Parents who don't allow their kids to major in liberal arts

[Anonymous]

Liberal arts notion aside, I cannot stand the parents who micromanage their children's teen years. Sports, academics, extracurriculars, jobs,.

Giving them in essence no time to save up for college. So then they hold the money that the adults themselves have been able to save up for college over their children's heads like a bludgeon.

They stack the deck and force their children's hands. It's kind of disgusting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting topic to me - We were at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida a couple of weeks ago and I sat across from a guy at dinner who does all the executive level hiring for a large company based in Jacksonville. He said the trend now is swinging towards a preference for liberal arts majors. He said he can teach things specific to his industry, but he can't teach people to write. And the ability to write well is the most important thing. His experience is that liberal arts majors are better writers and better at thinking critically and solving complex problems.

Of course that's just one company. I'm sure there are examples of hiring managers who don't like liberal arts majors. I just thought it was interesting because his company is definitely what most would consider techy.

Ha! We've heard the same thing about the large tech companies! We've also heard that medical schools are beginning to look at liberal arts majors over biology majors, for example - that the liberal arts majors are better at the patient assessment and diagnostics because of the critical thinking skills they practiced with a liberal arts major.

Actually, the people that I knew who went on to med school were actually decent in both STEM and liberal arts. They would have excelled in whatever field they had chosen.

[Anonymous]

You want me to take liberal arts degrees seriously? Force every liberal arts major to minor in computer science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These articles are so misleading. So you have an English degree from an Ivy or SLAC and got a 6 figure job out of college - whoop dee doo! What about the English major who went to community college then to a 3rd tier state university? Many of them are better off majoring in something practical.

I went to a third tier liberal arts school and then law school at Wash U. on a full ride. I got a very nice Biglaw job out of school and then went to a boutique firm before I started having kids. I make good money.

...because you have a law degree.

That's no guarantee either at this point.

[Anonymous]

If you left it up to most 18-year-olds, they'd choose something easy to major in instead of challenging themselves. -Anyone- can finish a liberal arts degree. Every STEM is a grind. Most students need to be nudged to challenge themselves. If the college administrators hadn't watered down the liberal arts to the point every slacker can binge drink their way to a sociology, psych, "business" marketing, communications degree, maybe they wouldn't have such a bad rap.

I read some diploma mills are taking the college math requirement out of their liberals arts degrees so more idiots can graduate! That's why they're worthless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting topic to me - We were at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida a couple of weeks ago and I sat across from a guy at dinner who does all the executive level hiring for a large company based in Jacksonville. He said the trend now is swinging towards a preference for liberal arts majors. He said he can teach things specific to his industry, but he can't teach people to write. And the ability to write well is the most important thing. His experience is that liberal arts majors are better writers and better at thinking critically and solving complex problems.

Of course that's just one company. I'm sure there are examples of hiring managers who don't like liberal arts majors. I just thought it was interesting because his company is definitely what most would consider techy.

Ha! We've heard the same thing about the large tech companies! We've also heard that medical schools are beginning to look at liberal arts majors over biology majors, for example - that the liberal arts majors are better at the patient assessment and diagnostics because of the critical thinking skills they practiced with a liberal arts major.

Actually, the people that I knew who went on to med school were actually decent in both STEM and liberal arts. They would have excelled in whatever field they had chosen.

Absolutely - students who are high-achieving in their undergraduate studies most likely also will be high-achieving in their graduate studies!

The thing we heard about liberal arts majors being good patient diagnosticians when they are out practicing came about from our talks with medical school faculty and staff as our son was going through the med school application process. Our nephew, a doctor on staff at Mayo, has heard the same thing and sent some articles about it. It all gets back to the thinking / expressing part of liberal arts. The med school folks said that they can easily teach the science but they are struggling with students who cannot move beyond the rote data and who cannot extrapolate from patient statements and patient histories to think 'outside the box'.

In any event, our HYP son, a history major, will go to a HYP medical school next year (he deferred to go on a one-year church mission and leaves in a couple of weeks).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting topic to me - We were at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida a couple of weeks ago and I sat across from a guy at dinner who does all the executive level hiring for a large company based in Jacksonville. He said the trend now is swinging towards a preference for liberal arts majors. He said he can teach things specific to his industry, but he can't teach people to write. And the ability to write well is the most important thing. His experience is that liberal arts majors are better writers and better at thinking critically and solving complex problems.

Of course that's just one company. I'm sure there are examples of hiring managers who don't like liberal arts majors. I just thought it was interesting because his company is definitely what most would consider techy.

Ha! We've heard the same thing about the large tech companies! We've also heard that medical schools are beginning to look at liberal arts majors over biology majors, for example - that the liberal arts majors are better at the patient assessment and diagnostics because of the critical thinking skills they practiced with a liberal arts major.

