"Useless B.A"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a useless BA but make $400-500k a year. That's because I went to grad school, which I wouldn't have been able to do without the useless BA.

Of course there is a need for the trades, but I think one also needs to look at long term earning potential. While people with highly specialized skills will be in demand upon graduation, what's the upward mobility in those jobs? What skills will be required 10 years from now, not just next year. What happens if the demand for your skill drops off (e.g., a certain kind of programming).

I don't think you can apply the same standards to every field. Some things you can learn through an apprenticeship model, some things in a 2 year program, some things in a 6-9 year program.

Curious, law or MBA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends where the BA is from. All BA's are definitely not equal. IF you can get into and afford a top school it's certainly not worthless. As an employer I look at BA from a top school (private or state) very differently from the mass of for profit schools or known 3rd tier and below schools.

+1 give me a philosophy major from a top 3 liberal arts college or university over a top business major from a third tier school any day. The former can read, write, and speak articulately, and is easily trainable with a good work ethic; the latter, not so much. Clients also are more impressed by the school than the major.

I agree with this, to a certain extent. I always scratch my head at people who claim there is no difference in colleges. Yes, if you're lookign at payign $45,000/year for a third tier private university, you should reconsider and do communitycollege for a few years, than maybe a public college. But the truly top tier universities and colleges convey benefits for your entire life - far after you apply for that first job.

I remember a similar argument I had when I was admitted to a top-tier MBA program. The guy I was working with - who was my peer and twice my age - tried to tell me that going to get an MBA for $50,000 a year was stupid. His argument was that he had an MBA too, and he only paid $4,000 a year for his..... just go down the street and get it from that local university. I didn't know how to explain to him that the two were not even remotely equivalent.

[Anonymous]

I remember a similar argument I had when I was admitted to a top-tier MBA program. The guy I was working with - who was my peer and twice my age - tried to tell me that going to get an MBA for $50,000 a year was stupid. His argument was that he had an MBA too, and he only paid $4,000 a year for his..... just go down the street and get it from that local university. I didn't know how to explain to him that the two were not even remotely equivalent.

Well, you could have pointed out that he was your peer and twice your age and you had NO advanced degree. I imagine if you'd gotten your pricy MBA and went back to the same job you had (or could have gotten) with a BA you'd have considered it a waste of money as well.

The conversation probably would have gone downhill, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had the double-useless BA....double major in psychology and women studies in 99'. I did however get a doctorate in psychology and now have a nice career, so the psych degree paid off with further training. I would probably making about half of what I do now with my bachelors degree in an unrelated field (i.e. sales, etc.)

Hi PP, could you elaborate a little bit more on your career path? It sounds like you've done well for yourself and i'm genuinely interested in how you did it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My "double" B.A.s in history and psych were as worthless to me in 1979 as they are to any student today, but even more so. Can't get a job off a BA in history and psych. It was only law school that saved me. So I agree with OP's friend: my children are going to get useful degrees (but, yes 4 year, with all the liberal arts crap) in technology and computers, and fluency in a desirable language, so they can get a job when they graduate. And if they are fortunate enough (and can finance it), then I'm all for grad school of any type except a D.Phil. which gets yo nothing but a chance at returning to college to be a professor.

I know someone who had decided that his future children would all major in engineering because he and his wife were not going to pay for useless degrees. Future dad is a patent attorney and future mom is fluent in another language. Oh, and they had the colleges all picked out too.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that 4 years teaching you how to think critically, write concisely, or construct an argument is ever wasted. No snark. What is gained in the 4 years while earning a BA is far greater than the piece of paper eluded to, and it's disheartening to read that so few seem to feel that way. There's so much intellectual growth that takes place during those years that to say they are virtually useless, is depressing. I clearly benefitted much more from my undergrad than many others did. I hope my children do as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a useless BA but make $400-500k a year. That's because I went to grad school, which I wouldn't have been able to do without the useless BA.

Of course there is a need for the trades, but I think one also needs to look at long term earning potential. While people with highly specialized skills will be in demand upon graduation, what's the upward mobility in those jobs? What skills will be required 10 years from now, not just next year. What happens if the demand for your skill drops off (e.g., a certain kind of programming).

I don't think you can apply the same standards to every field. Some things you can learn through an apprenticeship model, some things in a 2 year program, some things in a 6-9 year program.

Curious, law or MBA?

MBA