Most STEM grads don't work in STEM jobs • Hacker News Board

Re: Most STEM grads don't work in STEM jobs

#151

Post by rockemsockem » Thu, Jan 18, 2024, 11:39 PM UTC

1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #138

NanoYohaneTSU wrote: post #83

Extremely poor journalism. Very misleading and a misunderstanding of what's actually going on. Example: "The Census Bureau reported in 2021 that a paltry 28% of STEM grads are working in these supposedly in-demand, highly paid and important STEM jobs." It's not 28% of all STEM grads, it's 28% of physical science STEM grads. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/06/does-majoring... I'm going to do a better job t…

The article is just paraphrasing what is reported on the census.gov page. As such, we are being told (mislead) by an HN commenter that the Census Bureau is incapable of summarising their own data. From census.gov: https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/06/does-majoring... "Among the 50 million employed college graduates ages 25 to 64 in 2019, 37% reported a bachelor's degree in science or engineering but only 14…

I looked at the census site and they're also including psychology majors, which is the most popular college major in America. Unsurprisingly, most of these folks don't go on to apply that major in scientific research. I think it's a pretty normal degree to get for social work, therapy, etc.

Re: Most STEM grads don't work in STEM jobs

#152

Post by 1vuio0pswjnm7 » Fri, Jan 19, 2024, 1:05 AM UTC

rockemsockem wrote: post #151

1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article is just paraphrasing what is reported on the census.gov page. As such, we are being told (mislead) by an HN commenter that the Census Bureau is incapable of summarising their own data. From census.gov: https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/06/does-majoring... "Among the 50 million employed college graduates ages 25 to 64 in 2019, 37% reported a bachelor's degree in science or engineering but only 14…

I looked at the census site and they're also including psychology majors, which is the most popular college major in America. Unsurprisingly, most of these folks don't go on to apply that major in scientific research. I think it's a pretty normal degree to get for social work, therapy, etc.

Seems that "STEM" has a very broad definition of "science".

Re: Most STEM grads don't work in STEM jobs

#153

Post by e63f67dd-065b » Fri, Jan 19, 2024, 8:57 PM UTC

lurking15 wrote: post #106

torginus wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I kinda find this relatable - in HS, I did some summer work writing software (amateurishly doing what felt right instead of being taught how to do it properly - if only I'd have known), and went for EE, because I felt like "wait this cannot be it"

I chose EE cause it was harder (for me at least) and everyone would drop out into CS. Wound up doing software development, which I loved as a hobby and wanted to avoid ruining, so to speak. Fast forward to today, I've ended up coming to the conclusion that the whole university system (much like the tech, banking & finance industry) subsidizes foreign nationals to the detriment of anyone who's native & pays taxes to s…

It's the other way around, most of the big universities charge international students through the nose to subsidise domestic students.

Re: Most STEM grads don't work in STEM jobs

#154

Post by ghostpepper » Wed, Jan 24, 2024, 1:03 AM UTC

hiAndrewQuinn wrote: post #86

ghostpepper wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would go back from software to EE in a heartbeat if the compensation was even remotely comparable

Why? Genuine question, what is the exciting differences in the day to day work for you?

Playing with electricity just feels more "real" in the sense that you're working directly with the constraints of the physical world. It's more tangible.

Re: Most STEM grads don't work in STEM jobs

#155

Post by kai_ferr » Wed, Jan 24, 2024, 5:58 PM UTC

devwastaken wrote: post #4

STEM students can't apply for internships because they are on site and will not pay for relocation, will not pay for housing, and rent leases rarely will do short durations. Most grads get those because their family+friends had the resources to help them be successfull. Living in a large city with stem jobs and having an extra room. As housing capital is squeezed so is the nation. The trend is not improving, many oth…

The only one benefit of proximity between industry and education is apparent. However, the current financial burdens and stringent prerequisites render these institutions inaccessible to many. High cost of living necessitates parental intervention, often negating the possibility of self-funded students. Prudent individuals are unwilling to jeopardize five years of their life and accumulate substantial debt for a potential. This perhaps elucidates the high attrition rates among higher education students.