I had originally had my college career planned out for a degree in anthropology (NOT archaeology!)... until I saw that the unemployment rate is over 40% in that field. So, I started asking around and looking into the degrees with more stability, and everything keeps pointing to the STEM fields. I'm currently now planned out to go into mathematics with a minor in computer science, but I'm so not a math/techy person. I've maintained good grades and I actually tutor algebra at the college, but I've had to put a looooot of work into it and now that I'm getting into intermediate maths (pre-calc and trig), I'm realizing more and more just how much I'm not cut out for this stuff.

So to all of you out in the career world, is it even viable to attempt to go into something outside of those four areas? I know anthropolgy is still off the table, but there has to be something out there for a non-math, anti-tech person... right? I'm seriously considering rearranging my plans again for something else, if possible, and if not, I guess I'm going to be the world's worst mathematician.

Just looking for some imput from people in the real world!

I guess you can wing it as a writer, or become a Teacher. Something in the arts would probably be more your thing, or working in a factory. MikeRoweWORKS (yes, the guy from dirty jobs) is an organization that helps people find jobs that aren't particularty in STEM fields

You don't like the math, but how do you feel about the computer science part? I'm not crazy about mathematics either, but I think programming is fun. A computer science major still takes a good bit of math at most colleges (probably calculus, linear algebra and statistics), but you might like it more than a pure math major setup.

If he's bad at math like he says he is, then Calculus is really not going to be fun for him.

If you're planning right now on pursuing a math degree and describe yourself as "not being a math person." You are going to literally be in hell. Probably from the moment you step into Calc I onwards.

I know Math majors who absolutely love mathematics, and apparently they tell me that's the only thing that keeps them sane in higher math courses like Ordinary Deferential Equations and Advanced Calculus courses. You just don't go into a math degree unless you are really passionate about math. Period.

Computer science, is not so much about "being a tech geek" though. Its more about critical thinking, problem solving, and logic when you get right down to its foundations. At least in my experience. There's a famous quote concerning computer science that essentially says "Computer Science is as much about computers as astronomy is about telescopes." And there's at least some truth to that. That said though, if you aren't at least interested in computers and how things like programming languages work and how computers make use of machine instructions and the like, you probably aren't going to have a good time in that field either.

I've been in the whole "What do I do with a liberal arts/non-STEM degree" quandary as well though. I'll tell you what my advisor told me: there's plenty of jobs for non-STEM people. Any job where you use skill sets like Critical thinking, being able to problem solve, having good research skills, being able to communicate and support ideas effectively, or being able to write/critical read/anolyze any sort of text would be a place where a non-STEM major would probably excel. And there's plenty of jobs out there that would make use of those sorts of skills. Ignore the whole "Oh you got a Liberal arts degree, why don't you ask me if I want fries with that?" Sort of talk. Not everyone is cut out for STEM work, and you certainly don't need an STEM degree to be successful. You just need to learn to market your skillset and not necessarily look for your dream job right out of school (like being a Professor of Philosophy or something, because good luck with that).

That said, its certainly much easier to get a well playing job as an STEM major. Speaking from experience, I was originally just a History Major, until I decided to double major with Computer Science. I had trouble finding internships for my history degree, but with CS: I suddenly found I had multiple call-backs from companies that would pay $14-19 dollars an hour to interns. The difference is absolutely staggering.

So i assume its the same situation in many developed countries?

Seems like liberal arts degrees are generally a less practical career choice for wealth and riches

That I'm not sure of. I'm speaking only from the perspective of an American. It may be completely different in other countries. Truthfully I never bothered to look into that since I never had plans to move outside the U.S.

CS degree here requires calc 3 and linear algebra. Honestly, I have no idea because I've never had any experience with programming (I used HTML eons ago to build webpages and I have manipulated scripts, but I don't consider either programming). Everyone just keeps telling me that computer science/math is the degree to have. :/

She*, you mean. And I'm not bad at math - I've maintained mid to high A's in all of my math courses (lowest was a 96% in Stats, which isn't math, imo). My issue is that it seems that I have to be methodical about each step I take and everyone else in my classes seem to be able to just figure stuff out in their heads. It didn't help that my trig tutor pretty much told me that if I didn't do math her way, I was doing it wrong... so now I'm seriously second-guessing my ability. And when I say I'm not a math/techy person, I mean that I'm naturally inclined to the english/comm side of things, definitely a right-brainer.

