MIT Enterprise Forum for students and parents interested in STEM programs and entrepreneurial opportunities

[CA renter]

Just posting this here because I know that many Piggs are parents who are interested in encouraging their kids to pursue STEM degrees and professions.

“Join us for an evening devoted to student entrepreneurs and how education is changing to meet the future needs of our local companies. This two-part program is a must for parents and STEM students.”

http://mitefsd.org/event/jan-13-program/?instance_id=614

[svelte]

Forget all about that techie stuff and learn how to play guitar

[Coronita]

Then again, kids here shouldn’t care anymore.

Afterall, everything going to get outsourced to india and china. And everything going to get replaced by robots.

If people really believe the two things above, they shouldn’t bother their kids with STEMs.

[NotCranky]

I decided my boys are going to major in women’s studies. It’s way too misogynistic to let them possibly hog up places in college and the workforce,that in all fairness, should be left open for girls/ women. Too many boys in stem and not enough getting properly indoctrinated to what should be the appropriate political and social views on gender . Fixing everything that’s wrong with the world, one (white) boy at a time.

[paramount]

[quote=flu]Then again, kids here shouldn’t care anymore.

Afterall, everything going to get outsourced to india and china. And everything going to get replaced by robots.

If people really believe the two things above, they shouldn’t bother their kids with STEMs.[/quote]

I can’t believe there are still doomsayers making statements like the above about the value of STEM beyond it’s value as a political distration.

[flyer]

From my experience with our kids and their friends, getting the degree is a breeze compared to the challenges they’ll find in the job market–getting the job they want–where they want it.

Our kids were able to stay in CA, but many of their friends have been shocked to find they had to move out of state–in order to make their education pay
off–even with the “best” degrees. Imo, parents need to tell their kids the diploma doesn’t come with a guarantee.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flyer]From my experience with our kids and their friends, getting the degree is a breeze compared to the challenges they’ll find in the job market–getting the job they want–where they want it.

Our kids were able to stay in CA, but many of their friends have been shocked to find they had to move out of state–in order to make their education pay off–even with the “best” degrees. Imo, parents need to tell their kids the diploma doesn’t come with a guarantee.[/quote]

flyer, it’s not the end of the world if a young twenty-something Native Californian has to move out of state for their first job after college graduation. They are still young enough to get a little experience under their belts and get hired back in Cali at a later date.

Surprisingly, CA companies seem to recruit nationwide even though there are more than enough prospective college-graduate applicants who already reside in CA in whatever field the company is posting a job vacancy in. This is likely because many of these employers want experience and as a newly minted college graduate, you can’t get that experience working PT at Starbucks and playing video games in mom and/or dad’s back bedroom because you don’t want to broaden your job search to companies out of state for your first “real” job.

I don’t feel sorry for any of these young newly-minted college graduates. All of them majored in a field of their choosing, whether or not it was a marketable major. Many did not bother working during college or even accepting any internships (to get experience in their field). Many borrowed too much in student loans because they went to a school which was too expensive for them when at all times, they had cheaper alternatives available to them to obtain a same or similar degree. Many are too picky about where their first job is located and what kind of job they will accept when they can ill afford to be. And many simply don’t want to leave mom and/or dad’s house after college graduation because it is “too comfortable” for them and they are “accustomed to” the lifestyle which it affords them.

[bearishgurl]

When a newly-minted college graduate living with mom and/or dad has a backyard pool/jacuzzi with cabana and built-in BBQ with which to entertain 20 or more of their “best friends” twice monthly (the ones from back in HS who are still hanging around “home” doing nothing with their lives), it’s kind of hard to “envision” moving into a semi-run-down small apt in an unfamiliar expensive city to accept your first “real” job.

I suspect that is the “real” problem with flyer’s friend’s kids because that is the problem with my kids’ friends who stayed behind after HS instead of accepting an offer of admission to university (preferably 100 miles away or more) and getting on with their lives. People, your kids will still be with you at age 30+ (possibly with their own kids in tow) if you allow it. Absolutely NONE of my youngest kid’s friends from HS who stayed behind after HS graduation have even finished one semester of CC (15 units) yet … when they should be going into their second semester of sophomore year at the end of this month. Why? They’re having too much fun and entertainment and pulling frequent all-nighters with all their old “HS homies,” most of whom they have known since they were 5 or 6 years old, lol.

It’s kind of hard to be a FT student and pass your your college classes with that kind of lifestyle.

[flyer]

Much of what you are saying is true, BG, but, over half of our kids friends who don’t want to move out of San Diego did receive college degrees, and then decided they didn’t want relocate for jobs.

They can’t get the jobs they want here, and they don’t want to move. Not a pretty picture for them or their parents.

