WillAffleckUW's Journal: Squishy vs Non-Squishy

Well, after doing all these non-squishy 1st and 2nd year pre-reqs for engineering, I'm starting to wonder if my PhD might do better in a more squishy role, since I'm better at taking tech concepts and translating them into human speak. The major question is, since both squishy and non-squishy are Doctor of Philosophy, should I resist the inevitable drift to the squishy side? Ecology, environment, energy policy are things I grok, and both the long term implications and short term changes that are most effective, a set of unique skills that few possess, and how to translate that into rural speak too.

So, what do you think? Fill up my 3rd and 4th year slots with squishy stuff and push on through? Will this lead me to (gasp) having to work in cities, or can I find a way to work in villages and towns and skype in for research meetings when there's 20 meters of snow in the pass and it ain't going to be cleared for 10 days, so relax, eh?

You might have to change your login....

[Nethead]

But if you want to be the next science guy and you have the non-squishy done for the most part and you want to get out of the city there is always http://murrow.wsu.edu/ [wsu.edu]

Re:

[WillAffleckUW]

Nah, lots of squishy PhDs here. But thanks!

Re:

[Nethead]

Tell me about it! I spent the 80s (my hippie years) in Wallingford and Fremon (back when Fremont was fucking Fremont.) Anyway, good luck with your choices. I'm sure that whatever you chose you will be an asset to the community.

What is it you want to actually do?

[damn_registrars]

I have a PhD on the squishy end of your division, I'm pretty sure. I have a friend who I've known since before high school who has a PhD that is almost certainly on the non-squishy side. Oddly enough he recently took a programming job, and I am looking to do the same (unconnected events, really; we live over 1,000 miles apart now). There are some tracks that lead directly to employment better than others. There are also cases where it matters more where you want to work, who you want to work for, and wh