Colleges removing useless majors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major. Now I’m a lawyer and I write a lot. I don’t think my major was useless but I guess wtf do I know?

+1. Political science and philosophy double major. I am a practicing attorney. My undergrad degrees, more so than my law school experience, shaped me into the lawyer and human being I am today.

My DD wants to be an English major. She's also a singer. So Voice and English. You English majors are fantatically interesting people who can communicate well. Half the people I work with cannot communicate clearly..writing, speaking. And they are college graduates.

Also, my DD has friends going off to these fancy schools for engineering and computer science. When she works with them on group projects, they can't spell or write good sentences.

Hooray for English and other liberal arts majors!!

Those are actually the most well rounded of our employees, and fine writers, but perhaps it depends where you work. I am sorry for your contempt.

I agree---my Engineering major kid has to take a freshman writing course along with 2 engineering writing courses to graduate, along with 2 project courses. Add in the outside of class research they are doing and they have the opportunity to develop their writing/communication skills. Gone are the days when engineers do not take writing courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Undergrad business major is a sad thing.

Why would you say that???

There is a reason most top schools (even ones with a business school) don't offer or recommend a business major for undergrads.

A general undergrad business major is not as worthwhile as a focused one. Most undergrad business schools offer finance, accounting, data science, economics, marketing, real estate, Human Resources, etc as majors. It's an extremely worthwhile undergraduate degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Undergrad business major is a sad thing.

You're more sad.

+1 I was an undergrad business major in a low rated state school, and I've been making six figures for 20 years. I know of a history major, a STEM major, a few English majors, all at better rated schools making half of what I make. It's not necessarily your major. It's what you do with your major and how hard you're willing to work.

Largely agree. Do think one needs a certain level of proficiency, though that can happen at a range of schools, not just the better rated ones.

The mistake some grads from better rated schools make is assuming that grads from lower ranked schools are simply not as bright as them when the reality is that many of those grads had the chops for T10, 20, 50 schools, but not the bank accounts for them.

One of DH's HS acquaintances was good looking, sporty, etc. He didn't really have a plan post HS graduation other than partying. Drifting around became less appealing when most of his friends left town. Aced some CC classes, headed to a 4-year college, and is now an MD. His path wasn't clear for a few years, but it did come into focus.

Kudos to the PP for showing how it can be done.

Plenty of kids do not hit their stride until college. I know several from my HS (30+ years ago) who were good students, but not "Top students" who now have their MD or PHD or advanced STEM degree. Would never have thought they would do that based on their HS experience. Kids mature at different rates and find their path when they are ready

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Undergrad business major is a sad thing.

You're more sad.

+1 I was an undergrad business major in a low rated state school, and I've been making six figures for 20 years. I know of a history major, a STEM major, a few English majors, all at better rated schools making half of what I make. It's not necessarily your major. It's what you do with your major and how hard you're willing to work.

Largely agree. Do think one needs a certain level of proficiency, though that can happen at a range of schools, not just the better rated ones.

The mistake some grads from better rated schools make is assuming that grads from lower ranked schools are simply not as bright as them when the reality is that many of those grads had the chops for T10, 20, 50 schools, but not the bank accounts for them.

One of DH's HS acquaintances was good looking, sporty, etc. He didn't really have a plan post HS graduation other than partying. Drifting around became less appealing when most of his friends left town. Aced some CC classes, headed to a 4-year college, and is now an MD. His path wasn't clear for a few years, but it did come into focus.

Kudos to the PP for showing how it can be done.

Plenty of kids do not hit their stride until college. I know several from my HS (30+ years ago) who were good students, but not "Top students" who now have their MD or PHD or advanced STEM degree. Would never have thought they would do that based on their HS experience. Kids mature at different rates and find their path when they are ready

I'm the PP who went to a no name school for business. I was a late bloomer, to be sure, but I was from a poorer family whose parents were uneducated and didn't speak English. I didn't have guidance to steer me to a better college, nor did I have the money to pay for it. But, what I did have was a desperation to get out of being lower income and to help my parents. I always wanted better for myself, and I was driven by financial pressures rather than anything else. The people I knew who majored in what they were interested were better off financially than I was.

I had dreams of majoring in something else that wasn't going to pay well and was harder for someone like me to get into this field. So, I went the route that was going to help me get a good paying job right out of college from a no name state u. I got an internship during college, and that turned into my first job. I didn't love it, but it paid decently.