In addition, others who have left for jobs have not been able to get back with comparable jobs, let alone buy homes when they do return.

Just passing on what we’re seeing.

[dumbrenter]

[quote=Blogstar]I decided my boys are going to major in women’s studies. It’s way too misogynistic to let them possibly hog up places in college and the workforce,that in all fairness, should be left open for girls/ women. Too many boys in stem and not enough getting properly indoctrinated to what should be the appropriate political and social views on gender . Fixing everything that’s wrong with the world, one (white) boy at a time.[/quote]

Like a good social major would do, you should start with other boys first before trying your own 🙂

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flyer]Much of what you are saying is true, BG, but, over half of our kids friends who don’t want to move out of San Diego did receive college degrees, and then decided they didn’t want relocate for jobs.

They can’t get the jobs they want here, and they don’t want to move. Not a pretty picture for them or their parents.

In addition, others who have left for jobs have not been able to get back with comparable jobs, let alone buy homes when they do return.

Just passing on what we’re seeing.[/quote]

You state here that your friends’ kids didn’t want to leave SD for a good job in their field. What about other parts of CA? If they accept positions in other CA coastal counties which pay higher than SD, they can save up money to buy a house and sell it 5-10 years later for a profit, giving them a downpayment to buy a house in (lesser expensive) SD County.

An engineer (civil, soils, petroleum, wastewater, etc) can make a LOT of money anywhere in CA, even Fresno or along US 395 (on the other side of the sierras).

If they take their first job in “flyover country” and even eventually buy a house there, they won’t likely be able to recover enough upon sale a few years later to return to SD for a job and buy a house. But they CAN save up money because their housing expenses will be lower, whether they’re buying or renting. I would advise them if they do this with the goal of returning to SD to NOT buy a house there but instead rent.

This assumes they relocate for a job to the southwest, midwest or south (NOT the rockies or most of the eastern seaboard [coastal] as it’s too expensive to live in those cities relative to what they will make there).

SD companies will hire experienced people from other locales. I would think having family in SD would be a bonus to a SD job applicant but most employers with good FT job openings here want experience and you have to get that somewhere if you don’t have any.

SD County is glutted with experienced and overqualified workers for their jobs and also has a lot of VERY experienced “retirees” who will work on an as-needed basis (with no benefits) and need little to zero training. This is very attractive to most local employers.

[flyer]

BG, don’t really know all of the exact reasons why my kids peers are making the decisions they are making, but it does seem a large percentage of college grads today (especially those raised in CA) don’t want to go where the jobs are.

Some, like your kids and my kids, are all set in CA, but, from what we’re seeing, that does not seem to be the case for a large percentage.

[svelte]

[quote=flyer]BG, don’t really know all of the exact reasons why my kids peers are making the decisions they are making, but it does seem a large percentage of college grads today (especially those raised in CA) don’t want to go where the jobs are.

Some, like your kids and my kids, are all set in CA, but, from what we’re seeing, that does not seem to be the case for a large percentage.[/quote]

Started both my kids out in engineering…they got bored and pursued different degrees. Both out of school this year and secured really nice jobs, one in SF and one in SD. Odd thing is I just noticed that, while they didn’t choose engineering, they are both using their great math skills.

Whatever makes’em happy, that’s what counts. If they like what they do, it’ll show and they’ll excel.

[NotCranky]

[quote=dumbrenter][quote=Blogstar]I decided my boys are going to major in women’s studies. It’s way too misogynistic to let them possibly hog up places in college and the workforce,that in all fairness, should be left open for girls/ women. Too many boys in stem and not enough getting properly indoctrinated to what should be the appropriate political and social views on gender . Fixing everything that’s wrong with the world, one (white) boy at a time.[/quote]

Like a good social major would do, you should start with other boys first before trying your own :-)[/quote]

Not to worry, my wife put the kibbosh on the plan.

[flyer]

[quote=svelte][quote=flyer]BG, don’t really know all of the exact reasons why my kids peers are making the decisions they are making, but it does seem a large percentage of college grads today (especially those raised in CA) don’t want to go where the jobs are.

Some, like your kids and my kids, are all set in CA, but, from what we’re seeing, that does not seem to be the case for a large percentage.[/quote]

Started both my kids out in engineering…they got bored and pursued different degrees. Both out of school this year and secured really nice jobs, one in SF and one in SD. Odd thing is I just noticed that, while they didn’t choose engineering, they are both using their great math skills.

Whatever makes’em happy, that’s what counts. If they like what they do, it’ll show and they’ll excel.[/quote]

Agree, svelte. Glad to hear about your kids. Our three kids couldn’t be more different from one another, and all are very happy in their careers.

They each love what they are doing, have homes, and are working on families. Since they are also in CA, we see them often, and are glad they’re not too far away.

[Author]

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