Article For Those Picking A College Major

[Amppax]

[quote name='arfink' timestamp='1324007692' post='2351963']

Too bad I went to seminary, and now I got a degree in Philosophy and no money to "do over." And nobody wants to help former seminarians, cuz "he's not going to be a priest now, so dangit we won't give any money to him!"
[/quote]

Yeah that's really unfortunate. Personally, I really respect that you tried it out, and decided it wasn't your vocation. I think some sort of scholarship fund should be set up for those leaving seminary, considering they don't have a degree that is easily used, and often don't have money.

I'm actually not THAT worried about it, the plan is to teach, and so I'm planning on Grad school. Meaning I don't have to really buckle down and think about all of this for a couple of years.

[arfink]

[quote name='Light and Truth' timestamp='1324020717' post='2352105']
If I were you, would look for fellowship/teaching assistantship/research assistantship offering PhD programs in something that is in some way related but also gives more practical knowledge. Otherwise, I would go with community college coursework.
[/quote]

Grad school is a "do over" option I don't have money for. Even community college is going to be a massive stretch, given my current level of debt.

[Totus Tuus]

The way I chose Classics over, say, Theology or Business or History or Psychology, is because I knew I would not be able to teach myself Latin and Greek. I can read as many books on those other subjects that I want, including text books, and use online resources or videos to supplement, and learn everything I would have learned by majoring in them. But I would not have been able to do that with Classics, so I decided to take advantage of the Classics department in my school to spend four years on something I otherwise would have had to live without.

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='Archaeology cat' timestamp='1323998908' post='2351881']
See, I don't think one should necessarily get a degree because of employment opportunities. I know that's a bit idealistic, but I didn't go into archaeology because of the job opportunities, but because I love it.
[/quote]

Agreed. I went into Classics for the same reason. People always ask me (without hiding the disgust on their face), what are you going to do with THAT? You know what? Hardly anyone uses the degree they got in college for the job they work at. I believe a lot of what goes into getting hired for any job is our personality, our resume, our letters of recommendation, and our knowledge about the company and what you will be expected to do. Companies will rarely rule out a candidate for a job because his major is not specifically designed for it unless one is looking to become a doctor, lawyer, economist, etc. I say, do what you love. And ignore the nay-sayers... that's the only thing that's worked for me and so far I've had no lack of job opportunities. Being a trustworthy person in a world with so few of them will get you pretty far these days regardless of your educational background.

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='penguin31' timestamp='1323999713' post='2351885']
I was always given the following advice, and I find it to be rather sound:

"For a college major, choose something that you enjoy, that you can make money doing. Don't just pick something that while you enjoy has *no* practical purpose - you can learn about it online or through books for far cheaper. At the same time, if you pick something profitable that you hate, you'll just wind up miserable and burned out."
[/quote]
I strongly disagree. As I said, I believe that unless you know you want to pursue a path that is specifically oriented around your education, like medicine, then do what you love. Education is not about money-making- that is a modern phenomenon. Education is about developing the human person. Almost all of our founding fathers were extremely proficient in the Classics, which I study, which are barely taught at all today. And they were some the soundest, most well-rounded people in American history. When education aimed at developing the whole person, I believe people were better equipped to pick up new skills and do more jobs than we are now. Now, you go to school for say, accounting, and you come out of college almost incapable of doing any job but accounting, because you didn't learn literature, history, classics, philosophy, and the things that form you as a person.

[DMcB]

[quote name='penguin31' timestamp='1323999713' post='2351885']
I was always given the following advice, and I find it to be rather sound:

"For a college major, choose something that you enjoy, that you can make money doing. Don't just pick something that while you enjoy has *no* practical purpose - you can learn about it online or through books for far cheaper. At the same time, if you pick something profitable that you hate, you'll just wind up miserable and burned out."
[/quote]
There is not any better advice on the matter. Well said...after losing sight of my initial college goals, I spiraled out of control (in many ways). Had I sooner come to realize that I was about mistake hobbies for professions, I would've been far better off when it came to getting back on track.

[arfink]

[quote name='Totus Tuus' timestamp='1324129926' post='2352772']
I strongly disagree. As I said, I believe that unless you know you want to pursue a path that is specifically oriented around your education, like medicine, then do what you love. Education is not about money-making- that is a modern phenomenon. Education is about developing the human person. Almost all of our founding fathers were extremely proficient in the Classics, which I study, which are barely taught at all today. And they were some the soundest, most well-rounded people in American history. When education aimed at developing the whole person, I believe people were better equipped to pick up new skills and do more jobs than we are now. Now, you go to school for say, accounting, and you come out of college almost incapable of doing any job but accounting, because you didn't learn literature, history, classics, philosophy, and the things that form you as a person.
[/quote]

Unfortunately, in my case at least, I came out of college incapable of getting any job besides working for what amounts to less than minimum wage at a grocery store. I totally agree with your sentiment, but the modern world has all but crushed the ability to be successful, make a living wage, or support a family without a college education that specifically locks you into a a career. And without a career to be "locked into" you basically either have to have enough money to hack it on your own, or pull a Zuckerberg. Or you could teach, which I'd love to do, but I can't afford to keep going to school just so I can teach it. In other words, you have to be rich, lucky, or both.