Actually, the people that I knew who went on to med school were actually decent in both STEM and liberal arts. They would have excelled in whatever field they had chosen.

Absolutely - students who are high-achieving in their undergraduate studies most likely also will be high-achieving in their graduate studies!

The thing we heard about liberal arts majors being good patient diagnosticians when they are out practicing came about from our talks with medical school faculty and staff as our son was going through the med school application process. Our nephew, a doctor on staff at Mayo, has heard the same thing and sent some articles about it. It all gets back to the thinking / expressing part of liberal arts. The med school folks said that they can easily teach the science but they are struggling with students who cannot move beyond the rote data and who cannot extrapolate from patient statements and patient histories to think 'outside the box'.

In any event, our HYP son, a history major, will go to a HYP medical school next year (he deferred to go on a one-year church mission and leaves in a couple of weeks).

You truly believe this? You think you can reach any student organic chemistry but that only liberal arts majors can analyze data? This really doesn't make any sense. I find it interesting you think only a liberal arts degree teaches you to think and "express."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you left it up to most 18-year-olds, they'd choose something easy to major in instead of challenging themselves. -Anyone- can finish a liberal arts degree. Every STEM is a grind. Most students need to be nudged to challenge themselves. If the college administrators hadn't watered down the liberal arts to the point every slacker can binge drink their way to a sociology, psych, "business" marketing, communications degree, maybe they wouldn't have such a bad rap.

I read some diploma mills are taking the college math requirement out of their liberals arts degrees so more idiots can graduate! That's why they're worthless.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting topic to me - We were at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida a couple of weeks ago and I sat across from a guy at dinner who does all the executive level hiring for a large company based in Jacksonville. He said the trend now is swinging towards a preference for liberal arts majors. He said he can teach things specific to his industry, but he can't teach people to write. And the ability to write well is the most important thing. His experience is that liberal arts majors are better writers and better at thinking critically and solving complex problems.

Of course that's just one company. I'm sure there are examples of hiring managers who don't like liberal arts majors. I just thought it was interesting because his company is definitely what most would consider techy.

Ha! We've heard the same thing about the large tech companies! We've also heard that medical schools are beginning to look at liberal arts majors over biology majors, for example - that the liberal arts majors are better at the patient assessment and diagnostics because of the critical thinking skills they practiced with a liberal arts major.

Actually, the people that I knew who went on to med school were actually decent in both STEM and liberal arts. They would have excelled in whatever field they had chosen.

Absolutely - students who are high-achieving in their undergraduate studies most likely also will be high-achieving in their graduate studies!

The thing we heard about liberal arts majors being good patient diagnosticians when they are out practicing came about from our talks with medical school faculty and staff as our son was going through the med school application process. Our nephew, a doctor on staff at Mayo, has heard the same thing and sent some articles about it. It all gets back to the thinking / expressing part of liberal arts. The med school folks said that they can easily teach the science but they are struggling with students who cannot move beyond the rote data and who cannot extrapolate from patient statements and patient histories to think 'outside the box'.

In any event, our HYP son, a history major, will go to a HYP medical school next year (he deferred to go on a one-year church mission and leaves in a couple of weeks).

Also, it should go without saying, but I'm making it explicitly clear here, that there are some benchmark courses to satisfy med school admissions requirements that still need to be part of the liberal arts student's curriculum. Calc I is a good example since it is the gatekeeper to so many other courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting topic to me - We were at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida a couple of weeks ago and I sat across from a guy at dinner who does all the executive level hiring for a large company based in Jacksonville. He said the trend now is swinging towards a preference for liberal arts majors. He said he can teach things specific to his industry, but he can't teach people to write. And the ability to write well is the most important thing. His experience is that liberal arts majors are better writers and better at thinking critically and solving complex problems.

Of course that's just one company. I'm sure there are examples of hiring managers who don't like liberal arts majors. I just thought it was interesting because his company is definitely what most would consider techy.

Ha! We've heard the same thing about the large tech companies! We've also heard that medical schools are beginning to look at liberal arts majors over biology majors, for example - that the liberal arts majors are better at the patient assessment and diagnostics because of the critical thinking skills they practiced with a liberal arts major.

Actually, the people that I knew who went on to med school were actually decent in both STEM and liberal arts. They would have excelled in whatever field they had chosen.

Absolutely - students who are high-achieving in their undergraduate studies most likely also will be high-achieving in their graduate studies!

The thing we heard about liberal arts majors being good patient diagnosticians when they are out practicing came about from our talks with medical school faculty and staff as our son was going through the med school application process. Our nephew, a doctor on staff at Mayo, has heard the same thing and sent some articles about it. It all gets back to the thinking / expressing part of liberal arts. The med school folks said that they can easily teach the science but they are struggling with students who cannot move beyond the rote data and who cannot extrapolate from patient statements and patient histories to think 'outside the box'.

