This past month I had final exams at gymnasium/high school. I passed all of them, but the results weren't what I expected. For example I did okay in English as a second language and society (this sounds awkward in English, lol), achieving 83% and 70% respectively. As I said, they're okay, but not good. I honestly expected few points more in English, but that's fine nevertheless. In maths and history I surprised myself as I got a lot more than I expected. In maths I expected 50%, but got 72%, which is pretty good. In history I achieved 79%, which isn't great, but not bad either. The real shocker was the exam for Estonian as mother tongue: I totally failed it, getting only 48 points out of 100. That was the exam for which I had the highest hopes. I did great at mock exams and essays, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.
Now on to choices. As I'm planning to continue my education, I'm facing a dilemma: engineering or humanities/liberal arts? Engineering would be the safer choice, but is it really for me?
The thing is, engineering requires good grip on natural sciences, but I'm only somewhat mediocre at maths, on a good day. Sadly, engineering isn't all about maths. That means if I'd choose the engineering path, I basically would have to start studying physics from zero. Another thing that scares me in regard to engineering is that it would require more "real" work. I see myself more as a theoretical guy, meaning I haven't done anything myself. Besides some handicraft classes, and creating few crappy songs on my computer, I haven't independently programmed/coded like Gates, built stuff like MacGyver or tested theories like Mythbusters. I don't see myself competent, when it comes to real-world situations.
Humanities would be the riskier choice. I probably won't be accepted anywhere, but what if? Problem with humanities is that if I'll get lucky I would get to politics, if not, maybe a low-payed job. I don't want to be a politician nor have a low salary. But when it comes to studying something like, let's say history, I could actually see myself doing it. Then again, history is something I could learn by myself on free time.
Depression is also easy to come, when having to face such choices. Actually, even without those choices, I would feel depressed. I don't know why, but that's how I feel. No matter what I do, I constantly feel lethargic. Being able to do one task for 10 minutes is my limit, 30 if I'm lucky. After that I start feeling hot and itchy. Wanting to learn how to program? Nope, not going to happen. And although I often feel tired, I still won't fall asleep. Maybe someday...
Tomorrow is the graduation ceremony at my school. My father will probably arrive there drunkenly.
Looks like no matter what choice I make, I will regret it.
What do you think, engineering or liberal arts? How important are physics when learning engineering? How does one stop feeling depressed/lethargic? Anyone know what it's like learning computer science or mechatronics, history, journalism or east asian studies? Career opporturnities?
I also managed to finish high school without using a facebook account, thug life.
i don't know what university is like in europe but in america there are plenty of CS majors who go in knowing absolutely nothing (as in, they don't even know what an if else statement is) and come out with a solid job
also what you learn in university programming classes generally won't prepare you for 'real world' applications anyways, you will learn what you need to on the job
physics is only important for some engineering... if you wanna do EE, civil, or chemical you'll need it but for CS or bio (i think) you just need to pass the prereq classes
Do computer science if you don't have a passion. Seriously, we need more programmers, pretty much everyone who graduates with a CS degree gets a job. So if there isn't another thing you're especially talented at or passionate about, take CS.
On June 21 2013 05:35 jrkirby wrote: Do computer science if you don't have a passion. Seriously, we need more programmers, pretty much everyone who graduates with a CS degree gets a job. So if there isn't another thing you're especially talented at or passionate about, take CS.
i disagree... that's what i did and i regret it. there's so much stuff that i have to know: multiple languages, frameworks, etc, and slogging through it all when you think it's really dull is pretty much the worst thing ever.
On June 21 2013 05:35 jrkirby wrote: Do computer science if you don't have a passion. Seriously, we need more programmers, pretty much everyone who graduates with a CS degree gets a job. So if there isn't another thing you're especially talented at or passionate about, take CS.
CS is pretty much the fashion business with computers: keep up with the fashion trends that come out once a month or so, or no one will care about you. Complete with fashion-esque names like "Ruby on Rails" and shiny Apple toys and the like.
