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sharpie117
Living the dream

Registered: 06/24/13
Posts: 461
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Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now?
#21781065 - 06/08/15 10:16 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Just wanted some feedback from people who have a bachelor of science degree.
What job opportunity's has it granted you?
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: sharpie117]
#21781496 - 06/09/15 01:28 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Can't sprak for myself since I followed a different route, but two of my friends have a BSc. One is a business unit manager at a multinational tech company for industrial products and the other is an IT professional at Greenpeace. Both are in their mid 30s with a wife, one or more kids and a nice house. They have both worked quite hard and have been doing well. It was a good choice for them.
Edited by koraks (06/09/15 01:30 AM)
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GoldenEye
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Registered: 05/24/13
Posts: 4,340
Loc: Amsterdam
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: koraks]
#21781523 - 06/09/15 01:45 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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In the Netherlands a bachelor of science gets you nowhere. You are regarded as a quitter for not having a masters and are not hired. They will hire people from more practical educations for lab tech, analysis as we have lower level direct education for those. These people have more practical skills and can be paid less.
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: GoldenEye]
#21781559 - 06/09/15 02:13 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Both of the people I mentioned have a Dutch BSc. Don't forget that the Dutch "HBO's" also result in a BSc (given it's a technical field), which is a perfectly usable starting point for a career! The 'useless' BSc's you're referring to are the ones that you get after spending 3 years (out of 4) at a university. Usually people continue towards an MSc in those situations, but not all of them do. The current situation of a University BSc degree being 'useless' is currently changing too; it won't be as useless as it is regarded now in a few years' time.
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GoldenEye
...



Registered: 05/24/13
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: koraks]
#21781574 - 06/09/15 02:20 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I hope so, because the Uni BSc I have might as well be used to wipe my ass...
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: GoldenEye]
#21781647 - 06/09/15 03:14 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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They may prove more useful than you currently believe they are. However, many employers in The Netherlands have not yet grown accustomed to the phenomenon of a university BSc and universities are indeed still struggling to give shape to this. At present, if you have successfully completed one or more university BSc's, I would certainly recommend pursuing a Master's if you're not already working on this.
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DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: sharpie117]
#21781912 - 06/09/15 06:51 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Mine didn't help me with respect to a job at all. Your location and the type of degree make a big difference.
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demiu5
humans, lol


Registered: 08/18/05
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: sharpie117] 1
#21782815 - 06/09/15 11:21 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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my BS is in Plant/Soil Science
it's worthless, besides working for Monsanto or other chemical/industrial company. i ended up finding work in environmental restoration (fuel reduction), largely unrelated to my field of study, which is highly location specific and could be considered more of a labor-type job than a science (though there is certainly science behind it)
a BS in something like Bio-chem would open the door for research work, though a Master's or Doctorate would be the next step.
i don't recommend higher education to anyone, unless IT IS THE ONLY WAY to get into the field one desires. Experience trumps all, IME
-------------------- channel your inner Larry David
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: demiu5] 1
#21783053 - 06/09/15 12:28 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I don't really agrew with the conclusion that higher education doesn't help; I find it does open doors that otherwise remain closed. For any research position, it is usually a requirement, although as you stated, usually you'll need a master's or a PhD. For academic research positions, a PhD is generally required or you're at least be expected to work towards a PhD.
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DividedQuantum
Outer Head


Registered: 12/06/13
Posts: 9,819
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: sharpie117]
#21784017 - 06/09/15 04:27 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I have a B.S. in anthropology. I don't think I have to tell you it's worthless. I like where I am now vocationally, but I mostly got there on patience and luck (with a little ability). I agree that experience is the biggest thing. That's the most valuable asset of all to an employer. Higher education is becoming a real problem in general. Too many qualified candidates, and simply not enough slots for them. It's actually something of a cultural crisis.
-------------------- Vi Veri Universum Vivus Vici
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Jean-Luc Picard
I only wish i was this good!



Registered: 12/30/07
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: koraks]
#21784093 - 06/09/15 04:43 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I have a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering in the U.S. I currently work at a nuclear power plant in the engineering department. I make an above average salary compared to most engineering jobs in my area, and am currently studying up to take the professional engineer license exam.
In the U.S. these days it's nearly impossible to get an entry level engineering job without a B.S. degree of some sort (or a shit load of prior experience, in which case you wouldn't be looking for an entry level position).
For positions in manufacturing, process engineering, procurement, and industrial settings...experience tends to trump higher education IME. However, there are more research-oriented and abstract, theory-intensive sectors that tend to strongly consider level of education before experience in all of the engineering fields.
I have actually been contemplating higher education once I get my P.E. license, mainly because I love working on the R&D side of things, and also enjoy teaching what I know, and in turn learning what other people know...so I may want to ultimately pursue a late career in academia.
-------------------- The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you - NDT
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mndfreeze 
Shroomery Secret Service




