Is studying Engineering alpha or beta? Is it a death sentence to my social life?

damaskrose · 2016-03-26T06:12:33+00:00

I don't think it's either alpha or beta. If you go to an engineering school, nobody will look down on you for it. But I wouldn't recommend going into engineering unless you really enjoy the subject matter. The pay and security are not as good as you think - certainly not good enough to make up for hating your job.

energyvolley · 2016-03-26T05:56:10+00:00

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JarlTrump · 2016-03-26T11:43:26+00:00

Law School

Stable Career

Pick One

YetAnotherCommenter · 2016-03-26T12:57:51+00:00

On one hand, I'd secure my career prospects. I hate doing Physics/Math but I'm nevertheless good at it. On the other, I'd sacrifice 4-6 years of my youth.

Most men don't take careers they love. They take the highest paying career they're competent at. Welcome to the misery of the male gender role.

I'll make sure to work out if I do study Engineering, but other than that I can't guarantee I'll socialize. I'm naturally an introvert and I had a fucked up childhood so I don't interact with other people normally. I think if I partied enough I could learn social skills with the aid of alcohol but I want to make the smart decision.

Social skills are hard to learn because they're rarely consciously/formally taught in logical step-by-step format, so don't think you'll just learn it by osmosis (clearly your learning style is more "give me syllogisms" rather than just "picking it up" tacitly).

I don't want to be beta bucks. I'd rather die alone than be that. I also don't want to die broke. Since my social skills are neutered, even if I don't study engineering it's not guaranteed that I'll be socially apt and high SMV enough to be a player in university.

Engineering is the risk-averse route. Do it.

Look, you're probably a "beta" naturally. This isn't a bad thing.

Civilization is built on the backs of the rational, logical types. The scientists, the philosophers, the technicians, the engineers, etcetera. Bill Gates is no sex symbol but he's made tons of money. "Alphas" generally have the kind of traits that were useful in the caveman days but not really any more, so Chad Thundercock often ends up debilitated with football injuries and living out his last days in a trailer park after he wasted all his money on blow and/or divorce settlements.

Money doesn't buy sex appeal (although it can buy plastic surgery which can increase one's sex appeal). That's the miserable truth that we're all going to have to deal with.

We all know libido and "the thirst" exist. Men get thirsty. Try jacking off more. Consume more pornography. Use alternatives to real sex. Why not hire prostitutes when you can? Stop putting pussy on a pedestal. The amount of sex with women you get is not a measure of your personal worth. Don't let women determine your self esteem.

Being nerdy is not a bad thing, either morally or economically.

bonerdude420 · 2016-03-26T07:47:00+00:00

It's pretty immature to be considering how different university degrees will effect your sex life.

Besides, no girl is going to be into you then change her mind because you're studying engineering, that just doesn't happen.

Interversity · 2016-03-26T06:50:29+00:00

I hate doing Physics/Math but I'm nevertheless good at it

Why not study something you enjoy? That way you can enjoy your classes and your job if you choose to enter the same field you study.

Then go to law school and have a stable career.

There are a lot of unemployed lawyers, the current job market is not exactly shining gold for law school grads. And you have to go to one of the top schools if you want to be really competitive, which are hard as shit to get into and cost a huge amount on top of undergrad.

I'll make sure to work out if I do study Engineering, but other than that I can't guarantee I'll socialize.

Working out is not socializing, in case that's what you were saying, and you will never develop social skills if you don't socialize.

I'd love to just be high/drunk the whole 4 years of undergrad and put my number count into the hundreds.

If you're not socially skilled already, you will not get an n-count in the hundreds in college. Also, you will waste what could have been a valuable education.

Also, I think if I do study engineering I'm just gonna say at parties that I'm in business, because I don't want to trigger ASD or seem low SMV

This came off as incredibly autistic. How would telling people you're studying engineering trigger anti slut defense? Why would it have anything to do with your SMV? Lying to randoms about your major reeks of insecurity and neediness.

shoup88 · 2016-03-26T05:56:12+00:00

I don't think engineering is inherently beta or alpha. I know engineers that are confident, masculine charmers and I know some that are awkward loners. At my school, the faculties that had to work the hardest - engineering, law, and nursing - were well known as the hardest partiers.