I don't love what I do, but I find that I am good at it, and it pays well. I also write fairly decently I'm going to retire earlier than those people I wrote about and pursue what I love now, which is traveling. I cannot wait.

All this to say.. an undergrad business major can be financially rewarding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major. Now I’m a lawyer and I write a lot. I don’t think my major was useless but I guess wtf do I know?

+1. Political science and philosophy double major. I am a practicing attorney. My undergrad degrees, more so than my law school experience, shaped me into the lawyer and human being I am today.

My DD wants to be an English major. She's also a singer. So Voice and English. You English majors are fantatically interesting people who can communicate well. Half the people I work with cannot communicate clearly..writing, speaking. And they are college graduates.

Also, my DD has friends going off to these fancy schools for engineering and computer science. When she works with them on group projects, they can't spell or write good sentences.

Hooray for English and other liberal arts majors!!

yes, but the CS folks are the ones who created the machine your DD and you are using to post your drivel.

It’s almost like the economy is interdependent or something. There would be little use for the machines without the content.

The content on this forum is largely created by users writing drivel, who may or may not have been English majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Undergrad business major is a sad thing.

You're more sad.

+1 I was an undergrad business major in a low rated state school, and I've been making six figures for 20 years. I know of a history major, a STEM major, a few English majors, all at better rated schools making half of what I make. It's not necessarily your major. It's what you do with your major and how hard you're willing to work.

Largely agree. Do think one needs a certain level of proficiency, though that can happen at a range of schools, not just the better rated ones.

The mistake some grads from better rated schools make is assuming that grads from lower ranked schools are simply not as bright as them when the reality is that many of those grads had the chops for T10, 20, 50 schools, but not the bank accounts for them.

One of DH's HS acquaintances was good looking, sporty, etc. He didn't really have a plan post HS graduation other than partying. Drifting around became less appealing when most of his friends left town. Aced some CC classes, headed to a 4-year college, and is now an MD. His path wasn't clear for a few years, but it did come into focus.

Kudos to the PP for showing how it can be done.

Plenty of kids do not hit their stride until college. I know several from my HS (30+ years ago) who were good students, but not "Top students" who now have their MD or PHD or advanced STEM degree. Would never have thought they would do that based on their HS experience. Kids mature at different rates and find their path when they are ready

I'm the PP who went to a no name school for business. I was a late bloomer, to be sure, but I was from a poorer family whose parents were uneducated and didn't speak English. I didn't have guidance to steer me to a better college, nor did I have the money to pay for it. But, what I did have was a desperation to get out of being lower income and to help my parents. I always wanted better for myself, and I was driven by financial pressures rather than anything else. The people I knew who majored in what they were interested were better off financially than I was.

I had dreams of majoring in something else that wasn't going to pay well and was harder for someone like me to get into this field. So, I went the route that was going to help me get a good paying job right out of college from a no name state u. I got an internship during college, and that turned into my first job. I didn't love it, but it paid decently.

I don't love what I do, but I find that I am good at it, and it pays well. I also write fairly decently I'm going to retire earlier than those people I wrote about and pursue what I love now, which is traveling. I cannot wait.

All this to say.. an undergrad business major can be financially rewarding.

DP here. I agree, it is very practical - AND it is so important to be good at what you do, as you know. You must have received good grades, which only helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Undergrad business major is a sad thing.

Why would you say that???

There is a reason most top schools (even ones with a business school) don't offer or recommend a business major for undergrads.

That's like 50 years ago mindset

MIT, UPenn, Cornell, Brown, Notre Dame, Berkeley, etc.
Business programs are usually more prestigious and harder to get in.

This. When GM or P&G were willing to hire a massive class of fresh graduates every year and then train them, the world was different. Those same companies are now expecting entry level applicants with job skills. Your fine with a liberal arts major if you plan of graduate school or if mom and dad can set you up with internships that can lead to a job. A random kid majoring in art history at UC Boulder without family connections who doesn't want to be a lawyer is going to have a much tougher time

How ironic. I was an art history major and am now a lawyer. You may want to sit this one out.

Ah, the I have a liberal arts degree and went law school response. Do you think that everyone should just go to law school? Do we really need that many lawyers?

No, and actually, that field is shrinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major. Now I’m a lawyer and I write a lot. I don’t think my major was useless but I guess wtf do I know?

