Comments on: If You Want to Do Well, Study Math, Science, or Business, and Work Hard http://alephblog.com/2008/06/13/if-you-want-to-do-well-study-math-science-or-business-and-work-hard/ Helping Institutions and Ordinary People Invest Better by Focusing on Risk Control Fri, 25 May 2012 21:31:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: shrekhttp://alephblog.com/2008/06/13/if-you-want-to-do-well-study-math-science-or-business-and-work-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-17783 shrek Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:52:16 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=743#comment-17783 This is just another problem that can be chalked up to misguided trade policies and an over reliance on credit. No one should forget the world on a trade scale is massively imbalanced. America has become the greatest financial risk on earth. This is just another problem that can be chalked up to misguided trade policies and an over reliance on credit. No one should forget the world on a trade scale is massively imbalanced.

America has become the greatest financial risk on earth.

]]> By: Tom Fisherhttp://alephblog.com/2008/06/13/if-you-want-to-do-well-study-math-science-or-business-and-work-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-17780 Tom Fisher Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:35:16 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=743#comment-17780 Fair enough; I fully agree that it's foolish to borrow money and end up with little more earning power than you had when you started college. There are probably a lot of people who don't need a 4-year degree at all. Perhaps a more interesting analysis would be to figure out how much your earning power needs to be increased in order to make college a good idea (in purely economic terms, of course). Fair enough; I fully agree that it’s foolish to borrow money and end up with little more earning power than you had when you started college. There are probably a lot of people who don’t need a 4-year degree at all. Perhaps a more interesting analysis would be to figure out how much your earning power needs to be increased in order to make college a good idea (in purely economic terms, of course).

]]> By: David Merkelhttp://alephblog.com/2008/06/13/if-you-want-to-do-well-study-math-science-or-business-and-work-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-17776 David Merkel Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:03:22 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=743#comment-17776 No, Tom, you are right. I'm just reacting to the news coverage that trumpeted, "See, economically it doesn't matter what major you choose. Choose any major and your well-being will be equally benefited." In money terms, it is not true. That said, yes, we are all happier when we do what we love, so long as it provides adequately for us. Many majors don't, and I know many students exiting college with a lot of debt, and no economically significant skills to help them get ahead. No, Tom, you are right. I’m just reacting to the news coverage that trumpeted, “See, economically it doesn’t matter what major you choose. Choose any major and your well-being will be equally benefited.”

In money terms, it is not true. That said, yes, we are all happier when we do what we love, so long as it provides adequately for us. Many majors don’t, and I know many students exiting college with a lot of debt, and no economically significant skills to help them get ahead.

]]> By: Tom Fisherhttp://alephblog.com/2008/06/13/if-you-want-to-do-well-study-math-science-or-business-and-work-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-17775 Tom Fisher Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:49:26 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=743#comment-17775 David, perhaps I'm overreacting to the title of this post, but - wouldn't it be much better for students to pursue fields that they are good at, and that they enjoy? I've met too many people who studied science/business/medicine/law (for the anticipated economic benefit) and subsequently didn't enjoy their work for years and years. In the worst cases, they became managers and made their colleagues miserable as well.... David, perhaps I’m overreacting to the title of this post, but – wouldn’t it be much better for students to pursue fields that they are good at, and that they enjoy? I’ve met too many people who studied science/business/medicine/law (for the anticipated economic benefit) and subsequently didn’t enjoy their work for years and years. In the worst cases, they became managers and made their colleagues miserable as well….

]]>