A new article on Forbes is all about how the need for workers who’ve studied STEM (that is, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects in college may not be as great as what we keep hearing. That’s not to say that STEM courses aren’t important! They most certainly are. What John Ebersole is saying in the article is that it’s hard to tell exactly how much need or desire there is for STEM workers, especially considering that the definition of a STEM worker isn’t agreed upon.
What’s more, the article talks about how a significant portion of those categorized as STEM workers may not actually have majored in STEM subjects in college. Universal skills like writing and oratory may be more important than specific knowledge.
So what does this mean for someone looking to go to college, or someone who’s just started a college education? Does it mean you shouldn’t study STEM subjects? Heck no! Does it mean you shouldn’t study liberal arts subjects? I say again: Heck no!
Your goal for a college education should be to get a well-rounded education that provides you with a wide array of useful skills. Study the STEM subjects, absolutely, especially if they’re your passion! But also study English, history, literature, art, psychology, and more! When you’re planning to pursue a college education, unless you’re absolutely, 100% certain that you want nothing more than a job as an engineer or scientist, you’re best served by making sure that the schools you’re looking at will afford you opportunities to study a medley of subjects, and to learn important skills that will help you in whatever job you pursue.