+1. Political science and philosophy double major. I am a practicing attorney. My undergrad degrees, more so than my law school experience, shaped me into the lawyer and human being I am today.

My DD wants to be an English major. She's also a singer. So Voice and English. You English majors are fantatically interesting people who can communicate well. Half the people I work with cannot communicate clearly..writing, speaking. And they are college graduates.

Also, my DD has friends going off to these fancy schools for engineering and computer science. When she works with them on group projects, they can't spell or write good sentences.

Hooray for English and other liberal arts majors!!

Those are actually the most well rounded of our employees, and fine writers, but perhaps it depends where you work. I am sorry for your contempt.

I agree---my Engineering major kid has to take a freshman writing course along with 2 engineering writing courses to graduate, along with 2 project courses. Add in the outside of class research they are doing and they have the opportunity to develop their writing/communication skills. Gone are the days when engineers do not take writing courses.

When was that? I graduated with an engineering degree in 1989, and had to take tons of writing (and other core humanities) classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Undergrad business major is a sad thing.

You're more sad.

+1 I was an undergrad business major in a low rated state school, and I've been making six figures for 20 years. I know of a history major, a STEM major, a few English majors, all at better rated schools making half of what I make. It's not necessarily your major. It's what you do with your major and how hard you're willing to work.

Largely agree. Do think one needs a certain level of proficiency, though that can happen at a range of schools, not just the better rated ones.

The mistake some grads from better rated schools make is assuming that grads from lower ranked schools are simply not as bright as them when the reality is that many of those grads had the chops for T10, 20, 50 schools, but not the bank accounts for them.

One of DH's HS acquaintances was good looking, sporty, etc. He didn't really have a plan post HS graduation other than partying. Drifting around became less appealing when most of his friends left town. Aced some CC classes, headed to a 4-year college, and is now an MD. His path wasn't clear for a few years, but it did come into focus.

Kudos to the PP for showing how it can be done.

Plenty of kids do not hit their stride until college. I know several from my HS (30+ years ago) who were good students, but not "Top students" who now have their MD or PHD or advanced STEM degree. Would never have thought they would do that based on their HS experience. Kids mature at different rates and find their path when they are ready

I'm the PP who went to a no name school for business. I was a late bloomer, to be sure, but I was from a poorer family whose parents were uneducated and didn't speak English. I didn't have guidance to steer me to a better college, nor did I have the money to pay for it. But, what I did have was a desperation to get out of being lower income and to help my parents. I always wanted better for myself, and I was driven by financial pressures rather than anything else. The people I knew who majored in what they were interested were better off financially than I was.

I had dreams of majoring in something else that wasn't going to pay well and was harder for someone like me to get into this field. So, I went the route that was going to help me get a good paying job right out of college from a no name state u. I got an internship during college, and that turned into my first job. I didn't love it, but it paid decently.

I don't love what I do, but I find that I am good at it, and it pays well. I also write fairly decently I'm going to retire earlier than those people I wrote about and pursue what I love now, which is traveling. I cannot wait.

All this to say.. an undergrad business major can be financially rewarding.

DP here. I agree, it is very practical - AND it is so important to be good at what you do, as you know. You must have received good grades, which only helps.

PP here.. um.. sadly, I didn't get great grades because I was working like 30 hours per week trying to pay for college.

But what I did have was grit, work experience, and I guess some smarts. Always got great peer reviews, and my salary jumped fairly quickly the first 5 years of working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL these English majors think a few examples they know speak for the whole

They currently lack college level thinking and argument skills.

English major indeed seems useless.

What's your major hotshot?

[Anonymous]

Don't we all know by now that what leads to money isn't so much your major but your connections and your people skills?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major. Now I’m a lawyer and I write a lot. I don’t think my major was useless but I guess wtf do I know?

You don't need English major to go to a law school, and become a lawyer.
Law school is necessity to become a lawyer, English major is not.

Law school requires writing does it not?

Writing is key to many jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major. Now I’m a lawyer and I write a lot. I don’t think my major was useless but I guess wtf do I know?

+1000

[Anonymous]

They should get rid of some of the cakewalk courses that the student-athletes are always enrolled in... communications, sports education, exercise science, facilities management, etc.

[Anonymous]

I think that if one has the economic wherewithal, go with whatever you’re passionate about not just what’s in demand. If you don’t and have to borrow money, be pragmatic. That’s all it is. Why incur so much debt if the chance of recouping that is going to burden you until you die.