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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: Jean-Luc Picard]
#21795716 - 06/12/15 01:27 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I literally just typed, then accidentally deleted my entire post, which was so damn TL;DR that I'm kinda glad I did. Typed up damn near my entire job history just to get the point across that I agree with the experience before education statements already posted. LULZ.
-------------------- Nothing says love like grannies prolapsed anus! quote]Urb said: I know... Its fucked up... Ill fix it minyana..[/quote]
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John in WI
Neo-Luddite


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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: mndfreeze] 1
#21799809 - 06/12/15 09:55 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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It makes me sad to discuss this. I finished a BS in chemistry in the late 90's. It was predicted to be the most sought after degree at that time. After much effort I found a really low grade QC job (I made significantly less than the operators--the guys who dump bags of chemicals into mixers). Then the economy fell apart in 2008, and I thought it would be a good idea to go back to school (now in the mid-30's). I completed a PhD and after much effort took a post-doc. It's a very good lab, but it means at least 2 more years of training.
When I quiet my mind and think about it, higher education has cost me everything. I never had kids, I incurred significant debt, and a year after graduate school ended my body is physically wrecked. My adviser was a monster, and I grew to really detest him. The whole experience brought out the worst in me--academics is fueled by ego.
So, I guess you need to ask yourself what your metric of "value" is. Will a BS get you a six figure job? I seriously doubt it! Is a college experience a good thing to pursue? Sure--I think it was pivotal for me. I came from a small town, and the university (pre-internet) opened the world up to me. Had I known I would land a bullshit job with the hot-shot chemistry degree, I would have gotten a BS in philosophy or theology. Good luck--I just turned 40, and with a PhD, and once again at the bottom of the ladder.
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ohcrapitsnico
The Other One


Registered: 06/06/09
Posts: 2,720
Loc: Houston
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: John in WI]
#21800409 - 06/13/15 01:10 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I've read numerous stories like yours and this seems to be more the rule than the exception. Success in basic science depends largely on exceptional brilliance, an excellent pedigree from a top school, knowing all the right people, and a lot of luck. All of which most people lack.
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DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: ohcrapitsnico]
#21801003 - 06/13/15 07:11 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
ohcrapitsnico said: I've read numerous stories like yours and this seems to be more the rule than the exception. Success in basic science depends largely on exceptional brilliance, an excellent pedigree from a top school, knowing all the right people, and a lot of luck. All of which most people lack.
I agree. I studied basic science too but fortunately for myself I pulled out before I got too invested. It was kind of fun, but a big waste of money financially.
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ohcrapitsnico
The Other One


Registered: 06/06/09
Posts: 2,720
Loc: Houston
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: DieCommie]
#21801188 - 06/13/15 08:47 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I was in my senior year and looking at graduate schools when reality hit me. I was totally unaware of what was going on in the real world but two days before I was scheduled to take the GRE, i decided to pull out of all of it and am very happy with my decision. Two years before I had spoken to some of my professors that I wanted to commit to a chemistry major but I wanted some assurance the job market was healthy and they gave me their assurances. It wasn't until I did my own research that I knew about this whole pyramid scheme. It's very easy for a tenured professor in his or her ivory tower to proclaim all is well, especially when their supply of graduate students depends on it.
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theonlysun81
Long Time Lurker, Recent Member


Registered: 05/11/12
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: ohcrapitsnico]
#21805963 - 06/14/15 12:05 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I got my BS in soil science and my minor in hydrology and now work for the government as a rangeland conservation technician, but I will probably migrate over towards then open position of hydrologist. I mostly did course work on remediation so I got job offers for working in EHS, but since I already worked in EHS at my school and didn't really like it I decided to leave. It's not bad, but the location I'm in is super remote. But that's how you get experience I guess.
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ProoN
Enthusiast



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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: theonlysun81]
#21815025 - 06/16/15 03:03 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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My girlfriend received a BS from a CSU (central valley) in 2010. She's been working at one of the biggest food testing labs in the country since 2011, a job she actually found on CraigsList. She makes something like $19 an hour, though started at $14 I think. She said the BS wasn't required to get her the job, but definitely helped her get her foot in the door.
-------------------- A human being is part of a whole, called by us, the "Universe", a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
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mndfreeze 
Shroomery Secret Service




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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: ProoN]
#21821987 - 06/18/15 01:53 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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That seems like a pretty low wage for a BS? Depending on what group you ask or what study you read 40k a year is almost considered right at the poverty line.
(19$/hour is roughly 38k/year in case anyone doesnt know how to turn hourly to yearly rough estimate)
-------------------- Nothing says love like grannies prolapsed anus! quote]Urb said: I know... Its fucked up... Ill fix it minyana..[/quote]
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DeathSpider
the living dead girl


Registered: 02/29/12
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Re: Bachelor of science degree. Where are you now? [Re: sharpie117]
#21826256 - 06/19/15 12:06 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I used my BS in physics and math as stepping stones to my major in mechanical engineering. I wasn't satisfied with what they were offering me in terms of employment, so majoring in engineering was a better way for me. I have my P.E license and work in forensic engineering.
If you can get a major, I would go that direction. It'll cost more, but it's better in the long run.
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