Why would non-one percent families let their kids major in the humanities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of the humanities majors crying “woe is me!” got an admissions bump from claiming to be interested in the humanities. If they had applied as STEMistas, they might now be at a lower tier school with weaker on-campus recruiting, not to mention less generous financial aid.

That’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this works.

-A STEMista!

Ever heard of holistic admissions? Students who profess an interest in unusual topics, usually in the humanities and occasionally the social sciences, gain an advantage in the admissions process.

That’s why applicants rarely admit interest in high paying fields, such as finance and tech.

That isn’t what holistic admissions means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of the humanities majors crying “woe is me!” got an admissions bump from claiming to be interested in the humanities. If they had applied as STEMistas, they might now be at a lower tier school with weaker on-campus recruiting, not to mention less generous financial aid.

That’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this works.

-A STEMista!

Ever heard of holistic admissions? Students who profess an interest in unusual topics, usually in the humanities and occasionally the social sciences, gain an advantage in the admissions process.

That’s why applicants rarely admit interest in high paying fields, such as finance and tech.

What, you think William and Mary is eager to get yet another English major?

[Anonymous]

College is about building a foundation as to who you are. Gaining a minimum level of education needed to actually function in society. If you do these, the jobs follow. If you want vocational school, go.

Another history major here who went to law school. My fellow history majors became college professors, lawyers, investment bankers, debt traders, a hedge fund founder, a doctor (history, chem double major), several marketing executives, many stay at home moms, a stay at home dad, and 2 Congress people.

The jobs come if you let the rest work.

Now this was at a top university. At a lower tier these options might not be as readily open.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Some people just don’t care about prestige and doesn't function well when focused on social mobility. I was a humanity major knowing I could be driving a taxi at the end. Not everyone’s cut out to be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. This world also needs social misfits, taxi drivers, line cooks, and janitors.

Noble jobs, but I wouldn’t want my kid being part of the 50% of Americans who have trouble finding enough money for a $600 emergency.

PP humanities major here. I sent my kid to an ivy. I don’t have to worry about her being part of the 50%.

No one who goes to 99% of colleges will have to worry about that either.

+1

My kids are smart, capable, and motivated, and their parents are highly educated and from the ~3-4%. The likelihood of them being part of the 50% is extremely low. Indeed, the older one graduated with a humanities degree several years ago and is making six figures.

We are all good here.

Key point being your kids are from a wealthy background. If they were just middle class they’d be screwed. Count your blessings.

Middle class or lower class kids who get humanities degrees are not screwed because of it. You need to let go of that idea. I mean, really.

+1
Our DC (MC) graduated two years ago with a BA in History and has been employed ever since as an intelligence analyst. He can write better than anyone I've ever met - a very highly sought after skill.

This. Excellent writing and critical thinking skills are valuable, period. And broadly transferable. No-one can reach the executive level of any field without them.

Then explain the earnings premium for STEM. Oh wait, you can’t.

PP’s comment actually has nothing to do with the earnings premium for stem.

Of course it doesn't. PP2's inability to make a logical argument or rebuttal is concerning.

A rebuttal to what? That middle class kids who get humanities majors are screwed? I think that the idea that reading and writing skills are necessary for executive positions and you gain those skills when you get a humanities major is a good rebuttal, but I think PP was just generally talking about how a humanities degree can prepare you for a high-paying job, and your comment was pretty irrelevant to the whole thing.

[Anonymous]

Mom of a recent college grad here. The differences in opportunities for students who major in CS/Stats/Data Science/Applied Math and subjects like English/History/Poli Sci/Biology (without grades good enough for med school) are astounding. All of you posters extolling the benefits of the liberal arts are delusional. Income inequality is at an all time high, and a useless major is a one-way ticket to falling out of the middle class barring law school or finance.

Good luck to everyone. You’ll all be in for a surprised when your kids are living in your basement in their 20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a recent college grad here. The differences in opportunities for students who major in CS/Stats/Data Science/Applied Math and subjects like English/History/Poli Sci/Biology (without grades good enough for med school) are astounding. All of you posters extolling the benefits of the liberal arts are delusional. Income inequality is at an all time high, and a useless major is a one-way ticket to falling out of the middle class barring law school or finance.

Good luck to everyone. You’ll all be in for a surprised when your kids are living in your basement in their 20s.

