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I'm talking about degrees like arts, music, sociology, psychology, gender studies, and general studies. If people aren't going to get engineering degrees or go to medical school, why even bother? It just seems like a big wast of time when you'll just end up working at Starbucks anyway.
If everyone was an engineer or a doctor, society would cease to function....
First of all, no it wouldn't.
Second, I didn't say everyone should be a doctor or engineer. I asked why they would bother getting a degree if they are not going for one of those fields. The point being, some people are better off without a degree. Don't put words in my mouth.
The point being, some people are better off without a degree. Don't put words in my mouth.
Then your mouth should have said that in the first place! "Why do people bother getting worthless degrees?" IS the title of this thread...
Engineers and doctors are not going to teach your kid to read, or spell. They are not going to be on Broadway or perform symphonies. They are not going to curate museums, or market products, etc., etc., etc.
Society needs people with other degrees! And what is worthless to you is not worthless to others.
But I do agree that not everyone should go to college.
Then your mouth should have said that in the first place! "Why do people bother getting worthless degrees?" IS the title of this thread...
Engineers and doctors are not going to teach your kid to read, or spell. They are not going to be on Broadway or perform symphonies. They are not going to curate museums, or market products, etc., etc., etc.
Society needs people with other degrees! And what is worthless to you is not worthless to others.
But I do agree that not everyone should go to college.
If society needs more of them so badly, why does it pay them so little. I mean salary is driven by supply and demand. What does their low salary say about their demand.
There is no such thing as a "worthless" degree. Rather, the person who receives such a degree can be a very intelligent person who chose to study something that they enjoyed. College is not a career-preparation center, but an institute of higher learning.
I know folks with these degrees who:
arts- builds and designs golf courses (makes great money in CA), work in graphic design, art director for marketing campaigns
music- started their own business to work with recreation therapy for children with special needs by teaching art/music/theater as a summer camp/classes throughout the year, became music teachers, music therapy at hospitals
sociology- one has become a paralegal, technical writer, another is a manager of a call center, and another is a director at a non-profit for a non-religious organization after being vice president of the university freethinkers organization
psychology- most of my friends who majored in psych went onto graduate school and then became social workers, therapists, HR generalists, industrial organization psychologists. some who haven't gone to graduate school work in hospital recreation therapy, have joined the military.
gender studies- I don't know someone with this major; however, I do know someone who minored in gender studies with a major in english and he works in marketing for a high fashion retailer.
general studies- joined the military as an officer, became teachers, police officers, staffing agency recruiters
I see all of those folks adding value to society and not a single one of them had a "worthless" degree. Not everyone is cut out to be an engineer or go to medical school. Math isn't everyone's strongsuit. In fact, I don't have that background and have a great job as as a programmer. ....so I'm not exactly whipping up lattes despite not going to medical school or majoring in engineering.
There is no such thing as a "worthless" degree. Rather, the person who receives such a degree can be a very intelligent person who chose to study something that they enjoyed. College is not a career-preparation center, but an institute of higher learning.
I know folks with these degrees who:
arts- builds and designs golf courses (makes great money in CA), work in graphic design, art director for marketing campaigns
music- started their own business to work with recreation therapy for children with special needs by teaching art/music/theater as a summer camp/classes throughout the year, became music teachers, music therapy at hospitals
sociology- one has become a paralegal, technical writer, another is a manager of a call center, and another is a director at a non-profit for a non-religious organization after being vice president of the university freethinkers organization
psychology- most of my friends who majored in psych went onto graduate school and then became social workers, therapists, HR generalists, industrial organization psychologists. some who haven't gone to graduate school work in hospital recreation therapy, have joined the military.
gender studies- I don't know someone with this major; however, I do know someone who minored in gender studies with a major in english and he works in marketing for a high fashion retailer.
general studies- joined the military as an officer, became teachers, police officers, staffing agency recruiters
I see all of those folks adding value to society and not a single one of them had a "worthless" degree. Not everyone is cut out to be an engineer or go to medical school. Math isn't everyone's strongsuit. In fact, I don't have that background and have a great job as as a programmer. ....so I'm not exactly whipping up lattes despite not going to medical school or majoring in engineering.
You are talking about the exceptions. I am talking about the majority. By your logic, I should make a career out of playing the lottery because there are a lot of people who got rich from the lottery.
Also, most of those people you listed went into careers that did not require the degree that they obtained. Hence, it was worthless. They could have just gone straight into their businesses.
I'm talking about degrees like arts, music, sociology, psychology, gender studies, and general studies. If people aren't going to get engineering degrees or go to medical school, why even bother? It just seems like a big wast of time when you'll just end up working at Starbucks anyway.
Apparently you only equate higher education with money and not with personal enlightenment. Sad.
Apparently you only equate higher education with money and not with personal enlightenment. Sad.
"Personal enlightenment" can be obtained at a library. Or they can even audit college courses for free if they want to learn from a college professor. What's sad is people going into debt for tens of thousands of dollars for a degree that is going to do nothing for them.
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