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

[SCNCY]

I graduated with a degree in Finance in December of 2010. So far, not worth it since I am not doing any Finance related. Was it worth, I guess that is still to be determined. I want to be a trader whether it is stocks, bonds or something else. Right now in my current job, I would be considered to trade in the something else category once the opportunity comes, but right now I do grunt work.

One thing I have noticed is that graduates in accounting have had a pretty easy time getting jobs and internships, even during the recession.

 

[Bewilderme]

Geographic Information Science/Systems(GIS). I am in my last semester in the program and feel very good about my employment situation. It is good to be in a field that is growing exponentially in a recession. The only problem is keeping up with the new technology that seems to change every few months.

 

[pdxclone]

Com Sci. Definitely worth it. I get to dream up solutions to problems every day. Our software is used by about 500k people for their jobs. And I have the freedom to set my own schedule and what I work on. And I can get others to do the legacy work for me!

 

[CycloneErik]

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

Better than snowpants?

 

[GMackey32]

Biology and Zoology. Currently finishing up Agronomy. Either will go directly into grad school for Soil Science, or work a few years and then return. I enjoy all of them. Agronomy will be the most beneficial, but having the Biology/Zoology side of it, I've taken classes will help for grad school in Soil Science and will help me land a job.

 

[pdxclone]

The useless majors thread got me thinking about this.

Computer Systems & Network Technology, I'm not in that field but it did land me a job. I am thinking about going back for something different, not sure for what though.

I guess I disagree that your major is worthless. IT jobs are in high demand even with all the outsourcing. If you like technology and like the field, think about getting a PMP cert. or management degree. IT Management is always needed here. No business can survive today without embracing technology. Whether it is security of company networks, e-mails, websites or building internal billing, HR, compliance systems. Having people who understand how to make technology work will always be in demand.

 

[Clones21]

Criminal Justice. So far it's good, and I have a good chance of getting hired on at my local Police Department when they open that up for apps this spring. Build relationships with people and it'll be worth it.

 

[mg4cy]

Mechanical Engineering (challenging and competitive at ISU) -it pays the bills, happy, especially in this economy, allowed me to pay off student loans within a few years.

Since I work on ag equipment, in hind sight, Ag Engineering would have been more suitable and specialized, probably easier due to smaller class sizes, less competition in program. But then, hard to predict what market will be hot after graduation, and the economy was also poor when I graduated, so its probably better to have BSME in a tough job market.

MBA - haven't used much for career advancement, in the end taken for my own interest, maybe helps check the advanced degree box at work.

 

[CyclonePower88]

Food Science and Technology, and I wanted to make new kinds of candies and sweets. After trying a year of grad school I landed a job working for Tootsie Roll in Chicago making new kinds of tootsie rolls, tootsie pops, and dots. Couldn't ask for a better job.

 

[ISpyCy]

Community and Regional Planning, December, 2007. By my final year, the program was at risk of losing its accreditation and was given only half accred. I hear things are slowly improving though, which is good.

I got a job as a community planning consultant for a firm straight out of college and am going into my fifth year. I wouldn't mind finding something simimlar, or maybe working for a city planning department (back in Iowa, I would prefer), but so far, i've learned a lot from being where I am.

.....plus, the raise I will be getting helps keep me happy too ('bout ******* time too!).

 

[isulive2train]

Kinesiology and Health
Landed two really good jobs but didn't pay enough. Moved into doing property management full-time after I held a property management job in Ames during college for three years. Still doing private training sessions and training athletes in-home. Also lots of side projects, graphic designing for big companies/homes etc., and remodeling homes.

 

[Dopey]

Journalism, and definitely worth it (even though I'm not finished yet). I absolutely love what I'm doing.

How do you know the return on your investment if you're not out there working yet? Everyone loves what they're doing in college....

 

[Cloned]

Microbiology and Vet Med. Worth it.

 

[CascadeClone]

One thing I have noticed is that graduates in accounting have had a pretty easy time getting jobs and internships, even during the recession.

For which they can thank Senators Sarbanes, Oxley, and all the dolts who have assembled our 10 billion page tax code over the years.

 

[CTTB78]

Food Technology. Best return on investment I'll ever have. Management positions making ice cream to baby food and everything in between. Sharing the Iowa State experience from coast to coast has also been fun.

 

[acgclone]

Sociology and no. I guess it's better than no degree, but only slightly. Fortunately, I figured out that I could just go into sales with a "pretend" degree like sociology and still earn a good living.

 

[mramseyISU]

How do you know the return on your investment if you're not out there working yet? Everyone loves what they're doing in college....

I wonder the same thing about all the undergrads posting here. I wouldn't say I hated what I did in school but I didn't enjoy it much. What I did like was the jobs I had as a machinist and drafter during my undergrad degree. I also took a few grad level classes that were much more enjoyable. Now that I out in the real world using my degree I really enjoy what I do and I can pay my bills with enough left over to have fun with.

 

[CascadeClone]

Aerospace Engr. Got thru with no debt - scholarships and summer work, plus it was only $7500 per YEAR back in the day, incl tuition, room & board. So other than studying hard and sacrificing some social life, it was very low cost. Although if I had $20 a month for beer and pizza, that was a good month.

Have never worked in the industry. Long story short is - started in sales, worked way up to mgmt. Got MBA on employers' dime a few years ago at FWIU.

MBA was a total joke compared to my engr degree, in terms of difficulty. However, it was valuable, as I learned a lot of formal finance as well as some people mgmt skills.

Though I don't do engineering, have to say it was totally worth it. Math and problem solving skills are scarce commodities, and help a ton for work and life both. I enjoy my job, most days anyway, travel a little and hours are reasonable. Putting my MBA hat on, the ROI for my ISU Engr degree is around 70% per year. That's a pretty decent return on "was it worth it".

I just hope & pray my son who is soph in EE at ISU does as well!

 

[CarolinaCy]

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.

I Tec for me as well, graduated in 2000 (probably had classes with you). Took a short detour for a year of grad school in North Carolina, but left to take a job back in Iowa. Had a starting salary about the same as you, now work for ConAgra in Omaha doing absolutely nothing related to my degree. But I make enough (~70k) that my wife can stay home with our 4 girls, and my degree helped me to get where I am now, so I guess it was worth it.

 

[marothisu]

Aerospace Engr. Got thru with no debt - scholarships and summer work, plus it was only $7500 per YEAR back in the day, incl tuition, room & board. So other than studying hard and sacrificing some social life, it was very low cost. Although if I had $20 a month for beer and pizza, that was a good month.

Have never worked in the industry. Long story short is - started in sales, worked way up to mgmt. Got MBA on employers' dime a few years ago at FWIU.

MBA was a total joke compared to my engr degree, in terms of difficulty. However, it was valuable, as I learned a lot of formal finance as well as some people mgmt skills.

Though I don't do engineering, have to say it was totally worth it. Math and problem solving skills are scarce commodities, and help a ton for work and life both. I enjoy my job, most days anyway, travel a little and hours are reasonable. Putting my MBA hat on, the ROI for my ISU Engr degree is around 70% per year. That's a pretty decent return on "was it worth it".

I just hope & pray my son who is soph in EE at ISU does as well!

So true, but it allows you to get even more jobs and make even more money usually.