In any event, our HYP son, a history major, will go to a HYP medical school next year (he deferred to go on a one-year church mission and leaves in a couple of weeks).

Also, it should go without saying, but I'm making it explicitly clear here, that there are some benchmark courses to satisfy med school admissions requirements that still need to be part of the liberal arts student's curriculum. Calc I is a good example since it is the gatekeeper to so many other courses.

In order to have the required science/math background, the liberal arts major would have to choose some rather tough science and math courses as electives. Most don't do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you left it up to most 18-year-olds, they'd choose something easy to major in instead of challenging themselves. [/b]-Anyone- can finish a liberal arts degree. [/b]Every STEM is a grind. Most students need to be nudged to challenge themselves. If the college administrators hadn't watered down the liberal arts to the point every slacker can binge drink their way to a sociology, psych, "business" marketing, communications degree, maybe they wouldn't have such a bad rap.

I read some diploma mills are taking the college math requirement out of their liberals arts degrees so more idiots can graduate! That's why they're worthless.

I actually know quite a few people who dropped out of theatre majors once they realized they weren't just going to dress up and be in plays; it required hard work and critical thinking. Different people have different definitions of "challenge," and once again, not everyone should be studying the same thing.

[Anonymous]

I think the Ivory Tower sensing their house of cards is tumbling. All these diploma mills with countless worthless departments, countless tenured profs, admins, assistants. It has to stop.

[Anonymous]

I will only let them get a liberal arts degree if they have a clear reason and path for a career and if they understand and are ok with likely $. For example, English major only if they would love to be an English teacher and if they understand they won't make much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was a dumb article. My parents would not let us be liberal arts majors nor will I let my kids.

And you are part of the problem and have no desire to change. Congratulations, you're an idiot.

How am I an idiot for wanting my child to major in something that will lead to a career if I am paying for it? What good is a liberal arts degree? Very little. You can take some fun classes but its important to have a major that is useful. College isn't cheap. You are the idiot for not setting up your kids to succeed.

I don't know, my DH graduated from two of the coveted STEM schools and earns 1/3 of what I make with my liberal arts degrees. You are foolish if you think all stem fields result in high salaries and all liberal arts degrees lead to destitution.

Yep. I was a psychology major at a SLAC and I out earn my engineer husband (who has a degree from a top STEM school). This isn't uncommon.

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting topic to me - We were at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida a couple of weeks ago and I sat across from a guy at dinner who does all the executive level hiring for a large company based in Jacksonville. He said the trend now is swinging towards a preference for liberal arts majors. He said he can teach things specific to his industry, but he can't teach people to write. And the ability to write well is the most important thing. His experience is that liberal arts majors are better writers and better at thinking critically and solving complex problems.

Of course that's just one company. I'm sure there are examples of hiring managers who don't like liberal arts majors. I just thought it was interesting because his company is definitely what most would consider techy.


Ha! We've heard the same thing about the large tech companies! We've also heard that medical schools are beginning to look at liberal arts majors over biology majors, for example - that the liberal arts majors are better at the patient assessment and diagnostics because of the critical thinking skills they practiced with a liberal arts major.


Actually, the people that I knew who went on to med school were actually decent in both STEM and liberal arts. They would have excelled in whatever field they had chosen.


Absolutely - students who are high-achieving in their undergraduate studies most likely also will be high-achieving in their graduate studies!

The thing we heard about liberal arts majors being good patient diagnosticians when they are out practicing came about from our talks with medical school faculty and staff as our son was going through the med school application process. Our nephew, a doctor on staff at Mayo, has heard the same thing and sent some articles about it. It all gets back to the thinking / expressing part of liberal arts. The med school folks said that they can easily teach the science but they are struggling with students who cannot move beyond the rote data and who cannot extrapolate from patient statements and patient histories to think 'outside the box'.

In any event, our HYP son, a history major, will go to a HYP medical school next year (he deferred to go on a one-year church mission and leaves in a couple of weeks).

I don't know if you can stereotype completely on all of this, but I do know that "thinking outside of the box" is a very necessary trait for being an excellent teacher. Unfortunately, the "engineering minded people" have invaded this profession and are driving out the very people who have this in spades. Liberal arts degree or not. We have to encourage creative thinking in school (and we have been good at this in the US historically---we have some of the best colleges, if not the best, in the world).

I think you can find people who write and think well and who have had various educational backgrounds (liberal arts or not). I will say that many people who major in English and history are excellent readers and writers (these are not "easy" majors BTW). Any major that is studied with seriousness, interest, and determination is a good match for a particular student. You can work hard at anything. There should be no such thing as an inherently "easy" major. I think people employing graduates know all of this and can recognize educated people when they hire them (and college major is less important than people think).