tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post110308837414951527..comments2024-01-13T18:57:18.243-05:00Comments on Information Processing: Don't become a scientist!Steve Hsuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428333897272913660noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-53463012500552508312007-11-27T14:45:00.000-05:002007-11-27T14:45:00.000-05:00This comment may be a little old but I think the b...This comment may be a little old but I think the blog may still be relevant to today. I started in Physics as an undergrad, did well and got grades (liked it too!) and wondered why my friends in engineering were sweating so much (I did have a little bent towards electronics as well so I kept up with what they were doing). <BR/><BR/>I inquired and found that they had to meet minimum requirements Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-9378681901099449472007-07-22T23:10:00.000-04:002007-07-22T23:10:00.000-04:00My suggestions are that the problem arises from th...My suggestions are that the problem arises from the perceptions of both the foreigners (visa holders) and the US citizen. I believe that self expectation is what make one realizes whether he is successful in life or not. My cousin who never finished a single year in college is dreaming to make 30k a year, and that applies to many of these foreigners who come to the US to get their PhDs. <BR/><BR/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-11577231453241151992007-04-10T22:09:00.000-04:002007-04-10T22:09:00.000-04:00People should study whatever makes them happy, bec...People should study whatever makes them happy, because they enjoy it, not because of the pay. If what they studied doesn't get them good enough pay to survive, there are many other jobs out there where they can be paid(Janitor,Clerk, etc). But, at least they went to school and enjoyed learning/doing what they wanted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-7346875716457376882007-02-08T15:04:00.000-05:002007-02-08T15:04:00.000-05:00of course it's "not about the money." Still, scie...of course it's "not about the money." Still, scientists are manifestly underpaid given what they provide to society. Further, at least in the US, non-citizen technical people are ruthlessly exploited by the post-doctoral system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1170119656117440542007-01-29T20:14:00.000-05:002007-01-29T20:14:00.000-05:00You are lost. It's not about the money.You are lost. It's not about the money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1158178392482234012006-09-13T16:13:00.000-04:002006-09-13T16:13:00.000-04:00It does seem like science is a good way for people...It does seem like science is a good way for people from the developing world to get ahead. The rich world certainly doesn't have any kind of monopoly on intelligence, hard work and creativity... and these are virtually the only things needed to excel at science.<BR/><BR/>So why is it that bright indians are not excelling at other, more lucrative professions in the US (e.g., law, banking)? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1158165677918960432006-09-13T12:41:00.000-04:002006-09-13T12:41:00.000-04:00Anonymous: I quoted your comment in a post on 9/12...Anonymous: I quoted your comment in a post on 9/12/06. See there for more discussion!<BR/><BR/>Yeehaw: yes, bad career prospects are causing some American students to steer clear of physics. But the supply of talented foreigners is still very high, and institutions here will get the successful candidate a green card, so student visa is no obstacle. It is getting rare to find US-born candidates Steve Hsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02428333897272913660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1158089620984885022006-09-12T15:33:00.000-04:002006-09-12T15:33:00.000-04:00What about your children? I'm a phd physicist who ...What about your children? <BR/><BR/>I'm a phd physicist who loves his work... but is dreading the day when he has to tell his kids they'll be going to UMaryland instead of Princeton because daddy loved his work too much. Grass is always greener, I guess... but... when you're 34 and trying to raise a family on what amounts to a lower-middle class scientist salary... you have a tendency to wonder Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1157077065348885012006-08-31T22:17:00.000-04:002006-08-31T22:17:00.000-04:00Additionally, I am finishing up my J.D. from a rep...Additionally, I am finishing up my J.D. from a reputable top-tier law school, I can assure you that no matter where you go, there you are.<BR/><BR/>People should pursue their passions, not some abstract idea about financial security.<BR/><BR/>The most financially "secure" people in the world are, in a broad overgeneralization, either doing something they love doing, or miserable, or breaking lotsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1157076397346489032006-08-31T22:06:00.000-04:002006-08-31T22:06:00.000-04:00Katz wrote:The result is that the best young peopl...Katz wrote:<BR/><I>The result is that the best young people, who should go into science, sensibly refuse to do so, and the graduate schools are filled with weak American students and with foreigners lured by the American student visa.</I><BR/><BR/>With the final sentence of his essay, he destroys the validity of his argument.<BR/><BR/>If the schools are filled with weak American students and withAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1130449136612961692005-10-27T17:38:00.000-04:002005-10-27T17:38:00.000-04:00Same story in engineering.The best plan is to work...Same story in engineering.<BR/>The best plan is to work towards your own business or a job that can't be outsourced/offshored like plumbing, heating, A/C or electrical wiring. Hell even house painting. I have lots of friends who did a lot better than I in those fields.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1103144616576328302004-12-15T16:03:00.000-05:002004-12-15T16:03:00.000-05:00I think there is a difference to being realistic v...I think there is a difference to being realistic versus being negative. We certainly should let all students know that the probability of obtaining a faculty position is low. Just as it is low to get into Harvard, be a published author, be a ballet dancer or have a cooking show on TV. I definitely do not subscribe to the theory that law, medicine or business school is a direct path to securityCarson C. Chowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08464737817585277975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1103135663246382352004-12-15T13:34:00.000-05:002004-12-15T13:34:00.000-05:00There are certainly many people who are happy with...There are certainly many people who are happy with their careers in art or science - most likely due to the non-economic (aesthetic) satisfaction they derive from their work. Also, society benefits enormously from these people.<br /><br />That does not imply anything about the a priori probability that a kid embarking on a science career will be happy (or happier than they would have been on Steve Hsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02428333897272913660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1103119372608457502004-12-15T09:02:00.000-05:002004-12-15T09:02:00.000-05:00Gee Steve, why so cynical? I think rather than o...Gee Steve, why so cynical? I think rather than outright discouraging people we need to make the future more realistic to them. If someone loves science then they should pursue it just as someone who loves poetry, philosophy, art, or music should. The difference currently is the expectation. When a person chooses sculpture as a career path they know that they are probably consigning Carson C. Chowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08464737817585277975noreply@blogger.com