If you could get paid to study, what would you study?

a reply to: Justoneman

Hey, I agree! Everyone should study physics.

But I'd be doing it for a second time, considering that's what my degree is in already. I'd flip mine around though. Rather than engineering physics with a minor in astro, I'd go for a major in astro and a minor in engineering.

a reply to: Agit8dChop

That is a hard question to answer, because it would be easier to answer the question "What WOULDN'T you study, given free choice and no financial burden associated therewith".

The trouble with picking is that even if I were to limit myself to scientific and technical studies, there are SO many areas within those realms that I would LOVE to be better informed on, have an improved working knowledge of, or explore for the first time! But then you consider all the other things a person might become a student of, and the list grows ridiculously long.

Things I would not study specifically however, would be things like business studies and classical economics, because those two things together, are taught in such a way as to mind wipe the student into accepting unacceptable things, rather than working to change them root and branch. I find myself also of the opinion that any study of law would be precisely the same, as would studying governance in an establishment setting. These things are better observed by people untainted with the corruption which comes with being taught their workings, as the education in those fields is precisely designed to produce compliance with rote, rather than rebellion and innovation which might correct their inherent wrongness.

But the sciences? Yes, all of them. Engineering of every conceivable nature? Yes, absolutely. English literature and language, the classics, histories both general and specific, yes, yes, yes... I would be a GLUTTON for data, given even half a chance.

a reply to: Agit8dChop

what i have learned on ats studying youtube is the best way understanding everything. who needs universities? forget einstein, we have alex jones or trump.

Invisibility

a reply to: TrueBrit

Funny how when we were all in school the only thing we could think of was getting out.

Now I wish I had the time to spend to go back!

And, I think there's really something to this theme. I've always felt this way too. I think kids shouldn't be allowed to attend college until they've had a couple years (at least) out in the real world. I think it would vastly improve the overall quality of education by miles (or kilometers if you choose).

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
a reply to: Agit8dChop

If I guy was really bent on going into IT related things (read: hard headed) the place to be is in one of two areas: Networks and Cyber Security. That's where the BIG money is. When I say 'networks', I'm talking about high end network design; things like CCIE/CCDE (Cisco certs). Those guys are pulling down $300/hour on an easy day, and up to $500/hour in an emergency. Plan on being married to a keyboard, but the skillset will never go out of demand. High-end Cyber Security is another field where you can pretty much name your price. Get into the banking / securities world and high 6 figures to low 7 figures are not uncommon salaries at all. In fact, I have a couple guys working for me in these areas who make about 4x what I make, and I make good money!

Show me one job posting in the last 10 years that is $500K and above for IT that isn't a position as a CEO where you have 20+ years of experience, experience running a large company and possibly require a buy-in into the company. Please. Any posting. I'll settle for a posting of $300K.

To the OP, take some people's responses with a grain of salt, especially when it comes to the salaries, especially when they need to tell you how much they make, how much others make, etc. I'd really like to know (not really) the people who talk about how much they make with co-workers or others on contract work. It doesn't really happen in the work place - there are specific rules about that in most companies and contracts for the specific reason of not rocking the boat b/c it causes tension if someone is making more than you. Oh, you can also not trust the amounts school recruiters say you can expect upon graduation as they tend to be significantly higher than what materializes upon graduation (if you can even find a job in that field that is).

Best of luck, let us know what you are leaning towards.

Oh, one more thing, if there is something you love to do it may be wise to not do that as a profession as it could quickly turn from a joy to a major drag - then you go from having something you like/love to do and enjoy doing it to being obligated to do this/perform and it can make you hate the thing. This happens to a lot of musicians, especially with hit songs that they loved when they wrote - they end up hating the song b/c people always want them to play it.

Archival Studies, particularly Preservation. I've always been fascinated with historical objects and would love to be involved with preserving and archiving such things. I would really be interested in digital preservation.

Digital preservation involves the implementation of policies, strategies, and actions in order to ensure that digitized documents remain accurate and accessible over time. Due to emerging technologies, archives began to expand and require new forms of preservation. Archival collections spread to include new media such as microfilm, audiofiles, visualfiles, moving images, and digital documents. Many of these new types of media suffer from a shorter life expectancy than paper. With the quick advancement of our technological society, old media is becoming obsolete. Therefore, migration from old formats to new formats is necessary for the preservation of these digital medias so they can remain accurate and accessible.

Metadata is an important part of digital preservation as it preserves the context, usage, and migration of a digital record. Similarly to traditional preservation, metadata is required to preserve the context, authenticity, and accessibility of a record.

Archival Science

I've still thought about getting into the field through a MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) degree. I have a background as a graphic designer and IT professional which I think would be valuable. My wife is currently completing her PhD. Maybe after she is done I will take a harder look.

