Economic Guide to Picking a Major

But a look at detailed data on college graduates by major reveals some clear messages: Don’t be pre-med if you aren’t planning to go to medical school; don’t assume that all “STEM” — science, technology, engineering and math — majors are the same; and if you study drama, be prepared to wait tables.

The preceding is a quote from a post by Ben Casselman on FiveThirtyEight with the title borrowed above: The Economic Guide to Picking a Major.

Economic prospects are just one factor in choosing a major. But, sadly, it’s one that young students frequently overlook. All colleges aren’t equal. Neither are majors.

I invite you to read Mr. Casselman’s full story.

 

More Students Opting Out of College Path

Ben Casselman, the economics writer for FiveThirtyEight, nicely summarizes the declining enrollment in postsecondary education among our nation’s youth in this post yesterday. Casselman observes that “among all 16- to 24-year-olds, school enrollment experienced its biggest decline in at least two decades.” The good news is that the primary driver of this decline appears to be the improving job market.

I’m firmly in the camp of thinking everyone should obtain some type of postsecondary education or advanced technical training. The opportunities for those with only a high school diploma are few and the number is bound to continue to shrink in the years ahead. So the fact that more students are choosing not to pursue any further education or training after high school is troubling.