What was/is your major? and Was it worth it?

Skyh13

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Mar 17, 2006
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Computer Engineering. In terms of job opportunities and pay, absolutely worth it.

Still trying to figure out exactly what direction I want to head with my career, but it has treated me well so far. Definitely feel blessed and very fortunate.
 

gocubs2118

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Mar 31, 2006
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Sports Management.

Yet to be seen if it's worth anything or not but I've already had some sweet internships. I'll know in a couple months if it's worth anything or not.
 

marothisu

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Jun 15, 2009
7,174
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NYC
My degree is in Computer Science. The degree program was challenging (2nd most dropped out of major when I went through it at least) and allowed me to see things in new ways. I am really thankful for that.

I got a offered a full time job a semester before I graduated and have been working ever since in a job that I actually enjoy doing, making a good amt of $$, especially for my age.

SO was it worth it? Definitely.
 

BooneCy

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May 30, 2006
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English (Secondary Education)

Was it worth it? I'm not sure. I met my wife in the same major and we have been married for 12 years. So, that was worth it. But, now I work in IT as a Technology Manager. So, none of it really applies unless I am writing performance reviews or presentations. But, hey, I am making more than an English teacher would ever dream of getting paid.
 

Flag Guy

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Mar 2, 2007
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Materials Engineering, definitely worth it (though I'll be paying off the debt for a few more years)

Got me a sweet gov't job working with something I found interesting as a kid. My job isn't as technical as I'd like it to be, but the pay / benefits are pretty decent, and it's keeping me interested so far.

And pays enough that I can still catch several ISU games in person every year, even living in Maryland :biggrin:
 

besserheimerphat

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Apr 11, 2006
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Mount Vernon, WA
Mechanical Engineering (2004)

I lucked out and got probably the best job available at a good company in central Iowa (R&D test engineer, I get to play with and break stuff for a living). I get to use my degree and also work with my hands almost every day. I get opportunities to travel now and then (spent a fair amount of time in oil refineries and power plants, and have been around North America and to Europe a couple times to present work that I've done). Now that I've been with the company for a while, I've confirmed that the research/new product development side of product testing is what I love and I'm about 1/3 of the way through an MS program in Reliability Engineering. That will keep me in the lab and keep me doing the kind of work I really enjoy. With my work experience in testing, the reliability analysis is really exciting to me. And if for some reason I decide I don't want to work "here" anymore, the reliability degree will open up a ton of well paying options all around the world.
 

HFCS

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Aug 13, 2010
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LA LA Land
BFA in Graphic Design from ISU

I get paid to draw rocket ships and dinosaurs all day so I am pretty happy with it.
 

CtownCyclone

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Jan 20, 2010
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BFA in Graphic Design from ISU

I get paid to draw rocket ships and dinosaurs all day so I am pretty happy with it.

So...have you ever drawn a dinosaur riding a rocket ship? Because that'd be awesome.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVWJ_I-Fdxw]Chris Farley interviews Paul McCartney - YouTube[/ame]
 

VTXCyRyD

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Sep 2, 2010
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I see no one is putting their salary up there, so I'll start with a range. I graduated in ITec 13 years ago, started at $36k. I now make between 70k and 80k, and could make around 20k more if I was willing to move/move out of state (yes, I've had 2 different offers). Not rich by any means, but I can afford what I want/need.
 

Rhoadhoused

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Apr 27, 2010
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Ames, IA

27 credits coming into college from dual credit in high school, planning on going to grad school and getting a MS in 5 years. I have 6 credits left next fall and the only reason I'm not finishing this spring is because those 2 classes are offered only in fall.
 

JP4CY

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I see no one is putting their salary up there, so I'll start with a range. I graduated in ITec 13 years ago, started at $36k. I now make between 70k and 80k, and could make around 20k more if I was willing to move/move out of state (yes, I've had 2 different offers). Not rich by any means, but I can afford what I want/need.
What type of industry are you in? Manufacturing?
 

brianhos

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Computer science, and it was totally worth it. One of the best decisions I ever made.
 

danielyp29

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Jan 3, 2011
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Ames
Music Performance, Computer Science and Math. Still finishing up but they were good in different ways. I enjoy what I'm doing and music scholarships helped me pay for college.
 
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agcy68

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Feb 9, 2007
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Iowa
Ag Engineering - Emphasis in Machinery

Well worth it. This degree is basically the same as a Mech. Engineering degree (for which more jobs are available). But, I grew up on a farm and wanted to work on Ag Equipment which I have now for 17 years.

Engineering is well worth it as there have been lots of openenings for engineers since I graduated and will be for the foreseeable future Also, I know several engineering grads that got jobs outside the field very easily. It requires dedication in studies, but an engineering degree is very valuable.
 

MeanDean

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Jan 5, 2009
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BSCE, Hell yes.

My father was a Civil Servant and I did NOT want to do that for a living. But when I graduated there were suddenly NO jobs in the field. Got a decent offer from the Corps of Engrs commuting distance from home so decided to take it "temporarily". Salary was $19,747/year.

Moved into a couple of different government jobs. Some good, some crappy. Survived the 80's when private industry was luring people out of the gov't with big salaries and bonuses. It was worth it to stick it out. Retirement with 30 years and age 55 (the bare minimum, thank you very much).

Had some challenging times and some times when I could coast a bit. Went into 1st level managment (not worth it, at least in Gov't), but found an identically paying non-supervisory position so moved into that my last 3 years.

You'll never be rich working for the gov't but you probably will never go hungry. There is an inordinate amount of non-technical related Bull **** that seemed to get worse and more burdensome (taking time from actually doing productive engineering work) - you just have to be able to figure out what's important and needs attention and what's fluff that can be ignored or shoveled back out without much effort.

I think my tuition was $242/quarter. Room and board in the dorms was another $400 a quarter. Books about $100 a quarter. I retired making a skosh over $100k/year.
 

AllBig12Drinker

Active Member
Dec 7, 2009
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West Des Moines
Ag Studies, or as all of the other Ag majors would call it, Ag Slacker. It was totally worth it. I got to take more Ag related classes and got to skip the unnecessary (in my opinion) math and calc classes. I got a great job right after graduating (ag degree required). I now work for myself and farm a little bit which is what I always wanted to do, other than play QB for the Chiefs.

Not too shabby for a "useless" major according to yahoo.