Preparing for your career during high school - Revision history

Vipul: /* Give special consideration to studying technical subjects */

2013-10-20T06:55:02Z

Give special consideration to studying technical subjects

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:55, 20 October 2013
Line 27:		Line 27:
	{{quotation\|'''KEEP IN MIND''': Technical subjects have the advantage of having ''objective standards''. For example, either a computer program performs a given task within a given time window, or it doesn't. The objective standards in technical subjects can keep you honest: it's generally less easy to fool yourself into thinking that you understand something that you don't than it is in the humanities. You can judge your progress better in technical subjects, which enables you to correct course if you're headed in the wrong direction. So studying a technical subject often has a disproportionately positive impact on your development as a thinker.}}		{{quotation\|'''KEEP IN MIND''': Technical subjects have the advantage of having ''objective standards''. For example, either a computer program performs a given task within a given time window, or it doesn't. The objective standards in technical subjects can keep you honest: it's generally less easy to fool yourself into thinking that you understand something that you don't than it is in the humanities. You can judge your progress better in technical subjects, which enables you to correct course if you're headed in the wrong direction. So studying a technical subject often has a disproportionately positive impact on your development as a thinker.}}

	You should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives during high school. On our page on [~~http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/High_school_coursework#The_importance_of_learning_math_well~~ the importance of learning math well], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.		You should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives during high school. On our page on [[learn math well\|the importance of learning math well]], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.

	== Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers ==		== Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers ==

Jsinick: /* Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers */

2013-10-18T22:24:04Z

Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:24, 18 October 2013
Line 33:		Line 33:
	By doing internships (whether during the school year, or during the summers), you can get first hand exposure to what work various careers involve, helping you narrow down your search space.		By doing internships (whether during the school year, or during the summers), you can get first hand exposure to what work various careers involve, helping you narrow down your search space.

			{{quotation\|'''KEEP IN MIND''': What you observe during an internship may be unrepresentative of what the career path would look like for you personally. Many different kinds of jobs are lumped under the same umbrella: for example, "computer programmer" can mean very different things depending on the context. Workplaces vary in their culture – the one where you do an internship might be unrepresentatively pleasant or unpleasant. Your internship experiences won't be decisive portraits of what a career is like.}}
	{{quotation\|'''KEEP IN MIND''': What you observe during an internship may be unrepresentative of what the career path would look like for you personally. Many different kinds of jobs are lumped under the same umbrella: for example, "computer programmer" can mean very different things depending on the context. Workplaces vary in their culture – the one where you do an internship might be unrepresentatively pleasant or unpleasant. ~~So don~~'t ~~view your internship experiences as~~ decisive portraits of what a career is like.}}

	== Consider exerting effort to get into a prestigious college ==		== Consider exerting effort to get into a prestigious college ==

	Going to a prestigious college can substantially improve your career prospects. We give a case for this on our page about [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/College_selection college selection].		Going to a prestigious college can substantially improve your career prospects. We give a case for this on our page about [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/College_selection college selection].

Jsinick: /* Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers */

2013-10-18T22:23:32Z

Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:23, 18 October 2013
Line 31:		Line 31:
	== Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers ==		== Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers ==

	By doing internships, you can get first hand exposure to what work various careers involve, helping you narrow down your search space.		By doing internships (whether during the school year, or during the summers), you can get first hand exposure to what work various careers involve, helping you narrow down your search space.

	It'~~s important to be aware that what~~ you observe during an internship may be unrepresentative of what the career path would look like for you personally. Many different kinds of jobs are lumped under the same umbrella: for example, "computer programmer" can mean very different things depending on the context. Workplaces vary in their culture – the one where you do an internship might be unrepresentatively pleasant or unpleasant. ~~But internships still give you more information about careers than you have otherwise~~.
			{{quotation\|'''KEEP IN MIND''': What you observe during an internship may be unrepresentative of what the career path would look like for you personally. Many different kinds of jobs are lumped under the same umbrella: for example, "computer programmer" can mean very different things depending on the context. Workplaces vary in their culture – the one where you do an internship might be unrepresentatively pleasant or unpleasant. So don't view your internship experiences as decisive portraits of what a career is like.}}

	== Consider exerting effort to get into a prestigious college ==		== Consider exerting effort to get into a prestigious college ==

	Going to a prestigious college can substantially improve your career prospects. We give a case for this on our page about [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/College_selection college selection].		Going to a prestigious college can substantially improve your career prospects. We give a case for this on our page about [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/College_selection college selection].

