Adding Reply Archived Topic: It will not be bumped to the top of the forum. Topic Cautionary Tale: Your major is BULLSHIT unless it's practical. Membername   Not a member? Sign Up Free (takes 20 seconds) Password   Forgotten your password? Post Font: Verdana Arial Black Georgia Comic Sans Impact   Size: Tiny Normal Big Huge   Color: Default Dark Red Red Orange Brown Green Olive Cyan Blue Dark Blue Indigo Black [ Check Spelling ] [ Post Preview ] [ LiveTags ] FAQ Keyword Search: Post Options Favorites Manager Notify me of new replies to this topic by email Notify me of new replies to this topic by private message Original Post Anonymous Posted at 5:23 pm on July 3, 2008 Basically, there are some college majors that are utterly pointless. Basket weaving, for one. Woman's Studies. Linguistics. Afro-American Studies. French Language. Art. Film. Etc. E-t-fucking-c. Why are people taking that shit? My parents are paying 30k a year at my university and I see people with majors like that and I'm like.. WHYYYY? Don't people know how fucking difficult it is to get a job with a degree in something like "Art"? Fuck, man. I wanted to major in Archaeology actually, and then my dad heard about what I wanted so he sat me down and said BOY, DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT'S A SMART MOVE? And you know, I woke up pretty good after that one. And now I'm taking Bio Chem and will probably go to med school. Safe, practical, a little boring, a little archaic (especially my family's).. but the best route. My dad introduced me to too many people with Linguistics degrees and Theater degrees who work at Denny's or at the gas station. What I'm saying is, I'm reading all the stuff on this board about people with film school dreams and shit and it's like... really? REALLY? Those are the people who'll be a little happier than I am (but I've actually started getting interested in what I'm doing now) and those are also the people who'll probably be waiting on me in restaurants waiting for their big break. If it comes, good job to them, if it doesn't come, well shit. That's the thing. I really think people need to be more practical when choosing a major and a job and all that. Because yeah it's something you like doing (I really love Archaeology, still) but that doesn't mean you're guaranteed a job in that. The only people who say that are the ones who get lucky and end up having people wipe their ass because of it. That's just the sad fact of life, folks. (Ok and maybe I am a little bitter.)

Replies TigressaLynnMae Posted at 9:25 am on Aug. 8, 2008 If you have a passion for something, there's always a way to succeed. That is very true. While one may think an Art Degree is 'pointless', another who is in the Degree Program is going to strive, and make a point out of it. nikki Posted at 8:58 am on Aug. 8, 2008 Modern Language Degrees are so, so useful, and so desired here. I'm taking French with Politics and History, and there are so many options out there for me. ohemgeeitsme Posted at 10:50 pm on Aug. 4, 2008 If you have a passion for something, there's always a way to succeed. Fauna Posted at 11:20 am on July 30, 2008 in england, the most successful graduates are those with history degrees. another "pointless" degree, I suppose. I'm doing a traditional, academic degree without vocation. I'm not doing it because I think I'm going to get some brilliant job off the back of it six months after I graduate. I'm doing it because I love my subject. the idea of higher education as purely a factory to churn out future money makers makes my pure, pure heart bleed! bryce101 Posted at 3:30 am on July 25, 2008 i agree with you 100% and ive been preaching this to my friends with stupid degrees. my favorite story is this.. i want to do graphic design so i can work for burton or element and design shirts and skateboards. ya, cuz im sure burton and element really need to hire all 50,ooo people that want to do this. xcutioners Posted at 7:39 pm on July 21, 2008 I'm a psych major but I am planning to work in the Army medical field. jonny5 Posted at 12:34 pm on July 21, 2008 There's no way a museum curator will let a business major restore a 16th century masterpiece... RyGuy Posted at 8:54 pm on July 20, 2008 Quote: from Micus at 7:31 pm on July 3, 2008 I chose to be a classical musician because --and I don't mean to brag-- I'm one of the best at what I do. There are few people my age who can do what I do, and I acknowledge that. I chose my college and career choice not only because it was what I loved to do, but because at the same time, I'm really fucking good at it. Not to mention there is a shortage of bassoonists in the world which means job opportunities out the ass. You play the bassoon?! I love you. zigily Posted at 2:30 pm on July 20, 2008 My mums best friend did her degree in archeology and now has a great job in the city earning £100k+ ($200k+). A degree in french is pretty highly regarded. gprime Posted at 10:31 pm on July 13, 2008 The fact remains that most college students do not work in fields remotely related to their major. And yet a man with just an undergraduate degree earns an average of $1.2 million more in his lifetime than somebody with just a high school degree. The reason, quite simply, is that