The Key To Success?

In 2009 CNN Money published an article titled, Most Lucrative College Degrees.

Included in CNN's post was the following data:

In 2010 CBS Money Watch provided us with an article titled, Top 20 Best-Paying College Degrees in 2010. Accompanying the article was this video and the following statistics:

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College Degree Starting Median Pay Mid-career Pay:

1. Aerospace engineering $59,400 $108,000
2. Chemical engineering $64,800 $108,000
3. Electrical engineering $60,800 $104,000
4. Nuclear engineering $63,900 $104,000
5. Applied mathematics $56,400 $101,000
6. Biomedical engineering $54,800 $101,000
7. Physics $50,700 $99,600
8. Computer engineering $61,200 $87,700
9. Economics $48,800 $97,800
10. Computer science $56,200 $97,700
11. Civil engineering $53,500 $93,400
12. Statistics $50,000 $93,400
13. Finance $47,500 $91,500
14. Software engineering $56,700 $91,300
15. Management info. systems $50,900 $90,300
16. Mathematics $46,400 $88,300
17. Government $41,500 $88,300
18. Information systems $49,300 $87,100
19. Construction Management $50,400 $87,000

And then again in 2011, we were treated to Time Magazine's annual list of The 20 Best-and Worst Paid College Majors.

Highest-Earning Majors:

1. Mining and Mineral Engineering
2. Metallurgical Engineering
3. Mechanical Engineering
4. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
5. Electrical Engineering
6. Chemical Engineering
7. Aerospace Engineering
8. Mathematics and Computer Sciences
9. Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration
10. Petroleum Engineering

Lowest-Earning Majors:

1. Health and Medical Preparatory Programs
2. Visual and Performing Arts
3. Communication-Disorders Sciences and Services
4. Studio Arts
5. Drama and Theater Arts
6. Social Work
7. Human Services and Community Organizations
8. Theology and Religious Vocations
9. Early-Childhood Education
10. Counseling and Psychology

The view the complete slide show click here.

So what is the common dominator here? Math.

According to the CNN Money article, "Math majors don't always get much respect on college campuses, but fat post-grad wallets should be enough to give them a boost."

"Math is at the crux of who gets paid," said Ed Koc, director of research at NACE. "If you have those skills, you are an extremely valuable asset. We don't generate enough people like that in this country."

As a journalsim student, I have always boasted proudly that I am "horrible" at math. I've tried time and time again to concur the subject, but it always fails me. All of the statistics listed above cause me to wonder if my lack of understanding of the subject is causing much more harm than I realize? I've often complained about the lack of opportunity I'm presented with; is it possible that I'm simply in the wrong industry?

That question can be taken with a very large grain of salt. The truth of the matter is that I will never be great at math, nor do I want to be an engineer. What I want is to have success that's worthy of putting on a top-ten list.

In the mean time, I might start brushing up on my algebra.