April 18, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR NICOLE PERSKY IN MA
Hey Jasmine,
In general, I think that it is easier to find a job
out of college having a degree in science than in a
lot of other fields. When the economy took a turn for
the worst in the last couple years, I found that my
friends from college with chemistry and biology majors
had an easier time finding jobs than some of my other
friends.
This is probably due to a couple factors.
One is that a lot of research in science is funded by
federal grants from institutions such as the National
Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health
and the Department of Energy. These are institutions
that really have a lot of money, and whose funding has
not yet been greatly effected by the recession, and in
general are pretty stable.
Another is that there seems to be a demand in industry
for people with science degrees.
Especially now, with such promise and high hopes for
the pharmaceutical industry, and biotech companies.
This isn't to say that academia and industry are the
only places you can get a job in science.
you can also find a job in government agencies,
science writing, as a lawyer...
there are many things you can do. If you just look
through the list of mentors, there is a huge variety
of job descriptions in science and technology.
Depending on the type of job you want, however, you
might want to pursue a higher degree.
In either case, if you choose a science major, I think
that it is a good idea to get some research experience
in college.
Check out what opportunities there available in your
department to work with faculty on their current
research.
You don't have to wait until senior year,
many prof's will have undergrads of different levels
working in their labs.
I think it is a good experience, and also it can help
you to get a job later or get into grad school.
But this is besides the point. What I mean to say is
that I think there are a huge number of interesting
job opportunities in the sciences.
Having said all that,
I recommend that you follow the things that peak your
interest most.
If you are excited by science (or something else,)
follow that excitment.
You can have a much larger positive impact on the
world if you are happy. I really believe that.

ok. those are my thoughts.
good luck!

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A: FROM MENTOR JOAN LUSK IN RI
I think it will be less hard to find a job if you have the skills and
habits of thought that a science education brings, and the jobs you
will find will pay better than clerical or low-level management.
Science skills are literally valuable in the marketplace. Realize
that if your college degree is in science you will have also acquired
some writing skills (if you don't deliberately avoid every elective
course that requires a term paper!) and ordinary computer skills like
word processing. You could take most of the jobs that non-science
majors would take. But in addition you can do the technical jobs
that no one else can.