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Because college kids are not motivated to study the hard stuff these days. Anyone who studies those types of markets should know beforehand that the job market for those degrees blows. I'm sick of Art History majors complaining about not finding a job.
You've never studied Philosophy or taken an college level English Literature class then. It's plenty hard. Hard has nothing to do with it.
Americans have the distinct luxury of choosing (having the freedom) to major in whatever it is they want to. Yes, there won't be as many jobs in the art field as the sciences, but I'd argue it isn't about the major it's what you plan to do with it; making connections, meeting people and being motivated. One could major in business and be a lazy dolt.
You don't want to be pigeonholed into your degree. You need to have interests outside of your major, be creative and again, motivated.
Turn it around. What if I posted in a Chinese forum that "policy" should FORCE more students to take arts classes? Even if they are fluffy or boring, you just have to endure!
People should do what they are good at. What good is it to force a child with NO mathematical ability whatsoever to become an engineer just because YOU deem it more valuable?
Get over yourself.
The point is not which major is more interesting or useful, it is about balance. As I said, too few Americans study STEM. In china, there is no shortage of people trained in liberal arts, though the quality needs to be improved.
The point is not which major is more interesting or useful, it is about balance. As I said, too few Americans study STEM. In china, there is no shortage of people trained in liberal arts, though the quality needs to be improved.
In the US students are given far more control over their own lives than they are in China. It's just the way we do things here.
In the US students are given far more control over their own lives than they are in China. It's just the way we do things here.
Even in China no one forces you to study any particular subject. I am talking about high level policy that needs to be changed here in the US, if it still wants to dominate the world.
By the way, people's interest can change. I know a guy who majored in philosophy studied computer science in gradute school.
Even in China no one forces you to study any particular subject. I am talking about high level policy that needs to be changed here in the US, if it still wants to dominate the world.
By the way, people's interest can change. I know a guy who majored in philosophy studied computer science in gradute school.
There is no high level policy here in the US that forces students to study particular subjects. Individuals in US have much more control over their lives than they do in China. If you want high level control you need to move somewhere else.
That's just a generalization. I know MANY liberal arts grads who have great jobs in business, politics, entrepreneurship, etc. because they were knowledgeable about lots of things and had excellent networking skills.
Not every career begins at point A and follows a straight arrow up to success. Often it is a spiral that takes many interesting turns along the way.
If you are open to relationships, interested in people and cognizant of opportunities, you can do well even with a *gasp* liberal arts major.
When did the people you know get those jobs? 6 months ago, last year?
While it's true that not enough Americans study STEM subjects, it's not the case that they are studying "the arts" instead. The most popular college majors in the USA are: Business, Accounting, Nursing, Psychology, Elementary Ed, Marketing, Education, English and Communications, in that order.
1) Looking for an easy major, want to coast for 4 years- go liberal arts
2) Geniuially intersted in liberal arts, hard worker NOT LAZY, intellgient and dedicated to the field just as any STEM major, only the interest is different.
-I find myself in catagory 2, however the job prospects are still very bleak. Hindsight- I wish i reserached more. People say get the internships, entry level etc...- Great advice, however when the guy with the BA in English is competing against the guy with the masters in English plus 2 years of publishing expereince for the SAME UNPAID-UNPAID internship- what chance in hell does the guy with the BA have?
I understand I need experince to get the well paying jobs and I am willing to start at the bottom, but when there is no bottom to start at, what do you do?
I think the best route is to stress STEM to your children and point out the types of jobs, availability of jobs and corresponding lifestyle that go with it. If it was easy, we would have more American STEM students. Where we have an edge is in recognizing the creativity developed by also requiring classes in literature, history and fine arts to go along with the STEM focus. I'm not sure it's a lack of choice, rather an expectation of parent's and the home life that STEM is required and good grades are required.
There is no high level policy here in the US that forces students to study particular subjects. Individuals in US have much more control over their lives than they do in China. If you want high level control you need to move somewhere else.
In China, students are willing to choose engineering and science, NOT miserably forced to do so. It is because of the policy and the culture behind it.
For people with little experience, "freedom" often equals bad choices. In the US I often see people in their 30s or 40s go back to school to study another subject in order to find a job. I admire them, but it is a waste at both personal level and society level.
Of course, one needs to be responsible for his choices, but we should also make sure they make wise choices. On the one hand, we need to assure most students have the "capability" to do what they want to do, and on the other hand we need to give them sufficient information.
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should FORCE more students to take arts classes? Even if they are fluffy or boring, you just have to endure!
