grain of salt or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loghead

Another question... are Public Administration and Public Affairs and Policy Management pretty much the same thing? The reason I am asking is because I notice that the university I want to go to doesn't offer Public Administration, but Public Affairs and Policy Management. The other university in the area offers Public Administration and Political Science but I'm not sure if I want to go there because it is required that you do some courses in French.

You'll have to ask your academic adviser about it. I'm not sure but I think public administration at state university (usually big and reputable one) is actually better.

Jiro · 11-03-2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melissa

Jiro, funny that you mention it as my last long-term job was writing product descriptions and uploading photos for an online shop!

I'm the only one here who doesn't subscribe to 'major in something employable'- (except sallylou who said follow your heart- I agree!) I went to uni because I loved my subjects- if I wanted a job when I was 18 I would have got one. But I'm not under the illusion (anymore!) that my degree automatically entitles me to well-paying jobs- I think experience is more important, at least in the area where I live it seems to be.

I also noticed that everyone is discussing subjects to study at uni and the job prospects thereof- my opinion/advice to the OP is that it's your humongous loan, so you really should study what you enjoy. Don't expect it to equal a job, though: for me, job experience or hands-on volunteering etc equals a job.

My first impression of the OP's post it's not really about what jobs he can get with a Masters in Maths, or a BSc in Maths, but about what to do now the expensive degree has not got you the sort of job you want. I apologise if I'm misinterpreting, and I don't mean to sound harsh in any way. I just feel a concern that getting another loan and degree because you haven't found the sort of job you want is rather extreme, but again I don't know if the OP has always wanted another degree, I'm just speculating.

Incidentally- I'm the only English poster so far- perhaps my opinion is reflective of differences in society between the US and UK- or maybe I'm just bitter because I never had a graduate job and I'm poor ;-)

yep - it's pretty much YMMV.

sallylou · 11-03-2009, 07:41 PM

Melissa, attitudes in the U.S. are changing because of the economy. It used to be that everyone wanted to major in business and expected to get a job making lots of money straight out of college. People are now questioning the wisdom of that. More people are starting out in community college if they don't know what they want to do. Everyone has to take the same basic classes and living with parents longer while commuting to these classes makes sense.

I don't think that it's ever a good idea to choose a major based on a particular job. That job may not even exist later. When I was in college, the hot major was computer science and now most of those jobs have been off shored or filled with visa workers. There are very talented people who have been out of work for a long time.

No job is a great job if you don't like it no matter how much it pays. It also depends on your goals and values. Do you want to work on weekends every weekend? Some jobs require this. Some jobs require extensive travel. If you want family life, these jobs are a bad fit. I have kids, so I don't want these kind of jobs. Maybe I'm not successful in monetary terms but my primary goal is to rear my kids. I define success on my own terms. If you want to work in nonprofits, you'll get paid less but you may be happier doing what you consider fulfilling and worthwhile.

Finally, consider being entrepreneurial. My dog sitter used to have a corporate job and now she has her own pet sitting business. She takes her dog around to her clients' homes and walks dogs. She loves her job. It takes a while to build up enough clients to make a living, but it gives the business owner a lot of freedom.

Take career advice with a grain of salt. No one knows what will happen in the future. I believe in following your heart and being happy at the end of the day because you did.

Jiro · 11-03-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sallylou

Melissa, attitudes in the U.S. are changing because of the economy. It used to be that everyone wanted to major in business and expected to get a job making lots of money straight out of college. People are now questioning the wisdom of that. More people are starting out in community college if they don't know what they want to do. Everyone has to take the same basic classes and living with parents longer while commuting to these classes makes sense.

I don't think that it's ever a good idea to choose a major based on a particular job. That job may not even exist later. When I was in college, the hot major was computer science and now most of those jobs have been off shored or filled with visa workers. There are very talented people who have been out of work for a long time.