I find computers frustrating at this point because I don't have enough education to really deal with them. The computer science/math degree isn't what I want to do, it's the only one that literally everyone keeps telling me I need to pursue (even though when I took a career assessment, my top matches were not STEM-related). That said: I don't need to be rich at all. I just need a job that gives me a stable income that's enough to not live pay check to pay check. (And I really don't know what that would equate to in a salary. I guess $50k would be more than enough?) It's just frustrating. I loved algebra and hearing my friend who's a math major talk about all the amazing things you can do with the higher maths really got me interested in this degree, but trig is kicking my butt. I just find it tiresome and everyone else seems to just adore it.

Y'know, generally you can go with any major that has any sort of job in the real world as long as you do the appropriate networking. The real difference between STEM and most other majors is that companies are jumping down the throat of universities for new blood. As long as you're proactive and actually care about your future after college, you really shouldn't have too much of an issue. Make sure you're using the services offered by your school in order to land a decent internship that will hopefully provide a job after graduation. You should know by the 3rd or early 4th year how it'll play out once you graduate. If you're looking around like "What am I even doing, where are the jobs?" Then you haven't done enough for yourself.

Key is "that field". If you're just getting a bachelor's degree, your degree doesn't dictate your career. Don't get a degree you'll hate just because you think it'll get you better job prospects, because people working in careers they hate are the ones that really do have the hardest trouble getting jobs in down economies.

Teaching is an obvious option you could take, though just working in a higher level position in a bunch of different sectors is totally an option too. Succeeding in getting a degree is worth something in and of itself.

That said: http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1995#comic

Programming is software engineering. Computer Science is a different major and one that (at least should) focuses as much on theory and math as it does actual programming.

Whoever said that quote to you should be slapped, hard, in the face.

While it is true that critical thinking, logic, problem solving, and decomposition are very important aspects of computer science, the same can be said for just about every strong STEM degree. The parts of computer science that are different do have strong computer-related bits. That said, you don't have to be a computer guru for a CS degree. That's for Computer Engineers. Just like you don't have to be a good programmer to be a good computer science student, that's once again software engineering (though in many universities, the two are often treated as one and the same).

internships are quite a different thing from actual careers, and then there's the fact that you double-majored and the impact that has. Double-majoring tells recruiters that you are extremely hard-working. Have you factored that into why companies are starting to call you back? And of course the fact of the matter is that STEM internships are much more likely to be paid and companies are much more likely to take chances than Liberal Arts internship recruiters.

Then everyone you're talking to is wrong.

I believe the quote is attributed to Dutch computer scientist Edsger Wybe Dijkstra. At least that's what the board outside my CS department's office says.

I agree though is not a particularly great quote, but I think what Dijkstra was trying to get at is that if you got into computer science thinking all you need to do is be a wizz at playing around with computers, you're going to be sorely disappointed. There's quite a bit more involved in it.

Sort of like those people who declare for a CS degree because they like playing PC games or something and then turn tail and run at the first sign of an intermediate Java program.

Not at all really. The internships I interview with for really could have cared less about my History degree, and didn't even mention my double major really. They were primarily interested in my CS experience and demonstrating my programming ability.

Obviously an internship is quite different from a career, but these CS internships usually end up with a solid paying job offer at the end of them. That's sort of the whole point.

Of course I'm not saying STEM necessarily has it easier to find jobs/internships, but in my experience at least, I found it far easier to get internship opportunities the moment I picked up CS. Believe me, I'm not [censored]ting on liberal arts in the slightest. I just think you have to work more to get good internships as a liberal arts major.

While I definitely agree that being good with the likes of a personal computer operating system won't help you be good at computer science, but someone good with computers in general will definitely have skills that will help them succeed in computer science.

If the quote said "using computers" instead of just "computers" I'd be more inclined to agree with the quote. The problem with it as-is is that the general principles of computing are an integral part of computer science, whereas the general principles of a telescope aren't an integral part of astronomy (but are an integral part of optics).

I'm probably being overly critical, but as-is, it's not a very good quote IMO.

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/ThePerilsofJavaSchools.html

Oh I agree its not. However I was (attempting) to use it to illustrate that computer science isn't about being "tech-y" and a fulfillment of the standard "computer-nerd" stereotype. You don't have to necessarily be "that guy" who's just an all around computer expert and knows the ins and outs of all the hardware by heart.

There's far more to it than that. In other words "Tech-geek" =/= Computer Scientist.

