An reader wrote:
‘I stumbled upon your LinkedIn post regarding science graduates complaining about their salary and is it ungrateful. I’m a second-year biomedical science student and for the past few months I’ve been almost regretting choosing a STEM pathway for a degree because everyone kept saying science degrees are a scam because of the underpaid salary and it really has let me down to the point that I feel like studying is not worth it. Your post makes me feel recognised and acknowledged, and also made me realise that without science graduates the world would fall into imbalance. I’m also an introvert and will start to try to make connections because of your posts too. Thanks!’1See Are Science Graduates Ungrateful about Salaries?
You Are Not Alone
Is your STEM degree worth it? You’re not alone in wondering.
I’ve heard from many students who feel regret about choosing STEM, followed by guilt for feeling that regret.
A scam means deliberate deception. Having spent years in academia, I don’t think your lecturers or the university system are intentionally deceiving students.
It’s quite the opposite. We lecturers argue with each other on how to prepare you for a career while making sure you become a good person.
There’s a deeper problem at play: outdated expectations of what a degree guarantees.
Historically, universities weren’t factories for job training. They were spaces for liberal arts, which are disciplines to liberate the mind through theology and philosophy.2See Liberal arts education.
The job training was done through apprenticeships. You study with merchants, sailors, or craftsmen. Think of internships today.
Then, during the Industrial Revolution, the idea of universities as job pipelines emerged.
Today, degrees have also lost exclusivity.
For our grandparents, getting a degree was rare. It opened exclusive doors. Today, with an oversupply of degrees compared to demand, the economic value of a degree is diluted.
Diversify Like an Investor
What’s happening doesn’t make your university STEM journey worthless; it makes it a different kind of opportunity.
If you are deeply interested in Biomedical Science, your university journey will not go to waste. Your paradigm and ways of thinking will be improved for the rest of your life.
The pain comes to students who don’t like STEM. They take it just because they believe it’s easier to get a job.
If any of you reading this are in either of those situations, consider this:
In finances, when markets are uncertain, investors diversify. They put different amounts of money in different assets. The entire group of those assets is called a portfolio.
So, see yourself as an investment portfolio.
You’ve already invested part of yourself in STEM. Now ask yourself: where else can you invest? Think about diverse, unrelated fields such as:
- Programming
- Creative writing
- School teaching
- Entrepreneurship
- Music
- Gaming
- Travelling
Diversifying your skill set reduces the risk of career stagnation.
The Risk of Diversity
Here’s one key principle to remember for life: It’s extremely difficult to be the best in the world if you diversify.
Yes, you’ll find exceptions in history.
Ibn Sina was a world-class medical scientist and metaphysics philosopher during his time. Elon Musk is a world-class engineer, entrepreneur, and Diablo game player today.
You, me, and most of us will not be them.
I have accepted that I can’t be a world-class immunologist, microbiologist, Islamic philosopher of science, non-fiction writer, learning coach, performance trainer, and science communicator.
I accept that risk and am very happy with my diversification.
Consider whether that works for you, too.
Life Is Not Linear
The path to success isn’t a straight line. I see regret as a signal for exploration, not surrender.
What other fields excite you? Explore and experiment. Take an online course. Build something small but meaningful.
Regret, when channelled constructively, becomes the fuel for an unrelenting fire of success.
STEM skills like critical thinking and data analysis are universally valuable. They’re not just tools for labs; they’re springboards to broader horizons.
Let’s say you’re a biomedical graduate. Upskilling in coding might allow you to work on DNA-analysis software, combining programming with your STEM background. Or, if you’re good at writing, it might lead you to roles in science journalism.
The interconnectedness of today’s world means even niche passions can lead to opportunities. Imagine things like working on an anime project online that merges biomedical storylines with gaming culture. People make money in things our grandparents wouldn’t thought possible.
Managing Expectations
Being an undergraduate, you are still very young. It’s too early to regret your career path.
You can literally quit university today, work obsessively in another discipline for years, fail, and go back to biomedicine, and you’re not even 30 yet.
Much of people’s frustration arises from outdated expectations.
The reality is that a degree is no longer a golden path to a job. It’s simply one of many. Fields like programming or graphic design now allow for competitive certifications outside traditional university systems. Understanding this shift is crucial for charting your career.
Introverts like us often feel isolated on this journey.
But remember that you’re part of a global network of learners. Find online communities on LinkedIn or other platforms. Build connections. Relationships often open doors to opportunities you might never have imagined.
Final Thoughts
I don’t believe your STEM degree is a mistake. See it as a chapter of a long book of your life story.
What defines you is not the field you entered at 18 but how you adapt and change since then.
Gratitude, exploration, and diversification are the keys to building a career and life you’ll find meaningful and proud of.
Remember, you’re a lifelong learner—and the world needs more of us.
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