they want to see you can work. For most jobs, they'll teach you what you need to know on the spot. Take a look at investment banks as an example. They hire many liberal arts majors, and then simply train them. This is because intellectual capacity is more important that early specialization for most fields. True, if I want to become an engineer, then I can't very well major in English during my college years. But most people don't become engineers. They run human resources departments, work as school administrators, manage corporate records. ect. And both law and business school take students from all majors. Hell, even medical school accepts non-science majors, so long as they've also taken the required science core. dolce e gabbana Posted at 8:53 pm on July 8, 2008 haha, it's like I've wrote this myself or something. this is basically the reason as to why i did not apply to art school, people need to realize that life is all about making sacrifices, you win some and then you lose some.. Krelian393 Posted at 6:57 pm on July 7, 2008 Woman's Studies. Linguistics. Afro-American Studies. French Language. Art. Film. With advanced degrees in any of those things, you can be a professor or a teacher or an author or a researcher, and discover new things in your field or make others interested. Academia itself is closely tied to business. Intellectual advancement in and of itself is very lucrative! Art? Film? So you don't know very good artists or filmmakers? Are you joking? Linguistics? Linguistics and language types are sought after in international organizations, in schools at all levels, as translators for governments and their militaries, and the list goes on! Gender and race studies? So you've never heard of somebody who released a bestselling book about gender or race, or who worked for a think-tank or organization committed to civil rights, equality, etc? Are you so stupid? Come the hell on, you asshole. Business and medical fields are not the only ways to make money. jennay Posted at 8:32 am on July 7, 2008 just because you didnt get a good job doesn't mean you should take it out on everyone else JulieisWHOA Posted at 6:58 am on July 6, 2008 You only have one life to live, and people want to go for their dreams. Thankfully, my dream is to be a rich senior Accountant in some company with three kids, a wonderful husband, and a nice car and house, so I think I'm on the right track by picking the "Accounting" major. lol Just Waiting Here Posted at 10:44 am on July 4, 2008 Quote: from Anonymous at 5:56 pm on July 3, 2008 Quote: from Just Waiting Here at 5:32 pm on July 3, 2008 What makes you happy?  That's what it all comes down to.    I would RATHER work at a Denny's all my life, then waste 30k on a major that I hated, and had no interest in.  For me, personally, I'm in the medical region, it's what I like.  But for those that have NO interest in it, you're asking them to give up their happiness just to have a secure career?  And once they have that career, they will HATE it.  They will NEVER be happy... because at the end of the day, money isn't the ONLY thing that can bring happiness.    I like the sciences... but if an Arts major would guarantee me a fantastic job... then yeah, it would be nice.  I would have money.  But I would HATE working every day... my life would be MISERABLE.    It depends on what you want from life and what your goals are.  I hope that's what you wanted in life, and I'm glad you're getting interested in it.  Otherwise, you would hate you life... Okay, see, I think that's crazy. You really think those old ladies at Denny's who've been there for 30+ years dreamed of being Denny's employees? Well, I know there's a McDonald's guy like that but that's a rarity (and he probably sniffed one too many crack pipes anyway). I don't think money itself can make a person happy, but the doors that money can open up for you does and that's what I'm saying over here. I didn't want to major in Archaeology and become some poor sap who tells his grandkids how he messed up. I want to be like a Howard Carter or something, you know. Dig for shit and feel up some of those sexy mummies or whatever. Childish, my dad said, and he's right. I say those rich businessmen are a lot happier than those starving artists trying to pay rent. Personally, I'm on your side.  When I was younger, I lived in the world where money didn't count for anything, I just needed to do something I enjoyed.  But as I got older, I realized what I want.  I want a good family, that doesn't have any money problems, and that can look at their mother as a good example. But everyone has their priorities in a different place.  There's NO happiness for some doing something that they don't enjoy.  It would destroy their life even more.  They don't necessarily have to have a job at a McDonalds, they can have a cheaper job... having ANY degree these days can help you get a better paying job.  Some people don't push themselves far enough though... others are happy where they are, even if they complain about some aspects. The people that are in those majors are in it because they LIKE them.  It interests them.  Because if you put me in a major I didn't like, I guarantee you I would drop out. Most recent 15 of 34 previous replies displayed.