Earning potential / college choice

**clones_jer** · 08-05-2008, 09:18 AM

Go to ISU, and in 15 years you'll be making ~ $700 more a year than your equivalent EIU grad ... sweet.

WSJ.com

**joefrog** · 08-05-2008, 09:27 AM

That is why I tell every smart kid I know going to college to at least get an engineering degree. Do a double major if they like, and have their other major be their real area of interest, but get that engineering degree. It is worth the effort. Learn to solve problems, and prove that you can handle a difficult curriculum.

**clones_jer** · 08-05-2008, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by joefrog

That is why I tell every smart kid I know going to college to at least get an engineering degree. Do a double major if they like, and have their other major be their real area of interest, but get that engineering degree. It is worth the effort. Learn to solve problems, and prove that you can handle a difficult curriculum.

and that's not even mentioning the opportunity to drive the train...

**saf** · 08-05-2008, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by joefrog

That is why I tell every smart kid I know going to college to at least get an engineering degree. Do a double major if they like, and have their other major be their real area of interest, but get that engineering degree. It is worth the effort. Learn to solve problems, and prove that you can handle a difficult curriculum.

Agreed. Mechanical Engineer here doing absolutely no "true" engineering, but I went in to it to learn to solve problems and I use that every day.

**PGreen ISU '92** · 08-05-2008, 04:02 PM

I’m super pleased about the results of the study but I’m surprised as EIU has a medical school and a law school; whereas, ISU does not.

**aeroclone** · 08-05-2008, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by PGreen ISU '92

I’m super pleased about the results of the study but I’m surprised as EIU has a medical school and a law school; whereas, ISU does not.

You know, this does kinda shoot some holes in one of the big theories about the difference in the athletic budgets of the two schools. You always hear the argument made that all the doctors and lawers make the big money and so the fanbase at eiu has more money to give than us. According to this data, that isn't really the case.

**LindenCy** · 08-05-2008, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by aeroclone

You know, this does kinda shoot some holes in one of the big theories about the difference in the athletic budgets of the two schools. You always hear the argument made that all the doctors and lawers make the big money and so the fanbase at eiu has more money to give than us. According to this data, that isn't really the case.

I think, however, even though our average may be higher, the doctors and lawyers have larger earnings potential, on average, so you have possibility of bigger donors. This means that we need more people donating.

**cybsball20** · 08-05-2008, 04:12 PM

I'm guessing it is based on undergrads...

**cstrunk** · 08-05-2008, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by LindenCy

I think, however, even though our average may be higher, the doctors and lawyers have larger earnings potential, on average, so you have possibility of bigger donors. This means that we need more people donating.

Right, they have more people who make really high amounts of money compared to us. However, the difference in donations shouldn't be as large as it currently stands.

**aeroclone** · 08-05-2008, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by LindenCy

I think, however, even though our average may be higher, the doctors and lawyers have larger earnings potential, on average, so you have possibility of bigger donors. This means that we need more people donating.

So are you saying that you think there are some very very low earners holding down the average for EIU then? (You won't have much trouble selling me on that theory)

**LindenCy** · 08-05-2008, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by aeroclone

So are you saying that you think there are some very very low earners holding down the average for EIU then? (You won't have much trouble selling me on that theory)

That is sort of what I was implying, but your point is taken. We do have a lot of good professionals out there. Engineering is one of the best degrees to get a job out of the gate versus a general LAS degree.

**jtd9046** · 08-05-2008, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by joefrog

That is why I tell every smart kid I know going to college to at least get an engineering degree. Do a double major if they like, and have their other major be their real area of interest, but get that engineering degree. It is worth the effort. Learn to solve problems, and prove that you can handle a difficult curriculum.

So since I don't have an engineering degree... I can't solve problems?

I should probably be fired from my job.

**cybsball20** · 08-05-2008, 04:20 PM

From the article that goes with the chart

"With a liberal-arts degree, it's what you make of it," says Al Lee, director of qualitative analysis at PayScale. "If you're motivated by income, then there are certainly careers in psychology that pay as well as careers out of engineering."