While I don't have the hatred for math you seem to have ( just slight disdain for my calculus class) I am in generally the same boat you are. While I could probably do an upper level math course or something else in a STEM field, I do not enjoy it enough to make it my career. So, I have decided, that my first year of studies will be focused on Pre-Law, with hopes of going to law school. Obviously that could lead to criminal law, business law, or any other form of law, but I find it fits with my personality more so than a STEM field.

Who knows, that could all change, but as of right now it seems to be a good plan for me, or someone else who doesn't enjoy STEM work.

No teaching. I'd have to get a masters to teach college+ (if an opening would even be available) and I sure as heck ain't teaching below that. I don't really enjoy tutoring exactly, I do it because there's a need for algebra tutors and I love being able to meet that need. That's what I want to do with my life - fill a need and make a difference, but not as a teacher. As to the link... lol I have to admit that I used to say that, but have been pleasantly surprised by my successes so I don't discount anything now until I give it a go. (Doesn't mean I'll like it - like stats - but I'll put my 110% into it and do my best.)

I don't hate it, just ... I don't know... I dislike some of it. I think you said best "I could do it, but do not enjoy it enough to make it my career".

I swear, I feel like the only 30-something who doesn't know what they want to do with their lives.

STEM person here (chemist), and I should warn you that these days getting a job can be pretty rough in STEM fields as well. While it varies by field, between many STEM jobs being off-shored and businesses in general reducing their R&D spending there tend to be many more STEM people out there than there are jobs available. Now, you can still usually get a job if you're quite skilled in your field, but for those that are average or below average job-hunting in STEM fields can be pretty rough. So my advice would be to steer clear of STEM fields unless there's one that you sincerely find very interesting, because otherwise there's a good chance you'll end up as one of the people out there with an average skill set that's having a lot of trouble finding work in STEM fields.

I agree.... You better want this career badly or your motivation will fade.

Have you thought about any of the science fields that are not math oriented?

Biology based careers?

Medical careers?

Various research fields?

Make sure that you are aware of the current saturation of fresh law grads.... I am not saying it is a bad idea, but I would definitely make sure that I got into a top tier law school before jumping into that loan pit.

For Anthropology, a Master's or PhD is best. Although I do know people with just the BA and they have good careers.

Genevieve Bell has a PhD in Anthropology and is a researcher at Intel.

The knowledge. methods, theories, and ways of looking at culture are popular in areas such as product design and organizational processes.

However, it is also better to be good at other things, be more interdisciplinary. Industrial design, marketing, and software engineering are some good complimentary areas of study.

Naxos, the best advice I can give you is to ask yourself what you want to be doing in 10 years.

It is understandable to be afraid of a 40% unemployment rate, but a 30 (or more) year career doing something you hate shouldn't be appetizing either.

Yes, exactly. Can't stress this enough as someone who considered the pre-law track themselves at one point.

There's horror stories coming out of law school right now of law school graduates $100,000+ in debt and not being able to find much more than paralegal positions which pay a measly (for a law school graduate anyway) $40,000 a year. And that's IF they find a job at all, which many aren't.

Its one of the worst job markets out there currently. And very high risk for putting yourself in major debt.

Thankfully, I've planned ahead so that I hopefully won't have to take out many, if any, student loans. To be honest, my grandparents are wealthy enough that they've told me not to take any loans, and they will pay for my college if need be. I think my aunt and uncle (both recent college grads) without taking out a single loan.

What is the job market like, perchance?

Here's an article which outlines how bad the situation is pretty well: http://ideas.time.com/2013/03/11/just-how-bad-off-are-law-school-graduates/

Yikes, that is bleak. What side of law is showing the most job growth or employment rate right out of law school?

For reference, I will be attending Texas Tech law school in the fall. I was accepted to Baylor and the University of Texas as well, but the prices on those two was way to high.

I just thought of this as it's what I'll be doing post-engineering:

Go into filmmaking. No math required, just your imagination and knowledge of timing. Editiors can always be hired, and the best parts of three different takes can be broken up and editied to look like it only took one take. Plus, assets for making movies are out there already and realitivly inexpensive. Low-Budget/Independent stuff is sometimes better in my opinion as they only have so much they can do, and there's no multi-millionare producer that can throw more millions your way. I personally made some very good movies with a budget of $0, using only what we had ahead of time for props and costumes.

Additionally, People loved to be entertained. That's why Video games and Movies do so well and make so much money.