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Posted (edited)

I double majored in English Literature and Computer Science in undergrad. This means that I can write a well reasoned essay about why I love anything. I got into Cornell FE, because I really don't know, it sounded like something smart people should do. I think my essay was about the beauty inherent to a random walk. To be honest I have no idea what I'm doing. Also in terms of salary, Computer Science masters programs, even like top 20 ones have higher starting and median salaries then OR/FE ones. Should I go, or should I reapply to CS masters programs next year?

Edited by Tim_Duncan
Posted (edited)

Catria, there is a common saying... "if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life".

 

It isn't just about money making up for suffering in a career you hate. It is losing the satisfaction you would have for being in a career you love.

 

You won't realize all the opportunities to be happy that you lost until it is too late and you are looking back on what could have been.

 

Follow your passion, you'll make do with the money you have.

Edited by <ian>
Posted

>the money means nothing if you don't enjoy the work.

 

I would add to that -- I'm finding that loving what you do is a kind of prerequisite for doing it really well. 

 

I was waffling, this past spring, over whether to apply for a research PhD or an MBA. so I got involved with tech start-up consulting, to dip a toe in and see what it was like. I was concurrently working as a research associate.

 

while doing my research, I would spend hours poring over databases, articles, book chapters, all the while in love with the process. After which I would take my results back to my professors and they'd vocalize "wow, that's impressive you found these numbers! I didn't think the data was available."

 

while doing the consulting work, though, I got immediately bored. Valuation estimates? Budgets and convertible notes? Venture capital allocation? I found myself procrastinating, getting frustrated, and producing less-than-stellar work. Finally I pulled out of the project. 

 

This experience led me to choose a PhD over an MBA. 

 

I have to do what I love, because I want to do it well. 

 

Does that shed any light onto what type of work you want to do?

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