If you're honestly unsure what you want to do, get a job instead. Work for a couple years, get some experience in the 'real world', do some online courses / read some education blogs or whatever and figure out what really interests you. Even if you work in a field completely unrelated to what you find interesting, simply talking to people from different walks of life and learning some so-called 'soft skills' will probably make it easier to decide what you want to commit to.
Doing a generic degree like languages or business could also be a good idea, not as a means of a career but just to give you something useful to do while you figure out what you really want to do with your life.
Don't pay for a degree that won't get you a job afterward. Don't pay $100-200k for a good liberal arts education. If you want a liberal arts education, go to school and talk to the liberal arts professors. Figure out what they're teaching, then read. A lot. That's my advice. If you're going to school to get a job, then go to school to get a job. Don't pay for something you can get from Google and your library and a few friends.
As an individual that has a degree in philosophy from a private, liberal arts school, here is what I found.
STEMs degrees are definitely more secure for a job.
However, this doesn't mean that it is impossible to get a job with a humanities degree. In fact, it is entirely possible and not that difficult.
The difference is motivation. For those countless people that are lazy, have very little work ethic, no passion, and no drive in their life, a STEMs degree (Science, tech, engineering, math) will get them a solid job where the can be mindless drones in a cubicle/at a desk, make a decent check, and go home. For these same people, it will be very, very hard to find a job with a humanities degree.
That said, if you are a motivated, skilled, passionate individual, it really won't be much harder to find a job with a humanities degree than it will be to find one with a STEM's degree. Just apply yourself, take opportunities as they come, and you will be surprised at what you can do.
Don't pay for a degree that won't get you a job afterward. Don't pay $100-200k for a good liberal arts education. If you want a liberal arts education, go to school and talk to the liberal arts professors. Figure out what they're teaching, then read. A lot. That's my advice. If you're going to school to get a job, then go to school to get a job. Don't pay for something you can get from Google and your library and a few friends.
Yea, people like this guy are what gives liberal arts a bad name.
People like this completely fail to understand the purpose of a liberal arts education (or education in general). Education isn't job training; job training is job training. Education is to improve yourself as an individual and as a citizen of society. Studying liberal arts will expose you to a far more diverse set of people, ideas, and opportunities than any STEM's-focused university will.
Hell, the vast majority of degrees don't actually teach you what you need to know to be successful in that field, regardless of if they're a liberal arts place or a hardcore STEM's university. Like I said, your degree is what you make it to be. If you love humanities and you actually work to make it into something, it isn't that difficult to get a job you love that pays well enough.
Oh, and to suggest that you can get what you learn from a liberal arts education at a library or from Google is ridiculous and incredibly ignorant.
On June 21 2013 05:26 rauk wrote: i don't know what university is like in europe but in america there are plenty of CS majors who go in knowing absolutely nothing (as in, they don't even know what an if else statement is) and come out with a solid job
also what you learn in university programming classes generally won't prepare you for 'real world' applications anyways, you will learn what you need to on the job
physics is only important for some engineering... if you wanna do EE, civil, or chemical you'll need it but for CS or bio (i think) you just need to pass the prereq classes
On June 21 2013 05:26 rauk wrote: i don't know what university is like in europe but in america there are plenty of CS majors who go in knowing absolutely nothing (as in, they don't even know what an if else statement is) and come out with a solid job
also what you learn in university programming classes generally won't prepare you for 'real world' applications anyways, you will learn what you need to on the job
physics is only important for some engineering... if you wanna do EE, civil, or chemical you'll need it but for CS or bio (i think) you just need to pass the prereq classes
That is an egregious exaggeration.
It's not far from the truth. I know a few people who went to a "trade school" (a reference farm with a name attached to it) and got some low level CS jobs in the Bay Area. The education consisted of less than 6 months of formal training and a few thousand dollars payment in return for a contact that will confirm their competence to a prospective employer.