No job is a great job if you don't like it no matter how much it pays. It also depends on your goals and values. Do you want to work on weekends every weekend? Some jobs require this. Some jobs require extensive travel. If you want family life, these jobs are a bad fit. I have kids, so I don't want these kind of jobs. Maybe I'm not successful in monetary terms but my primary goal is to rear my kids. I define success on my own terms. If you want to work in nonprofits, you'll get paid less but you may be happier doing what you consider fulfilling and worthwhile.

Finally, consider being entrepreneurial. My dog sitter used to have a corporate job and now she has her own pet sitting business. She takes her dog around to her clients' homes and walks dogs. She loves her job. It takes a while to build up enough clients to make a living, but it gives the business owner a lot of freedom.

Take career advice with a grain of salt. No one knows what will happen in the future. I believe in following your heart and being happy at the end of the day because you did.

yep. your career advice and my career advice are opposite of each other. It is up to one to decide on it but it largely depends on one's ability and diligence to pursue one's interest.

You can pick the major based on job trend but most importantly - make yourself more distinctive than others! Don't position yourself to a "robotic" work lifestyle where there is no chance of promotion or career growth.

shel90 · 11-03-2009, 08:37 PM

It is very hard these days. It used to be back in the old days that getting a college degree would almost guarantee anyone a job but now, it seems like a BA or even a MA isnt enough.

dogmom · 11-03-2009, 10:54 PM

Well, I don't have Master's or PhD but I can say, took me long time to figure out what to major in in college and it actually was a matter to me of, what could I succeed in, as a major? And what was I interested in at time? What job afterward was a part of it, but not the only part, maybe not even THE part. Looking back on it, maybe some career counseling would have helped me.....I had social service jobs the first couple of years out of college but moved away from that. One thing to consider is to meet with people who have same degree and see what they're doing.... is there some kind of recent post-college mentoring program where maybe people who have graduated in the last couple of years in your field come back and have discussion w/seniors or new graduates? I think advice may also depend on individual geographical location and industries in the area, as well as degree of flexibility to re-locate. And I do agree that in this day, thinking "outside the box" may be very significant too, because things change so rapidly and even if one gets a job, one does not know what will happen to that job.

Reba · 11-03-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loghead

PolySci is one of those majors that you have to go to law school/teacher's college for if you want a chance of getting a job, right?

I earned my BS degree in political science (I even won that year's "Political Science Major Award"). I never worked a day in that field. My minor was religion. I took a couple of semesters in a second major for computer science (BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, and network development). Then I went for an associate degree in interpreting. That turned out to be the field that I now love and work in.

Reba · 11-03-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

...Mind you - political science is a hard major. It requires tons of readings and writing....

That's a fact. We never had multiple choice or true/false tests. Everything was essay tests. No open books. Lots of research papers (pre-internet days), field work, and interviewing. When you gave an answer in class, you better have a citation to back up your answer.

11-03-2009, 08:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
deafsigma Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: nj Posts: 4	higher education and such Hi all, I currently reside in NJ, and just graduated from college back in may with a bachelor's in mathematics. Currently, i've been looking for a job that makes use of that degree whether directly or indirectly, and I haven't had much luck. I do have a part time job with a test preparation company, so it's not like i'm unemployed, but it's not what i want to be doing. Has anyone gone on for a masters or doctorate on the forum, and if so how hard was your job search afterwards? mods, you can move this post if it's in the wrong forum -deafsigma

11-03-2009, 01:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
sallylou Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 2,098	Have you considered getting a teachers certification to teach secondary mathematics? There's always a shortage of qualified math teachers. I used to be a math teacher. I decided not to pursue a higher mathematics degree. I went to law school instead. I thought that my options would be more limited with a masters or doctorate in math. Most people who earn these degrees end up teaching in community colleges, which is not a bad gig because they pay more than state universities. If you'd like teaching in community college, go for it. My BIL has a doctorate in math. He didn't want to teach at community college and wasn't successful getting into a post-doc program. He went back to work in the construction industry because he's also a civil engineer. He said that he just got tired of thinking so hard about theory all of the time. Hope this helps. PM me if you want more info. I'd be wary about taking out more student loans right now. The economy sucks and it's a tough market out there, even for highly qualified people. __________________ Happy holidays!