Jsinick: /* Give special consideration to studying technical subjects */

2013-10-18T22:22:06Z

Give special consideration to studying technical subjects

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:22, 18 October 2013
Line 25:		Line 25:
	There's also evidence that majoring in a technical subject generally increases people's expected earnings. Economist Bryan Caplan did an [http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2013/04/major_premium.html analysis] arguing that after controlling for the fact that some majors attract more able people than others, people who major in technical subjects earn between 48% and 72% more than high school graduates, whereas people who major in nontechnical subjects (other than nursing), earn between 24% and 46% more than high school graduates.		There's also evidence that majoring in a technical subject generally increases people's expected earnings. Economist Bryan Caplan did an [http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2013/04/major_premium.html analysis] arguing that after controlling for the fact that some majors attract more able people than others, people who major in technical subjects earn between 48% and 72% more than high school graduates, whereas people who major in nontechnical subjects (other than nursing), earn between 24% and 46% more than high school graduates.

	~~With this~~ in ~~mind~~, you should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives during high school. On our page on [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/High_school_coursework#The_importance_of_learning_math_well the importance of learning math well], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.		{{quotation\|'''KEEP IN MIND''': Technical subjects have the advantage of having ''objective standards''. For example, either a computer program performs a given task within a given time window, or it doesn't. The objective standards in technical subjects can keep you honest: it's generally less easy to fool yourself into thinking that you understand something that you don't than it is in the humanities. You can judge your progress better in technical subjects, which enables you to correct course if you're headed in the wrong direction. So studying a technical subject often has a disproportionately positive impact on your development as a thinker.}}

			You should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives during high school. On our page on [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/High_school_coursework#The_importance_of_learning_math_well the importance of learning math well], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.

	== Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers ==		== Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers ==

Jsinick at 22:15, 18 October 2013

2013-10-18T22:15:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:15, 18 October 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
	What you do during high school will substantially impact your career prospects. On this page, we highlight some important considerations relevant to career preparation that you should keep in mind:		What you do during high school will substantially impact your career prospects. On this page, we highlight some important considerations relevant to career preparation that you should keep in mind:

			== Key points ==

			* People's career plans often change. It's generally not a good idea to structure your high school activities around a single career possibility. Do as much as you can to keep your options open.
			* Focusing on technical subjects such as math, programming and science generally opens up more opportunities than focusing on non-technical subjects such as English and social studies.
			* Take advantage of opportunities to learn more about careers that interest you by doing internships.
			* The prestige of the college that you attend can substantially alter your career prospects.

	== People's career plans frequently change ==		== People's career plans frequently change ==

	A crucial point to keep in mind is that ''people's career plans often change~~, so that rather than focusing on preparing for one career exclusively, you should try to'' '''keep your options open.'~~''		A crucial point to keep in mind is that ''people's career plans often change'':

	* '''People frequently change college majors.''' The available statistics don't paint a completely cohesive picture, but estimates (e.g. [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/04/education/edlife/choosing-one-college-major-out-of-hundreds.html?_r=0 1], [http://borderzine.com/2013/03/college-students-tend-to-change-majors-when-they-find-the-one-they-really-love/ 2], [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/education/edlife/why-science-majors-change-their-mind-its-just-so-darn-hard.html?pagewanted=all 3], [http://www.ccas.wisc.edu/explorationcenter/majmyths.html 4]) for various populations range from 40% to 80%.		* '''People frequently change college majors.''' The available statistics don't paint a completely cohesive picture, but estimates (e.g. [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/04/education/edlife/choosing-one-college-major-out-of-hundreds.html?_r=0 1], [http://borderzine.com/2013/03/college-students-tend-to-change-majors-when-they-find-the-one-they-really-love/ 2], [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/education/edlife/why-science-majors-change-their-mind-its-just-so-darn-hard.html?pagewanted=all 3], [http://www.ccas.wisc.edu/explorationcenter/majmyths.html 4]) for various populations range from 40% to 80%.
Line 9:		Line 16:
	* '''Many pre-medical students don't go to medical school.''' The overall acceptance rate to medical school for applicants between 2008 and 2010 was only [https://www.aamc.org/download/157450/data/table24-mcatgpagridall2008-10.pdf.pdf 45.2%].		* '''Many pre-medical students don't go to medical school.''' The overall acceptance rate to medical school for applicants between 2008 and 2010 was only [https://www.aamc.org/download/157450/data/table24-mcatgpagridall2008-10.pdf.pdf 45.2%].
	* '''Many people with law degrees don't become lawyers or judges.''' In 2012, [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/opinion/sunday/an-existential-crisis-for-law-schools.html only 55%] of recent law graduates were underemployed 9 months after graduation. It could be that these people will become lawyers later on, but the data still suggests that it's not uncommon for people who plan to become lawyers to change careers.		* '''Many people with law degrees don't become lawyers or judges.''' In 2012, [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/opinion/sunday/an-existential-crisis-for-law-schools.html only 55%] of recent law graduates were underemployed 9 months after graduation. It could be that these people will become lawyers later on, but the data still suggests that it's not uncommon for people who plan to become lawyers to change careers.