I have not yet met with a classically educated person who has been successful (which I'm going to define as, makes enough money to have a family and home of his own) who was not either very rich to begin with, or very very lucky. I'm not rich. I'm hoping I get lucky, or I'm gonna be a poor bachelor for a long long time.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Totus Tuus' timestamp='1324129677' post='2352771']


Agreed. I went into Classics for the same reason. People always ask me (without hiding the disgust on their face), what are you going to do with THAT? You know what? Hardly anyone uses the degree they got in college for the job they work at. I believe a lot of what goes into getting hired for any job is our personality, our resume, our letters of recommendation, and our knowledge about the company and what you will be expected to do. Companies will rarely rule out a candidate for a job because his major is not specifically designed for it unless one is looking to become a doctor, lawyer, economist, etc. I say, do what you love. And ignore the nay-sayers... that's the only thing that's worked for me and so far I've had no lack of job opportunities. Being a trustworthy person in a world with so few of them will get you pretty far these days regardless of your educational background.
[/quote]
[quote name='Totus Tuus' timestamp='1324129926' post='2352772']

I strongly disagree. As I said, I believe that unless you know you want to pursue a path that is specifically oriented around your education, like medicine, then do what you love. Education is not about money-making- that is a modern phenomenon. Education is about developing the human person. Almost all of our founding fathers were extremely proficient in the Classics, which I study, which are barely taught at all today. And they were some the soundest, most well-rounded people in American history. When education aimed at developing the whole person, I believe people were better equipped to pick up new skills and do more jobs than we are now. Now, you go to school for say, accounting, and you come out of college almost incapable of doing any job but accounting, because you didn't learn literature, history, classics, philosophy, and the things that form you as a person.
[/quote]
I agree. I lament that such isn't always the case now. That is my only complaint of the undergrad system in England -you specialise in your field and don't take other classes unless you do combined honours. People were rather surprised that I took various lit lasses, and even some civil engineering, when getting my undergrad in archaeology.

[Archaeology cat]

It made more sense for the masters to be that focused. 'Twas rather intense.

[tinytherese]

Maybe it's just the U.S. system, but I'm not a fan of how liberal arts schools are set up. Those classes seem to be more about getting enough credit hours in a particular area to fulfill requirements. (Or maybe I just haven't been to the right school.) It isn't enough to simply learn about a variety of subjects, but to learn [i]how [/i]they can apply to your life regardless of your major.

There are also some subjects that people struggle in (like me when it comes to math, science, and foreign languages,) where we are just getting through the class so we can graduate, and when we're done with the class, we'll get rid of the materials we had in that class saying that we don't want to do deal with that again.

[Maggyie]

All I can say is, be practical. It's fine when your in college to pursue the liberal arts but when you graduate and you need to choose between food and servicing your debt... then it's not so fine.

Or when your debt requires you to put off getting married
Or entering religious life.
Or having kids.

Not fine at all.

Edited December 21, 2011 by Maggie

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='arfink' timestamp='1324190015' post='2353202']
Unfortunately, in my case at least, I came out of college incapable of getting any job besides working for what amounts to less than minimum wage at a grocery store. I totally agree with your sentiment, but the modern world has all but crushed the ability to be successful, make a living wage, or support a family without a college education that specifically locks you into a a career. And without a career to be "locked into" you basically either have to have enough money to hack it on your own, or pull a Zuckerberg. Or you could teach, which I'd love to do, but I can't afford to keep going to school just so I can teach it. In other words, you have to be rich, lucky, or both.

I have not yet met with a classically educated person who has been successful (which I'm going to define as, makes enough money to have a family and home of his own) who was not either very rich to begin with, or very very lucky. I'm not rich. I'm hoping I get lucky, or I'm gonna be a poor bachelor for a long long time.
[/quote]

I know classically trained people who have been successful, but I do sympathize with what you're saying. It seems to me that aside from trade school type training, no major really helps. I think you're right about luck. That's partly why I think people should do what they love... because in my observation/experience, majors don't help no matter what they are or where they're from (unless, once again, you're seeking the medical field, or something).

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Maggie' timestamp='1324439956' post='2354755']
All I can say is, be practical. It's fine when your in college to pursue the liberal arts but when you graduate and you need to choose between food and servicing your debt... then it's not so fine.

Or when your debt requires you to put off getting married
Or entering religious life.
Or having kids.

Not fine at all.
[/quote]Yes, the debt is a problem. I have a horrid amount of school debt, unfortunately.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='tinytherese' timestamp='1324431546' post='2354663']
Maybe it's just the U.S. system, but I'm not a fan of how liberal arts schools are set up. Those classes seem to be more about getting enough credit hours in a particular area to fulfill requirements. (Or maybe I just haven't been to the right school.) It isn't enough to simply learn about a variety of subjects, but to learn [i]how [/i]they can apply to your life regardless of your major.

There are also some subjects that people struggle in (like me when it comes to math, science, and foreign languages,) where we are just getting through the class so we can graduate, and when we're done with the class, we'll get rid of the materials we had in that class saying that we don't want to do deal with that again.
[/quote]
I agree to some extent. I do think that things like English composition are important, because those skills you will use no matter what you do. However, I do think some things are over-done, in regards to requirements, or maybe there are just some majors that should really be less of a liberal arts degree and more straight up training to do a job.

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='tinytherese' timestamp='1324431546' post='2354663']
Maybe it's just the U.S. system, but I'm not a fan of how liberal arts schools are set up. Those classes seem to be more about getting enough credit hours in a particular area to fulfill requirements. (Or maybe I just haven't been to the right school.) It isn't enough to simply learn about a variety of subjects, but to learn [i]how [/i]they can apply to your life regardless of your major.

There are also some subjects that people struggle in (like me when it comes to math, science, and foreign languages,) where we are just getting through the class so we can graduate, and when we're done with the class, we'll get rid of the materials we had in that class saying that we don't want to do deal with that again.
[/quote]

I'm not sure what you mean. I go to a liberal arts college and I have not found there to be any emphasis on racking up credits to graduate. It seems like the focus is on completing the "core," which does require a certain amount of credits in each subject, but it's designed to make the student well-rounded, not to accumulate credits. Granted, a lot of students look at non-major classes as a to-do list to be checked off. But I think I might be misunderstanding what you're saying.