I don't think you should choose your schooling based on how much time it will allow you to party, especially if you don't already possess superior social skills. Like you said, who knows how much you'll get laid either way. Best to focus your energy on an education that will secure your future.

Maybe this is a regional thing. Is engineering really considered an immediate turn off where you're from?

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wazzup987 · 2016-03-26T06:00:34+00:00

neither and yes. i hope you like coffee

super-commenting · 2016-03-26T06:46:53+00:00

I hate doing Physics/Math

If this isn't something you can see changing I strongly suggest against engineering.

Ekaj_B · 2016-03-26T08:21:56+00:00

The only problem with engineering is the demographics are so largely male that I'm guessing you have to look elsewhere to meet women (although you probably make good guy friends).

fuckin_retard · 2016-03-26T23:33:48+00:00

For whatever reason, engineering as a whole attracts mostly guys. and it attracts mostly guys that have nerdy and beta tendencies.

That doesn't mean you will be a nerdy beta if you go the engineering route. You can still be whoever the hell you want to be.

So you hate physics and math... why do you want to be an engineer? For the "stable career"? I guess that sounds nice... but yeah, you could also study political science and then go on to be a lawyer.

Look. Here's the thing. Whatever major you choose, you can still party a LOT if you manage your time well. If you dedicated 8AM-5PM, Monday thru Friday to your studies, that would be 40 hours a week minus 15 hours of class, so 25 hours of studying during the week, then you would have time every single night to drink and smoke with some friends or chicks. Dedicate 4 hours of studying on Saturday and 4 hours on Sunday, and you still have tons of time on the weekends to fuck around and your study time will come up to 33 hours for the week. That is far beyond what most college advisors/books would recommend. Its a lot easier said than done though...

If you have the option, please don't get a job during your semesters. If at all possible, focus as much time on SCHOOL and on your SOCIAL LIFE. If you get out of school with a 3.8 GPA and lots of connections, you will instantly have a good job. All of the shitty college jobs you would have had will pale in comparison to your first year salary if you do things right - especially as an engineer.

good luck.

redmachines · 2016-03-26T11:36:10+00:00

You are considering being 30K in debt just for an opportunity to get laid by women who exclusively go for Chad?

UberBluntCruising · 2016-03-26T12:30:58+00:00

If you want a degree that'll get you girls while you're studying do English literature or something. Those courses are like 70% female and they're exactly the type of girls who go after artsy creative guys or whatever.

If you want a degree that'll help you get a stable career, study engineering and reap greater benefits later when you're making good money and can easily pull.

despisedlove2 · 2016-03-26T13:42:13+00:00

I don't know what it is. Nor should it matter.

If you hate Physics and Math, why are you doing engineering?

alreadyredschool · 2016-03-26T13:42:20+00:00

If you engineer while siting on a motorcycle then yes. If not, go home.

TL;DR Fuck this kind of question.

Atlas_B_Shruggin · 2016-03-26T13:54:23+00:00

Beta

sardonis70 · 2016-03-26T15:12:06+00:00

It isn't either or. If you go into engineering because you are passionate about it, it'll probably come off as alpha provided you keep up on your physical fitness and all the usual "grooming" type issues. If you go into engineering and hate it? I suspect it'll come off as VERY beta, mostly because it means you 'settled' on a career instead of chasing your passion. As a guy that went this route, I'll tell you it CAN work just fine provided you keep a few hobbies you can be passionate about, but its far easier if you actually like and enjoy the work you do daily to stay in the right mindset. For me, most of my "passion" goes into my music interests, which I let slide during most of my first marriage. No, I'm never going to be a rock star, and that's OK. But music is something I am interested in AND passionate about, since to me the "career" is nothing more than a means to an end. I'm just another musician that got into IT to make a buck and never left.

[deleted] · 2016-03-26T15:17:14+00:00

There are no "alpha" or "beta" careers.

I find Engineering a great profession. My Finances MBA teacher is an Engineer and he is definitely a man some people here would call "alpha". Go for it.

sittinginabaralone · 2016-03-26T16:45:57+00:00

General advice since you've been told enough times that your choice of major and career isn't alpha or beta.