			Rather than focusing on preparing for one career exclusively, you should try to'' '''keep your options open.''

	== Give special consideration to studying technical subjects ==		== Give special consideration to studying technical subjects ==

Jsinick: /* Consider exerting effort to get into a prestigious college */

2013-10-17T19:01:37Z

Consider exerting effort to get into a prestigious college

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:01, 17 October 2013
Line 26:		Line 26:
	== Consider exerting effort to get into a prestigious college ==		== Consider exerting effort to get into a prestigious college ==

	We give ~~the~~ case for this on our page about [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/College_selection college selection].		Going to a prestigious college can substantially improve your career prospects. We give a case for this on our page about [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/College_selection college selection].

Jsinick: /* Consider doing internships to learn more */

2013-10-17T19:01:07Z

Consider doing internships to learn more

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:01, 17 October 2013
Line 18:		Line 18:
	With this in mind, you should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives during high school. On our page on [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/High_school_coursework#The_importance_of_learning_math_well the importance of learning math well], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.		With this in mind, you should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives during high school. On our page on [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/High_school_coursework#The_importance_of_learning_math_well the importance of learning math well], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.

	== Consider doing internships to learn more ==		== Consider doing internships to learn more about different careers ==

	By doing internships, you can get first hand exposure to what work various careers involve, helping you narrow down your search space.		By doing internships, you can get first hand exposure to what work various careers involve, helping you narrow down your search space.

Jsinick: /* Give special consideration to studying technical subjects */

2013-10-17T19:00:25Z

Give special consideration to studying technical subjects

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:00, 17 October 2013
Line 16:		Line 16:
	There's also evidence that majoring in a technical subject generally increases people's expected earnings. Economist Bryan Caplan did an [http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2013/04/major_premium.html analysis] arguing that after controlling for the fact that some majors attract more able people than others, people who major in technical subjects earn between 48% and 72% more than high school graduates, whereas people who major in nontechnical subjects (other than nursing), earn between 24% and 46% more than high school graduates.		There's also evidence that majoring in a technical subject generally increases people's expected earnings. Economist Bryan Caplan did an [http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2013/04/major_premium.html analysis] arguing that after controlling for the fact that some majors attract more able people than others, people who major in technical subjects earn between 48% and 72% more than high school graduates, whereas people who major in nontechnical subjects (other than nursing), earn between 24% and 46% more than high school graduates.

	With this in mind, you should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives during high school. On our page on [[the importance of learning math well]], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.		With this in mind, you should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives during high school. On our page on [http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/High_school_coursework#The_importance_of_learning_math_well the importance of learning math well], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.

	People sometimes try to force themselves to study technical subjects when they really don't like them, and this often doesn't work very well in the long run, but it's worth exploring, especially if you've never thought of doing it.