11-03-2009, 02:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jiro YOU DOMESTIC DISSENT! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Sopranos State Posts: 22,991	bachelor in math? sorry but.... there's not much use for it in terms of employment unless you're very good at it (ie. number-crunching ability). Most people who majored in English, literature, math, history, physics, or art tend to go to grad school to get teaching degree. but then... after that - it's extremely hard to find teaching job in a "nice town". The only available job is the low-paying teaching job at school in terrible neighborhoods. I usually encourage people to avoid these kind of majors because the job prospect for those majors is not good and not lucrative. Math teaching job in NJ? good luck. extremely hard to find it. You're better off working for 7-11 and you'll actually make more at this job than what you're doing now. I know this because I have handful of friends who are high school teachers and one as college professor.... all in NJ and NY. because of economic situation - older teachers are not retiring so most of my friends are subs. few of them are lucky to land a job as full-time teachers. My friend is a math genius and is one of the top math guys in NJ (from math competition). He ended up working for major bank company (I forget which) for number crunching stuff. My other friend is a math genius too but he was smart enough not to pursue it as major. He minored in math and majored in computer engineering (I think).... because of that - he landed a very lucrative job as System Engineer with ease at Lockheed Martins - working on UAV projects. do not worry - all is not lost. Current economic situation is actually a great time for you and others to take opportunity in pursuing grad school but I highly recommend you to pursue something more "employable" such as engineering (defense contractors, gov't, etc), business (banks, financial corp, etc), accountant (banks, financial corps, SEC, etc), etc. With your strong math background plus employable field.... there's no doubt that you can land a lucrative job anywhere, anytime - no matter what the economic situation is. NO DOUBT! Good luck on your endeavor!!! __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

11-03-2009, 03:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
sallylou Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 2,098	LOL@Bott Brother In Law __________________ Happy holidays!

11-03-2009, 06:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jiro YOU DOMESTIC DISSENT! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Sopranos State Posts: 22,991	simply put - if you do not know what you want to major in.... simply pick the employable field. English Literature and Philosophy are not exactly widely employable field. I would call it a "transferable skill" or "add-on skill". What I mean by that is that it can apply to whatever you're doing at work. For ie - you can major in IT and minor in English (or double-major it)... that way - you can be the copywriter for IT companies because many websites need people to write something for their products, policy, etc. Your English Literature background will not go to waste. it is relatively hard to find people with good writing skill plus IT skill because together - it makes a huge huge difference when it comes to e-commerce business. Which one are you more likely to shop? a site full of pictures with shoddy, confusing sentences or a site with clearly-understood and fresh writing? Nowadays - the most important skill is IT. You really need to know how to use computer and Internet. Any other add-on skill such as math, writing, history, etc... it will put you ahead of others. For practical purpose - college is not a place for your "interest" because it is expensive 4-years investment for you. You will be in shitload of debt after you graduate. Finding a job is hard enough already. College is an investment for your future. You must major in something EMPLOYABLE. For your "interest/hobby" - it doesn't hurt to minor in it to learn more about it but do not major in it because most of time - it does not pay well and it's not very employable. __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