There are plenty of "normal people" in engineering. Stoners, athletes, party boys/girls, etc. Plus, you can be friends with plenty of people outside your major. Also, you can afford to party a few nights a week. You might have to manage and plan your time better, but anyone complaining about being "so busy" is bullshitting or not planning well enough.

Semi related college advice:

If you don't like physics and math even a little bit, you probably shouldn't waste your time in engineering. You will either underperform and get a shitty office job like the business majors or drop out. You won't do well in a program that is essentially 100% math and physics. There are very few "interesting" things you learn in engineering. It's mainly solving the same problems from different viewpoints for 4 years. You learn every "cool science fact" freshman year, then it becomes about understanding where all that comes from and applying it to real world problems.

Just so business if you think you're a smart guy and don't know what you want to do. It's a good major. It gets a lot of shit because it's easy to pass and there are many idiots in the major, but if you're smart and dedicated to a career it's probably the best common major after engineering, physics, math, and CS.

DrunkGirl69 · 2016-03-26T17:18:56+00:00

Study something easy and have fun. There's nothing inherently unattractive about studying engineering but you'll have to do something to expand your social circle outside of it and you'll have less time than the average student to do so. You don't even like the subject matter, and in RP terms, by playing the long game of banking on your career to get you chicks later on, you're setting yourself up to be beta bux no matter what. Have fun in college dude. It's a 4-year window to party surrounded by people your own age and you can never go back.

ferrarifan · 2016-03-26T17:20:56+00:00

It's all about time management. It is very possible be a STEM major and have a fruitful social life, but unless you're a fucking god, you're going to have to put in the extra time and effort to be successful at both. It is possible, I know people who have done so, and I would say that I'm one myself.

Engineering courses require you to show up and to study outside of the classroom as well if you want to keep your GPA up. Unless you have an IQ of 130+, you won't be able to easily grasp concepts. You will need to dedicate a couple of hours a week outside your classes to understand the math and physics so that you can ace that midterm.

Creating and maintaining a healthy social life is also tough, and don't kid yourself, you know very well what a "healthy" social life is... Being in college itself usually gives you easy access to parties, women, drinks, etc. However, us STEM nerds have to make the extra effort to go out, join a frat/club, etc. to get to meet more people. If you really only on your classes to make friends, you'll end up playing LoL on Saturday night @ a skype party. There will be times where you have to give up parties and social gatherings for study. Like I said, it is possible, but requires time and dedication.

Most people aren't dedicated enough to maintain this lifestyle. They will either give up seriously studying so that they can keep up the parties, or they will give up the parties so that they can study. Or they drain their time dicking around on reddit or netflix, or sleeping, but those are separate case. So depending on your priorities, you might be attracted to different majors. People who prioritize studying and getting good grades, will go to STEM. People who prioritize partying and maintaining a good social life will be drawn to humanities. Obviously there are more factors to consider, but this is a generalization.

TL;DR: Engineering isn't inherently alpha or beta, but because you have limited time, people who prioritize studying and getting good grades instead of partying and getting laid (betas) tend to choose Engineering. But it is completely possible to not have to conform to stereotypes.

mllstiger · 2016-03-26T17:29:19+00:00

The cool thing about college is there's little social cliques. You can be an engineering major and hang out with poli sci majors.

The problem is, you're an introvert. If you don't have the right social skills you're not going to get what you want from your social life regardless of your major.

[deleted] · 2016-03-26T18:43:09+00:00

Umh I wouldn't do something you hate...you'll hate your job, and anyone who you might partner with you'll begin to resent them...because you have this shitty job..and who did you do it for? Yourself? Them? Society? Now don't get me wrong, you should get a job which fills a niche...my parents said get into anything related to health.

winndixie · 2016-03-26T21:53:10+00:00

No, it's a time suck but if you're good you can handle it. Women don't care about your career choice or what you do everyday, as long as you make money, and some women don't even care. Don't expect a woman to ask you what you like to do and why, they don't care, they just ask that question to build rapport.

now_I_feelafel · 2016-03-27T00:40:58+00:00

I'd love to just be high/drunk the whole 4 years of undergrad

Ok.... uh.... you know what? Maybe you're missing the point of college. There were plenty of people who showed up to college like that when I was in undergrad... they've either dropped out, graduated with shit grades, or are stuck in it for another year or two with few career options. If that's the way you see college as....well... maybe you should take a class or two locally and otherwise take the year off to make some bucks. Don't take college lightly; it's a ticket to a career, NOT fun. Nothing wrong with a little fun, but if you make it your priority, well...watch out.

