Intelligent People: Careers and Study
Delivered September 7, 2019. Contributor: Sara F.
Goals
To understand what course of study or professional steps would lead to the best opportunities for someone who is interested in enhancing brain capacity and pursuing both science and music.
Early Findings
BRAIN SCIENCE
- Neuroscience is a field that may be a good option for someone interested in brain science, as it is focused on the study of the brain and nervous system.
INTELLIGENCE AND COLLEGES
- The hardest colleges to get into and, therefore, likely those with the smartest students include Harvard, Stanford, California Institute of Technology, Yale University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
- The most difficult majors include architecture, chemical engineering, aeronautical and astronautical engineering, biomedical engineering, cell and molecular biology, physics, astronomy, biochemistry, bioengineering, and petroleum engineering.
CAREERS AND DEGREES FOR THE SMARTEST PEOPLE
- The professions with the smartest people include medicine (especially neurosurgery and diagnostics), law, engineering, physics, and college professors.
- Top college degrees for intellectual people include actuarial science, bioethics and ethical compliance, bond trading and finance, cognitive psychology, editor (English degree), historian/archivist, higher education, information engineering, learning and curriculum design, and social and behavioral research.
MUSIC AND SCIENCE
- Neuroscience and music can be combined, as evidenced by the experience of Sara Kornfeld Simpson, who "is double majoring in neuroscience and music at Boston University."
- Northwestern University's Bienen Schools of Music offers a PhD in Music Theory and Cognition.
- Northwestern's faculty supervise students on a variety of topics, "including music and neuroscience."
- Oberlin College & Conservatory has a program in cognitive sciences with "a variety of disciplines including anthropology, biology, computer science, linguistics, mathematics, music theory, neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology.
- Music science researcher and auditory neuroscientist are two fields open to those interested in both science and music.
- The University of New South Wales "has post-graduate research positions to train students with engineering or science degrees" to perform music science research.
Proposed next steps:
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Our initial research has identified some overarching areas of study and career choices for intelligent people, especially those with an interest in both brain science and music (which appear to have a natural affiliation). Therefore, we would recommend continuing the research to identify 7-10 colleges/universities that offer graduate level programs that allow for a combination of science and music, including information on each schools programs, pre-requisites, admissions requirements, and curricula.
In addition, we would recommend additional research to identify 7-10 companies that employ highly intelligent people, including information on the focus of each company and the types of roles they employ.
Finally, we would recommend research to explore 5-7 ways to enhance one's brain ability to be more sharp, focused, fast, or creative, including a description of each item and how to pursue it (i.e., specific programs or companies).