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11-03-2009, 04:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
melissa Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cheshire, UK. Posts: 188	I have a BA in English Literature and Philosophy, and yeah- I'm unemployed. I want to work in IT though, and previous jobs have made use of my IT skills. They haven't paid particularly well, I could have done them from school- but that's the way things are at the moment for a lot of people my age (24). I don't drive and live in a small town so I think job opportunities are a lot different from in big cities. I know a few people who have started Masters degrees simply because they can't find a job, and in my opinion I don't think that's wise. The added loan amount is not something I want right now, but everyone is different. I want to work in IT, I don't particularly care for money as long as I can get by and would like to afford to move out, so for me the best thing at the moment is to pursue IT jobs and save up. Having said that I am starting an ECDL computer course just to keep things more up-to-date, but as I'm not working it is free for me. You've only been graduated since May- I really think, if you want to work full-time, you should give it more time. After finishing uni in June a few years ago it took me til September to get my first job, and it was the September after that when I got an IT related job. I had personal issues though which meant I didn't search as much as I could have. Everyone suggested teaching to me but a) the govt don't want English teachers so they won't give grants for that, and b) I don't want to be a teacher- I'm not a people person and I'm impatient. It was hard for me to adjust coming home after uni, being back into 'working life' as I'd never really had a working life before, but it does wear off. My questions/thinking points for you are: Do you only want to do a postgrad as you're having trouble finding the job you want? Did you want to do postgrad anyway? If someone offered you the the job you want, which would you choose? How long would you look for said job before you opt to do postgrad? Do you miss the university lifestyle? I know it's difficult- the economy royally sucks, and after uni I had a huge existential crisis of 'oh crap I've got a huge loan I can't afford to pay back and a crappy job and what was the point of all that', but I spent a lot of time figuring out what I want to do and I'm comfortable at the moment.

11-03-2009, 06:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
sallylou Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 2,098	English majors and other humanity majors, two words-- law school. Writing skills will get you far there. __________________ Happy holidays!

11-03-2009, 06:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
Loghead Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,183	PolySci is one of those majors that you have to go to law school/teacher's college for if you want a chance of getting a job, right?

11-03-2009, 06:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
sallylou Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 2,098	Yes, it does. I also took logic which is a class in the philosophy department and it was really useful. The economy will get better. I always tell people to follow their heart and the rest will work out. We need to stick together and help each other until the job market improves. __________________ Happy holidays!

11-03-2009, 06:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
sallylou Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 2,098	If you're going to study poly/sci, it's probably a good idea to get certification to teach social studies (history, government, etc.) Then you have a fall back plan and can teach until you get everything set for law school. Otherwise, there aren't many jobs for that major. __________________ Happy holidays!

11-03-2009, 06:23 PM	#14 (permalink)
shel90 In a pink and black world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the land of the free Posts: 24,083 Blog Entries: 3	I have a Master's in Elementary Deaf Ed. It took me 7 months to land my teaching job. __________________ Shel~ "A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

11-03-2009, 06:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
Oceanblue7 Patriots Rock! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: She Walks by faith not by sight Posts: 6,710 Blog Entries: 27	You can do a lot with your math degree, working an engineer job, aerospace environment career maybe, hope that helps can't think of any others right now. __________________ Ps.103:12 He washes our sins away into the ocean Brady's back "We have unfinished business to take care of" Randy Moss,#81, WR

11-03-2009, 06:27 PM	#16 (permalink)
sallylou Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 2,098	To answer your question about admission, law schools look for diversity. With good grades in any major and a good LSAT score, you'll get admitted to a law school. Study what interests you most and concentrate on doing well. Biology, chemistry and engineering majors typically become patent attorneys. Sorry, but you can't get in the patent bar with a math degree. __________________ Happy holidays!

11-03-2009, 06:29 PM	#17 (permalink)
Loghead Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,183	I have been thinking about how PolySci might not be a good idea. I've been looking at a major in Public Administration. I have also thought of maybe taking a minor in PolySci with it. Public Administration is fairly usable, correct?

11-03-2009, 06:34 PM	#18 (permalink)
sallylou Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 2,098	Here's a link about it: Public Administration Major \| What Can You Do With a College Degree in Public Administration? I would think that you would need at least a masters. It might be wise to focus on health care. Maybe someone else has more info. __________________ Happy holidays!