Now. Personally, I'm not sure why you're worried about engineering magically ruining your SMV. Aspergers' isn't contagious, you know. My brother studies ECE and loves it...and has a social life to boot. Just learn to compartmentalize school and fun, and with some discipline you should be ok. Finish your homework during the day time and leave the fun for after dinner.

Also, you're mentioning only two possible career paths, like it's either/or, no sense of imagination. I gather, then, that you are a freshman. Just focus on your general education requirements; take a wide range and actually work for them instead of blowing them off as boxes you need to check. You just might find an ideal course of study that way. When I entered undergrad, I was international relations. Now I have a BA in a different social science, and am getting my MSc in epidemiology... funny how things change, right? Make a chart to consider what you enjoy, what you're good at, and what jobs look like in those fields, and go from there. Leave girls out of it. If I laid around all undergrad trying to pick my career based off of what guys might like... I don't know, I'd probably not be entering a STEM field. As long as you're in a career that is somewhat stable, you won't scare anyone away.

smokingmonkey420 · 2016-03-27T08:23:31+00:00

MOB.

http://youtu.be/48VpzFdUJ8o

Lonny_zone · 2016-03-27T14:57:07+00:00

I'd love to just be high/drunk the whole 4 years of undergrad and put my number count into the hundreds.

Let's face it: you probably don't have it in you. You are a 5'8" Asian guy who is good at math. Only a natural alpha is going to clock hundreds. Is that you?

With that considered, your major shouldn't be chosen based simply on what will get you laid, because in truth, very few majors or professions get you laid...YOU get you laid. Being the most attractive version of yourself is what works.

Unless you have the passion to become a rockstar, DJ, artist, or filmmaker, and the luck to see success in those fields, there is no choice but to pick the major that is likely to grant the highest payday you have an aptitude for, because it sounds like all those women who go to your party school will step right over you for Chad and the frat boys.

There are a lot of asian men lamenting their hard work in their early years, but it is worse to lament your shit job at 30. Stop trying to be something you are not.

Just because you cannot be an Alpha Fuck that doesnt mean you are stuck as Beta Buck.

P.S. If your social skills suck as bad as you say they do then law is not a great idea.

TyrianPlum · 2016-03-26T16:15:05+00:00

I study at a school that is well known for both its engineering program and party scene/Greek life.

The problem with engineering is not that engineers are seen as losers, it's that they don't get many opportunities to meet women in their classes, so their social circles tend to be entirely men. This is not conducive to getting into parties. If you're socially adept, you won't have a problem.

Don't lie about your major. You're more likely to encounter girls who are also studying business (or whatever major you claim to be) and it will be clear you don't know what you're talking about.

It's stupid to go to college and slack off on getting a valuable degree just to try and pick up girls.

The-Battletoad · 2016-03-28T05:07:27+00:00

You're incredibly immature. Do you know what happens to the people who are drunk/high and fuck around in college? Nothing, they work minimum wage jobs and are lucky to intern as secretaries for low branch state governments in their 30s. Don't be a dumbass. Study something that will get you a comfortable life, it's incredibly hard to make it with a bullshit degree in the real world unless your parents are rich and powerful.

I am studying engineering at one of the top engineering schools in the world. I have a good social life, work, get decent grades. I don't party and drink/do drugs though, that's dumb wasteful shit.

Title	Is studying Engineering alpha or beta? Is it a death sentence to my social life?
Author	[deleted]
Upvotes	2
Comments	126
Date	March 26, 2016 5:28 AM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/4c04kb/is_studying_engineering_alpha_or_beta_is_it_a/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/is-studying-engineering-alpha-or-beta-is-it-a.275475 https://theredarchive.com/post/275475

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