	== Consider doing internships to learn more ==		== Consider doing internships to learn more ==

Jsinick: /* Give special consideration to studying technical subjects */

2013-10-17T18:59:11Z

Give special consideration to studying technical subjects

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:59, 17 October 2013
Line 14:		Line 14:
	Jobs in science, technology, engineering and programming often require extensive prior subject matter knowledge. This contrasts with many other types of jobs, where employees aren't expected to have subject matter knowledge going in, and learn most of what they need to know on the job. For this reason, majoring in technical subjects such as computer science, engineering, science, statistics or mathematics usually opens up more career options to you than majoring in nontechnical subjects in the humanities or social sciences does. It's easier to move from a technical background to a non-technical job than it is to move in the other direction.		Jobs in science, technology, engineering and programming often require extensive prior subject matter knowledge. This contrasts with many other types of jobs, where employees aren't expected to have subject matter knowledge going in, and learn most of what they need to know on the job. For this reason, majoring in technical subjects such as computer science, engineering, science, statistics or mathematics usually opens up more career options to you than majoring in nontechnical subjects in the humanities or social sciences does. It's easier to move from a technical background to a non-technical job than it is to move in the other direction.

	There's also evidence that majoring in a technical subject generally increases people's expected earnings. Economist Bryan Caplan did an [http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2013/04/major_premium.html analysis] arguing that after controlling for the fact that some majors attract more able people than others, people who major in technical subjects earn between 48% and 72% more than high school graduates, whereas people who major in nontechnical subjects (other than nursing, ~~which could be considered a technical subject~~ earn between 24% and 46% more than high school graduates.		There's also evidence that majoring in a technical subject generally increases people's expected earnings. Economist Bryan Caplan did an [http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2013/04/major_premium.html analysis] arguing that after controlling for the fact that some majors attract more able people than others, people who major in technical subjects earn between 48% and 72% more than high school graduates, whereas people who major in nontechnical subjects (other than nursing), earn between 24% and 46% more than high school graduates.

	With this in mind, you should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives.[~~http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/Thoughts_on_high_school_activities#The_importance_of_learning_math_well Elsewhere~~], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.		With this in mind, you should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives during high school. On our page on [[the importance of learning math well]], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.

	People sometimes try to force themselves to study technical subjects when they really don't like them, and this often doesn't work very well in the long run, but it's worth exploring, especially if you've never thought of doing it.		People sometimes try to force themselves to study technical subjects when they really don't like them, and this often doesn't work very well in the long run, but it's worth exploring, especially if you've never thought of doing it.

Jsinick: /* Give special consideration to studying technical subjects */

2013-10-17T18:57:46Z

Give special consideration to studying technical subjects

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:57, 17 October 2013
Line 14:		Line 14:
	Jobs in science, technology, engineering and programming often require extensive prior subject matter knowledge. This contrasts with many other types of jobs, where employees aren't expected to have subject matter knowledge going in, and learn most of what they need to know on the job. For this reason, majoring in technical subjects such as computer science, engineering, science, statistics or mathematics usually opens up more career options to you than majoring in nontechnical subjects in the humanities or social sciences does. It's easier to move from a technical background to a non-technical job than it is to move in the other direction.		Jobs in science, technology, engineering and programming often require extensive prior subject matter knowledge. This contrasts with many other types of jobs, where employees aren't expected to have subject matter knowledge going in, and learn most of what they need to know on the job. For this reason, majoring in technical subjects such as computer science, engineering, science, statistics or mathematics usually opens up more career options to you than majoring in nontechnical subjects in the humanities or social sciences does. It's easier to move from a technical background to a non-technical job than it is to move in the other direction.

	There's also evidence that majoring in a technical subject generally increases people's expected earnings. ~~For example, economist~~ Bryan Caplan did an [http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2013/04/major_premium.html analysis] arguing that after controlling for the fact that some majors attract more able people than others, people who major in technical subjects earn between 48% and 72% more than high school graduates, whereas people who major in nontechnical subjects (other than nursing, which could be considered a technical subject earn between 24% and 46% more than high school graduates.		There's also evidence that majoring in a technical subject generally increases people's expected earnings. Economist Bryan Caplan did an [http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2013/04/major_premium.html analysis] arguing that after controlling for the fact that some majors attract more able people than others, people who major in technical subjects earn between 48% and 72% more than high school graduates, whereas people who major in nontechnical subjects (other than nursing, which could be considered a technical subject earn between 24% and 46% more than high school graduates.

	With this in mind, you should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives.[http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/Thoughts_on_high_school_activities#The_importance_of_learning_math_well Elsewhere], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.		With this in mind, you should give special consideration to taking math, science and computer programming electives.[http://learntothrive.subwiki.org/wiki/Thoughts_on_high_school_activities#The_importance_of_learning_math_well Elsewhere], we argue in favor of giving special attention to math while in high school.