Anyone else being told your degree is useless? (PhDs, skill, cost)

[JordanJP]

Nobody told me originally that my degree plan was useless, I came to that realization and made changes to my degree on my own.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Osito

I'm currently in school and proud of it. True I don't know where it'll land me but I've got a lot of plans (and I'm already growing tremendously as a person) and I can handle my own life and I think things will be fine.

I've got a job so that is not the sole reason for me to be in college. I'm well aware that the job market is in a serious crunch and that college graduates are having a hard time finding work. I've been through it once already in a different field that one would think would've been more lucrative mind you. I know darn well that this could happen to me again. I've decided that I'll deal with these issues my way and I don't "expect" a job from college. College doesn't get you a job. YOU get yourself a job. I'm fine with this. I've got it down. So what's the problem? Other people.

People for some reason take it upon themselves to tell me that my degree is useless/will get me nowhere when I tell them what I'm majoring in. It even happened on a date with someone!

What gives people the gall to tell me what kind of luck they think I'll have with my degree when a) they don't know what my plans are and b) I NEVER ASKED FOR THEIR ADVICE ON THE MATTER! I mean gee whiz, it'd be one thing if I asked people what they thought of my degree, but for people to be negative about my life in simple conversation is just confusing and maddening to boot. I'd never think of doing that to someone who didn't ask for my advice first, but maybe that's just me.

It's getting to the point where I'd rather not even talk about such a source of my pride (my schooling) because I simply don't feel like being negatively judged anymore.

....and yet you won't tell us what your degree is in? Seems rather germane to the conversation eh? While it may be rude, you MIGHT be coming to the realization that you need to think about changing majors?

There are lots of bitter bitter threads around here from people with unmarketable degrees and 150k in student loans waiting tables.

I wanted to major in banging hot chicks and sleeping until noon each day....but that didn't happen. Well, not entirely.

[gardener34]

"People for some reason take it upon themselves to tell me that my degree is useless/will get me nowhere when I tell them what I'm majoring in. " yes, I have had this happen. Truly annoying - I was going to a large Univ and was majoring in graphic design. And people used to tell me this all the time. After 2 years I transferred to an "art school" Best thing I ever did for my own personal situation it worked. And managed to be successful in the g.d. field for 28 years (until the downturn in 08 - and as print is dying and the field is glutted, I jumped ship and do my own fine art on the side - currently doing website and direct mail)
And I am in a position now where I read resumes of people, etc. and many many people who are successful and currently make six figure incomes, have jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with their major. Just get that degree.
It is your own fault if you don't do proper research into the field in which you wish to work and end up in $$$$ debt with no way of paying it off. It is NOT the responsibility of others to tell you that. Why do others think they need to do that?
That said, if you meet a professional IN THE FIELD that you want to work in. TAKE THEIR ADVICE!!!! If a professional warns you off a certain field, take heed.

[TabulaRasa]

My degree is one continually erroneously described as useless by naysayers, but here I sit, having been employed continuously in related fields of my choosing since receiving it a dozen years ago, so such tedious blathering really holds no water with me.

[TabulaRasa]

Originally Posted by gardener34

That said, if you meet a professional IN THE FIELD that you want to work in. TAKE THEIR ADVICE!!!! If a professional warns you off a certain field, take heed.

Eh, sometimes.

It's also worthwhile to consider the source. While an undergraduate student, I thought for while that I might like to be a professor, and was encouraged by numerous instructors. When I discussed it with my advisor in my department, however, she was quick to warn me off it...not because she felt I wasn't capable, but because she was very embittered and cynical about the world of academia at that point in her own career. Not that I knew this at the time, mind you, and took her at face value. In retrospect, her experiences and disappointments in academia were just that, her experiences and disappointments, and projecting them onto me was perhaps an irresponsible choice on her part. Though at the time, I'm sure she thought that it was the responsible thing to do.

[jasper12]

I remember being in college, and I was majoring in Special Education, my family thought it was the biggest waste of money. Anything but law or business was a waste to them.

And I have had a great career, and done several things aside from teaching with my "useless" degree.

[Desert kid]

That was my situation with history as well, my parents and I (who are both paying for college) would fight over it nearly every night, over how useless it is and such, how it will never get me anywhere in life. It got to a point where I was nearly cut off if I didn't drop history as a major. Now I'm just a General Studies major, and everybody's happy. But I only have a vague idea of where to take it from here.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by texas69

just out of curiosity ...what is your degree in? english?

Several of our doctor friends have undergrad degrees in English. Considering they are making $500K+/year, that degree is hardly worthless....


It isn't the degree, it's what you DO with that degree.

Our youngest wants to major in History, but he will combine that with a double major in math and wants to go into actuarial science. Considering the starting salary for an actuary around here is about $100,000, we are more than happy with his choice.

[gardener34]

"It isn't the degree, it's what you DO with that degree." exactly! I like the occupational outlook handbook for those looking for career choices because it gives you a description of working conditions. What the field is really like. VERY important - as much so as the degree itself, what kind of job you can expect to get that is in most demand, what the future demand will be, etc. Something to consider.

[CaptainHastings]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Our youngest wants to major in History, but he will combine that with a double major in math and wants to go into actuarial science.

That's exactly the right approach. The balance between interest and marketability.