11-03-2009, 07:06 PM	#22 (permalink)
melissa Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cheshire, UK. Posts: 188	Jiro, funny that you mention it as my last long-term job was writing product descriptions and uploading photos for an online shop! I'm the only one here who doesn't subscribe to 'major in something employable'- (except sallylou who said follow your heart- I agree!) I went to uni because I loved my subjects- if I wanted a job when I was 18 I would have got one. But I'm not under the illusion (anymore!) that my degree automatically entitles me to well-paying jobs- I think experience is more important, at least in the area where I live it seems to be. I also noticed that everyone is discussing subjects to study at uni and the job prospects thereof- my opinion/advice to the OP is that it's your humongous loan, so you really should study what you enjoy. Don't expect it to equal a job, though: for me, job experience or hands-on volunteering etc equals a job. My first impression of the OP's post it's not really about what jobs he can get with a Masters in Maths, or a BSc in Maths, but about what to do now the expensive degree has not got you the sort of job you want. I apologise if I'm misinterpreting, and I don't mean to sound harsh in any way. I just feel a concern that getting another loan and degree because you haven't found the sort of job you want is rather extreme, but again I don't know if the OP has always wanted another degree, I'm just speculating. Incidentally- I'm the only English poster so far- perhaps my opinion is reflective of differences in society between the US and UK- or maybe I'm just bitter because I never had a graduate job and I'm poor ;-)

11-03-2009, 07:41 PM	#25 (permalink)
sallylou Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 2,098	Melissa, attitudes in the U.S. are changing because of the economy. It used to be that everyone wanted to major in business and expected to get a job making lots of money straight out of college. People are now questioning the wisdom of that. More people are starting out in community college if they don't know what they want to do. Everyone has to take the same basic classes and living with parents longer while commuting to these classes makes sense. I don't think that it's ever a good idea to choose a major based on a particular job. That job may not even exist later. When I was in college, the hot major was computer science and now most of those jobs have been off shored or filled with visa workers. There are very talented people who have been out of work for a long time. No job is a great job if you don't like it no matter how much it pays. It also depends on your goals and values. Do you want to work on weekends every weekend? Some jobs require this. Some jobs require extensive travel. If you want family life, these jobs are a bad fit. I have kids, so I don't want these kind of jobs. Maybe I'm not successful in monetary terms but my primary goal is to rear my kids. I define success on my own terms. If you want to work in nonprofits, you'll get paid less but you may be happier doing what you consider fulfilling and worthwhile. Finally, consider being entrepreneurial. My dog sitter used to have a corporate job and now she has her own pet sitting business. She takes her dog around to her clients' homes and walks dogs. She loves her job. It takes a while to build up enough clients to make a living, but it gives the business owner a lot of freedom. Take career advice with a grain of salt. No one knows what will happen in the future. I believe in following your heart and being happy at the end of the day because you did. __________________ Happy holidays!

11-03-2009, 08:37 PM	#27 (permalink)
shel90 In a pink and black world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the land of the free Posts: 24,083 Blog Entries: 3	It is very hard these days. It used to be back in the old days that getting a college degree would almost guarantee anyone a job but now, it seems like a BA or even a MA isnt enough. __________________ Shel~ "A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

11-03-2009, 10:54 PM	#28 (permalink)
dogmom Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,469	Well, I don't have Master's or PhD but I can say, took me long time to figure out what to major in in college and it actually was a matter to me of, what could I succeed in, as a major? And what was I interested in at time? What job afterward was a part of it, but not the only part, maybe not even THE part. Looking back on it, maybe some career counseling would have helped me.....I had social service jobs the first couple of years out of college but moved away from that. One thing to consider is to meet with people who have same degree and see what they're doing.... is there some kind of recent post-college mentoring program where maybe people who have graduated in the last couple of years in your field come back and have discussion w/seniors or new graduates? I think advice may also depend on individual geographical location and industries in the area, as well as degree of flexibility to re-locate. And I do agree that in this day, thinking "outside the box" may be very significant too, because things change so rapidly and even if one gets a job, one does not know what will happen to that job.

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