Fields worth pursuing -- 2018 update

[StatGuy2000]

Hi everyone! Back in 2014, I had posted the following about what field(s) you would encourage someone to pursue:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...-actually-encourage-someone-to-pursue.742424/

Since the above thread is no longer open for new replies, I thought I would revive the discussion here. Specifically, as of 2018, what field(s) would you encourage someone to pursue, based on current and possible future demand.

 

[jedishrfu]

Data science and deep learning projects are popping up everywhere so it would be wise to capitalize on the phase now. In five years though, things will be even more automated with less emphasis on deep learning and general programming skills like databases or web programming... will then help you succeed.

 

[StatGuy2000]

Data science and deep learning projects are popping up everywhere so it would be wise to capitalize on the phase now. In five years though, things will be even more automated with less emphasis on deep learning and general programming skills like databases or web programming... will then help you succeed.

Would you thus suggest that students in college/university should thus pursue a computer science degree above other STEM degrees then?

 

[jedishrfu]

Oh no, I think they should pursue the STEM degree of choice and then augment it with CS courses. With a CS degree alone, your jobs will be limited to CS jobs as you won't understand the terminology in the eyes of the employer for other positions. The notion is I hire the degree for the job I'm offering and look to see how versatile they are with respect to CS work so a CS major with STEM background would not be preferred over an engineer with some CS courses for an engineering jobs.

BMEs ran into this problem a few years ago, where employers would want an ME not half an ME (BME = Biology + ME) or they'd say I want a biologist not half a biologist. Now I think they are hiring BMEs as BMEs as employers are seeing the true value in the degree.

The same is true with CS vs STEM if you choose STEM then augment with CS. If you choose CS and augment with STEM then you must be more careful in the jobs you apply to, looking for ones that definitely want a CS major and hope that they have ME, or EE or Physics or Biology or Chemistry... courses for the particular job being offered. (CS job for genomics software tools company as an example)

These are just my opinions and others here may offer counter arguments or similar experiences.

 

[Jody]

I finished my undergraduate degree in electrical engineer during December. The degree was more hardware/analogue concentrated and I had several internship experience to help with offers- received multiple offers I felt were competitive despite having a GPA a bit on the low side. I'm not sure if this may help.