To think most of the money is in the sciences?

[superstarheartbreaker]

I'm one of those kids who opted for both arts and a science ( Biology) at alevel. In the end I went for a degree in English lit and lang but now wish I'd completed a degree in Biological Sciences.
I loved biology but I loved English more. I'm a trained English teacher but it's soooo stressful and I reckon a degree in science would have been much more useful... To humanity as well as my pocket!

Science and maths graduates are popular for jobs in the city, aren't they? Studying English is def not the route to riches.

Oh this is so true. Really hit the nail on the head Suzanne

*the relationship between remuneration and usefulness to humanity is usually inverse.

If you wanna make loadsa money you need to exploit people, not help them*

Suzanne generally 3D printing will be used for prototypes I think. Not manufacturing the final product.

maybe at first ?
3D printing is now in its very early infancy but as it becomes more sophisticated it will revolutionize manufacturing in general ?

The branch of science I would really not get into is biomedical sciences leading to Path Lab work. This is an area I can see changing very quickly.

While going round universities with DD we went to look at Essex University. They were very proud of one of their courses which led straight into Path Lab work.

A few weeks later we went to Liverpool John Moores where they were showcasing a new automatic testing machine for STIs (who says I dont get out!). Urine in one side, test result out. Hand to doctor, take prescription to pharmacy.

How much of the routine testing is going to go that way? I wouldnt be recommending a student to get on a course which is going in such a narrow direction.

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." -- Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.

(best not underestimate the impact of 3D printing)

My best earning mates did chemo a engineering at imperial. They earn tons. I'm a biological scientist and skint!

It is? Somebody owes me some money then as I've got a BSc and a MSc. Now I'm retraining as something under the heading of the T instead of the S in STEM, so maybe the big bucks are coming.....

Chemical! Not chemo.

Yes - I was told that and swapped my 'A' levels from all arts to all sciences. Turns out it's a load of crap (like a lot of advice you get at 'A' level) and the art graduates I know generally earn, on average, what I do as a biomedical scientist (some of them eg. those in publishing and graphic design earn a lot more!).

However, the best paid people I know are in engineering and programming - apparently a massive shortage in both. DH is a mid level programmer and easily earns £20K pa more than the head of my department.

Backforgood, I shoulda said that I was making an observation not a recommendation!
of course those motivated by humanitarian ideals are to be applauded.
Sadly it's the hedge fund managers who get really rich rather than people who add actual value to the world?

If you want mega bucks quant finance would have been the best path. That's a good use of maths and physics skills.

I don't think there is loads of money in pure science.

lol @ the idea of finance being a 'good' use of skills!

finance is a good way to make a big contribution

to the sum total of human misery

You are a teacher though, you would be earning the same as a science teacher.
The subject is irrelevant it is the job and the role that determines pay.
Had you decided to do something else with your English degree like writing for example you may have been JK Rowling, or as a scientist a great inventor, or found a cure for some awful disease.

Bigkidsour DS is keen in chemical engineering as a career not swayed by his parents at all, oh no probably leading on to petroleum / reservoir engineering in the long run. Definitely the branch of engineering where the money is (I was a civil engineer, crap money and long hours).

Suzanne - I just asked the horse what his thoughts were re: 3D printing and medical devices.

He said the inherent problem with 3D printing is no matter how fine the layers become as the machines advance, the problem is they will always be made of layers which are basically joins meaning the components will never be as strong under pressure as moulded plastic will be.

There is also some issues with how long those components would be able to last in storage and joints make the possibility of deterioration or spoiling of the medicine a higher risk. That is more of a secondary issue though.

*joints

DS and his friends are finding that vocational type degrees are giving undergraduates an definite edge in the Milk Round.

Economics or Business/Finance helps with Banking/Investment/Management Consultancy

It is close to impossible to get into IT without Computer Science

Numerical degrees are more sought after than arts degrees

The days of doing a subject you love at uni, and walking into a great career afterwards with a degree in English or History are definitely numbered.

gnome it has been like that for 10-15 yrs. As work experience as an undergraduate I helped out at a hospital. Blood tests loaded onto a machine, results automatically sent to computer - which filtered the results and doctors only got to see the results if they were outside normal range...(did wonder why you needed an undergrad degree to work there!)
Only part that was a bit more advanced was looking at small chemicals in urine (HPLC) - they had to wash column between samples and then load next one etc but I am sure that would have been automated within years.
I know I did loads of HPLC in my postgrad (looking at enzyme reactions - the 'hard' part) - the HPLC was the easy bit - all automatic injection into the column/automatic washing etc - used to set it up to run over the weekend - didn't need to stand over it - the hospital ones I could have had the results as a computer print out. (Didn't for mine cos they were radioactive samples - so then I had to load them onto another machine to get the results but I bet by now that bit is automated too)
I think there may well be money in developing and servicing/repairing these kinds of machines...

I have worked in R&D for one of the companies that makes the machines for blood tests, the cost of developing a new system is colossal and is therefore dominated by a big few companies and the machines have a long lifetime because of the high cost, the machine that was developed when I was working there best part of 20 years ago is still in use (albeit more modern versions). I suspect a lot of the servicing etc is contracted out. HPLC (one of my specialities) is not what it was as regards needing scientific knowhow, when I started out we serviced all our own machines, I could strip one down, repair it put it all, put it back together. They've gone the way of cars, black boxes full of microprocessors, all automated, much less skill and understanding needed to use one, however far greater throughput, improved detection and data systems etc as a result. Developing the assays to go on the machines and troubleshooting them still needs real skill and experience, which applies both to the commercial companies and the hospital scientists, there is an ever increasing demand for new, faster and more accurate diagnostic tests and it is a very interesting field.

I have a friend with a statistics PhD... She works for Google, and earns a LOAD of money. About six times what I earn with my History PhD!

The person I know who earns the most did a degree in politics and works in sales. It's his personality that's got him where he is rather than his degree, although he couldn't have got there without the degree. He takes home about £100k a year during a good year but he has had other years where he takes home about £35-£40k (still a very good salary!)

For whatever reasons, fewer people study science/maths/engineering than the skills can be used for. Supply and demand means that people with those skills and abilities can command more in a commercial setting.

Whoknowswherethetime. I was sales mgr at a company you'd have heard of, that does lab systems and NearPatientTesting and all the servicing was done in-house as a part of the contract. Servicing is usually built into the Tender when the systems are purchased.
Diagnostics pays less than Pharma but still v interesting. They were mostly MLSO types we recruited.