Sorta. I know some 1%ers (most of whom think they are just UMC) and their kids will be fine. They get degrees in the humanities and land fabulous jobs that pay well. If you did well with a "soft" undergraduate degree, they your kids probably will too. That's just how the system works. Now, if your life didn't follow that path, I would not advise it for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a recent college grad here. The differences in opportunities for students who major in CS/Stats/Data Science/Applied Math and subjects like English/History/Poli Sci/Biology (without grades good enough for med school) are astounding. All of you posters extolling the benefits of the liberal arts are delusional. Income inequality is at an all time high, and a useless major is a one-way ticket to falling out of the middle class barring law school or finance.

Good luck to everyone. You’ll all be in for a surprised when your kids are living in your basement in their 20s.

I would never let my kids live in my basement in their 20s or beyond for more than a few weeks so that’s a moot point.

You act like those are the only majors that exist. Accounting, nursing, secondary education, and many more are out there.

I feel bad for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a recent college grad here. The differences in opportunities for students who major in CS/Stats/Data Science/Applied Math and subjects like English/History/Poli Sci/Biology (without grades good enough for med school) are astounding. All of you posters extolling the benefits of the liberal arts are delusional. Income inequality is at an all time high, and a useless major is a one-way ticket to falling out of the middle class barring law school or finance.

Good luck to everyone. You’ll all be in for a surprised when your kids are living in your basement in their 20s.

I would never let my kids live in my basement in their 20s or beyond for more than a few weeks so that’s a moot point.

You act like those are the only majors that exist. Accounting, nursing, secondary education, and many more are out there.

I feel bad for your kid.

Accounting and nursing are definitely great majors too! But my point here is that majoring in the humanities or a hard science with no intention of law school or med school is a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe there are people out there okay with their kids majoring in useless fields. See the data yourself:

https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/which-college-graduates-make-the-most-11574267424

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a recent college grad here. The differences in opportunities for students who major in CS/Stats/Data Science/Applied Math and subjects like English/History/Poli Sci/Biology (without grades good enough for med school) are astounding. All of you posters extolling the benefits of the liberal arts are delusional. Income inequality is at an all time high, and a useless major is a one-way ticket to falling out of the middle class barring law school or finance.

Good luck to everyone. You’ll all be in for a surprised when your kids are living in your basement in their 20s.

I would never let my kids live in my basement in their 20s or beyond for more than a few weeks so that’s a moot point.

You act like those are the only majors that exist. Accounting, nursing, secondary education, and many more are out there.

I feel bad for your kid.

Accounting and nursing are definitely great majors too! But my point here is that majoring in the humanities or a hard science with no intention of law school or med school is a bad idea.

I apologize for what I said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe there are people out there okay with their kids majoring in useless fields. See the data yourself:

https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/which-college-graduates-make-the-most-11574267424

DCUM children don’t have debt, at least for undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe there are people out there okay with their kids majoring in useless fields. See the data yourself:

https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/which-college-graduates-make-the-most-11574267424

So what if a kid can’t handle STEM? The options are business, humanities, or 2 year trade school. Pick one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guess what? Not everyone wants to be rich or have a lot of money. In fact, some religions teach you to be poor.

I would recommend against any kid taking a ton of debt in college, but I completely agree with this.

DCUM sometimes can't comprehend that not everyone strives for a large house in Bethesda with a maxed out 401K.

I was friends, mostly, with humanities majors in college. Newsflash: few are "wealthy." All are fine. Some have DCUM-approved jobs. One was an art major and now lives essentially off the land in Hawaii, happier than I've ever seen her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guess what? Not everyone wants to be rich or have a lot of money. In fact, some religions teach you to be poor.

I would recommend against any kid taking a ton of debt in college, but I completely agree with this.

DCUM sometimes can't comprehend that not everyone strives for a large house in Bethesda with a maxed out 401K.

I was friends, mostly, with humanities majors in college. Newsflash: few are "wealthy." All are fine. Some have DCUM-approved jobs. One was an art major and now lives essentially off the land in Hawaii, happier than I've ever seen her.

And this is a privilege only adults from wealthy families can afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guess what? Not everyone wants to be rich or have a lot of money. In fact, some religions teach you to be poor.

I would recommend against any kid taking a ton of debt in college, but I completely agree with this.

DCUM sometimes can't comprehend that not everyone strives for a large house in Bethesda with a maxed out 401K.

I was friends, mostly, with humanities majors in college. Newsflash: few are "wealthy." All are fine. Some have DCUM-approved jobs. One was an art major and now lives essentially off the land in Hawaii, happier than I've ever seen her.

And this is a privilege only adults from wealthy families can afford.

Only kids from wealthy families can afford to be poor?