Good luck to you.

I used to spend about eight hours a day studing medical research for many years. I spent a lot of time having to learn to read the terminology and parameters commonly used to be able to more quickly analyze what I was reading. I did that for years, almost every day, winter and summer. Now I only do research about one to two hours a day, maybe three in the winter. I do evaluate things for people and verify if I am on the right track which is separate from learning new things. I do not consider practicing something the same as doing research, even though practicing involves doing specific research.

I am a learning addict, I need to keep learning or I feel like I am just existing without purpose.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

Thing is, if I had been taught by university scholars, in an environment that was not dangerous to my physical health and my mental well being, I would NEVER have wanted to leave education. If I had been able to concentrate on my studies rather than watching my back, surrounded by people with interesting ideas and passion for the subjects they were studying, then the life path I would have been on would be VASTLY different to the one I am on now.

There are things about my life that I would not change, even if I could go back in time and change them, their origins. But, it is intensely aggravating to me that I never got the chance to get a proper education, precisely because I ALWAYS wanted to know more, but was denied an environment in which to learn. If someone said to me "Right, we are going to pay you to take courses, and you don't have to put up with physical altercations during your learning", I would be all over that like lightning.

If you could get paid to study, what would you study?

Porn.

a reply to: Agit8dChop

Excellent topic

I would either study magnetic levitation and or satellite technology.

I love my job!

I started out as a dishwasher, now I am a receptacle lavation technician.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

You should know, you're in the business aren't you? (I thought you said you were at one point) Those jobs NEVER get advertised! NEVER!! NEVER EVER!!

It's all word of mouth and inside networking. Nobody would ever advertise a job like that! It would be an instant invitation for 500 lawsuits! C'mon man, you know this.

You show me where you can get a current CCIE for under $300/hour + expenses. I'm not talking about a guy who just walked out of Cisco's labs here, but one who's been out there in the field for 2-3 years...and is still current. Just one! I'll bet you can't find one. You'll find 10,000 CCNA's and stuff like that, but not CCIE's. Those guys are like gold plated diamonds.

However, I agree with you on the lies people tell about how much they make on contract work. BTDT, and there's always more to the story. However, those aren't the types of people I am referring to.

originally posted by: Lumenari
a reply to: Agit8dChop

Go straight to the Bakken oilfield in North Dakota.

Take a job that will pay you 90k a year to start with no experience. Within a year you will be at 120k with other companies begging for you.

Usually included is a gold medical health insurance policy, a company rig, free company housing and perks.

Do the job for 15 years and retire, if you save your money and not go crazy buying a new truck and boat every year.

If you are single and just live there, your only actual bill every month will be food. Everything else is paid for. I get paid 150 a month by my company to have a cell phone, for instance. Because it is part of the job.

Then study for what you want to do in life.

cool
I wanna do that too.....you win this contest man!

Rock or comedy. I have a passion for them and can always use more study.

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
a reply to: TrueBrit

Funny how when we were all in school the only thing we could think of was getting out.

Now I wish I had the time to spend to go back!

And, I think there's really something to this theme. I've always felt this way too. I think kids shouldn't be allowed to attend college until they've had a couple years (at least) out in the real world. I think it would vastly improve the overall quality of education by miles (or kilometers if you choose).

yep, bingo

I was in college and no idea what was out there in the world....then someone asks your major..............my mom told to be pre dental.....GOOD GRAVY BABY....my mom told me......sob......I started out strong with a paper route at age 11.....you're posed to be 12.......then fffffppphpphhpptt.....I wanted spend in money so badly....asked my mom at age 1r if I could go get a paper route she said no.....fffhhpphhhppttttt.....flat on my friggin face

So,my son.....made sure he was welding at age 8.....told him plumbers make the most on a commercial jobsite......he's a millionaire at 36........cool

a reply to: neo96

Yeah that would be my choice

a reply to: Agit8dChop

I want to start off by saying this is a great thread topic.I have been
thinking about this and am leaning towards studying long,lost skills.
Everyone is used to going to a store,or online, to buy what they need.
One of these days the stores could be all closed down.Where can you
go to get what you need then?
In the past 10 years I have learned to home can food.I haven't had a
garden in a long time,I need to get back into that.I haven't sewn anything
for a long time as well,except mending a seam.I have learned to darn
socks but haven't had the need to yet.How would anyone fix their shoes
or make another pair if they need some?
I want to study how our pioneer ancestors lived and worked and how to
apply those old ways for future use.

I would like to study quantum mechanics because I would love to be able to daydream all day and get paid for it, and I would like to play with particle accelerators and test my daydreams, or make my daydreams a reality via methodology that would enable that to happen.

Magnetism!