On June 21 2013 05:26 rauk wrote: i don't know what university is like in europe but in america there are plenty of CS majors who go in knowing absolutely nothing (as in, they don't even know what an if else statement is) and come out with a solid job
also what you learn in university programming classes generally won't prepare you for 'real world' applications anyways, you will learn what you need to on the job
physics is only important for some engineering... if you wanna do EE, civil, or chemical you'll need it but for CS or bio (i think) you just need to pass the prereq classes
That is an egregious exaggeration.
It's not far from the truth. I know a few people who went to a "trade school" (a reference farm with a name attached to it) and got some low level CS jobs in the Bay Area. The education consisted of less than 6 months of formal training and a few thousand dollars payment in return for a contact that will confirm their competence to a prospective employer.
Yes, but I bet they know what an if else statement is.
Liberal Arts majors end up moderating on forums 24/7, probably doesn't pay too well! ^_^
But seriously, look at what type of jobs you could see yourself doing. Chances are no matter what you "enjoy" you won't actually like your job when you do graduate. I did engineering, but most days I'm making powerpoints, excels, gannt charts or whatnot. Its fun, but its not all fun and games.
liberal arts does not pay well and ends up working in Mcdonalds. Eng'g on the other hand branches out from IT to specific eng'g jobs. Critical thinking wins! Also makes u good in Sc2 haha
On June 21 2013 05:26 rauk wrote: i don't know what university is like in europe but in america there are plenty of CS majors who go in knowing absolutely nothing (as in, they don't even know what an if else statement is) and come out with a solid job
also what you learn in university programming classes generally won't prepare you for 'real world' applications anyways, you will learn what you need to on the job
physics is only important for some engineering... if you wanna do EE, civil, or chemical you'll need it but for CS or bio (i think) you just need to pass the prereq classes
That is an egregious exaggeration.
It's not far from the truth. I know a few people who went to a "trade school" (a reference farm with a name attached to it) and got some low level CS jobs in the Bay Area. The education consisted of less than 6 months of formal training and a few thousand dollars payment in return for a contact that will confirm their competence to a prospective employer.
Yes, but I bet they know what an if else statement is.
Yep, but that really pushes the limits of their knowledge. You really can get a job with almost nothing if you can talk a good talk.
im biased becuase im an engineer. but its probably the best proffession ever. im also heavily into science > arts
It should be more about what you want to do. I may spend more my life in a cubicle but im plugged into rediculously expensive machinery and i feel very rewarded when it does what im trying to make it do.
Overall, i recomend picking the job you want to get, then getting the degree you need to have it. if you dont feel rewarded by creating things then maybe engineering is not for you. but dont let what you do or do not know now hold you back from what you want to do. just learn more. engineering is physics with application so if you dont like physics then maybe its not for you.
having gone through many slumps with no modivation or happiness i can recomend getting a routine schedual together with clear goals. as lame as it sounds, if you say i will have this done by next week, then get it done on time, you feel better about yourself. it gives you structure too making you think like okay i can slack off for an hour then i have to work for 2 hrs to get this done. makes you appreciate your time off more and makes you work harder when you are working.
On June 21 2013 05:59 Stratos_speAr wrote:Education is to improve yourself as an individual and as a citizen of society. A Studying the liberal arts will expose you to a far more diverse set of people, ideas, and opportunities than any STEM's-focused university will.
I studied the liberal arts, and they turned me into a bitter, narrow-minded asshole.
On June 21 2013 05:59 Stratos_speAr wrote:Education is to improve yourself as an individual and as a citizen of society. A Studying the liberal arts will expose you to a far more diverse set of people, ideas, and opportunities than any STEM's-focused university will.
I studied the liberal arts, and they turned me into a bitter, narrow-minded asshole.
So why is it that we should value the opinion of some self-proclaimed narrow-minded asshole?
If you're wondering that question, engineering isn't for you...
It's presented as humor here, but it's actually a real thing. If you don't have "the knack" going in, you're probably not going to be able to make it through, and you're never going to enjoy it.
EPT
