No more history majors...?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But that’s not an answer. Is AI going to take all our jobs and if so, does majoring in something either vocational or non vocational offer any sort of cushion? Aren’t all majors equally vulnerable? Literally hearing young people complain that they were “promised” employability if they majored in the vocational thing and feeling betrayed. What’s the answer.

The discussion around AI is so annoying. It’s a tool. It won’t be taking jobs for a long time. It will make many jobs easier. It will also create jobs, like computers.

[Anonymous]

I double majored at a top school in history and Econ. Attended on athletic scholarship as it was the only way to pay for the school. Econ helped me get my first job, history was far more valuable. I was in the honors program for history and it was rigorous. It was not difficult to double major at the school so it is an option worth considering. If asked, I consider myself a history major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I double majored at a top school in history and Econ. Attended on athletic scholarship as it was the only way to pay for the school. Econ helped me get my first job, history was far more valuable. I was in the honors program for history and it was rigorous. It was not difficult to double major at the school so it is an option worth considering. If asked, I consider myself a history major.

People fail to understand how rigorous a history major is, even more so at T10, T15 schools. The endless number of written papers, thesis, reading, etc. I had an easier time memorizing facts for my biochemistry major, dropped the history minor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you, OP. I am also a history major and often find my peers (without a liberal arts education) to be pretty inarticulate and not very thoughtful. There is a correlation between the demise of the humanities and the popularity of Colleen Hoover-type authors and books.

No it’s the Maga idiots that are the problem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I double majored at a top school in history and Econ. Attended on athletic scholarship as it was the only way to pay for the school. Econ helped me get my first job, history was far more valuable. I was in the honors program for history and it was rigorous. It was not difficult to double major at the school so it is an option worth considering. If asked, I consider myself a history major.

People fail to understand how rigorous a history major is, even more so at T10, T15 schools. The endless number of written papers, thesis, reading, etc. I had an easier time memorizing facts for my biochemistry major, dropped the history minor.

I wrote a 125 page thesis on French economics at my school - already having finished my Econ major. I finished typing the thesis in a Philadelphus hotel after finishing well at the Penn Relays. Finished at 4 in the morning, thankfully away from the trouble you could get in at the parties that night. And you could get in trouble! Ten people in the honors program. Two high honors - I received one of them although I wondered if they were overly generous to a scholarship athlete willing to complete the program. Most went to law school - 5 Harvards - one Duke - and one mediocre guy bringing up the rear (Georgetown - me). I did really well in law school after two years working trading futures - as in couldn’t do any better - law review and so on - and it was not anywhere near as rigorous as the history program. Don’t get me wrong - I liked the law school education and had great mentors. It was just not nearly as difficult as the history experience.

One of the benefits of the major is that in my adulthood I had hundreds and hundreds of books, really thousands.My brother - a well known PhD in institutional finance - used to, like me, work in NYC often. We would spend evenings buying books and shipping them home from the Coliseum Bookstore. Our spouses thought we were a little crazy, but again as guys from poverty we wanted to learn. And again staying out of trouble! My kids went to Princeton (and I did nothing to further that other than spoil them and leave countless books strewn about the house). My first adult daughter jokingly says I am responsible for her only reading non-fiction! The books were not only history books and reflected a wide spectrum of political views. I enjoy being comfortable at being uncomfortable - another benefit of the liberal arts.

I remember receiving notice of the history high honors award. I have never been so excited in my life. I had no parents in my life whatsoever - my brother who supported me in all things was traveling to accept a fellowship - no one to call - so I irrationally sprinted to Duke Gardens and sat in front of a waterfall and met an elderly couple who was willing to listen to me jabber on. I thank the history program for the best moment of my young life. I no longer felt I was an outcasted dumb athlete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I double majored at a top school in history and Econ. Attended on athletic scholarship as it was the only way to pay for the school. Econ helped me get my first job, history was far more valuable. I was in the honors program for history and it was rigorous. It was not difficult to double major at the school so it is an option worth considering. If asked, I consider myself a history major.

People fail to understand how rigorous a history major is, even more so at T10, T15 schools. The endless number of written papers, thesis, reading, etc. I had an easier time memorizing facts for my biochemistry major, dropped the history minor.

I wrote a 125 page thesis on French economics at my school - already having finished my Econ major. I finished typing the thesis in a Philadelphus hotel after finishing well at the Penn Relays. Finished at 4 in the morning, thankfully away from the trouble you could get in at the parties that night. And you could get in trouble! Ten people in the honors program. Two high honors - I received one of them although I wondered if they were overly generous to a scholarship athlete willing to complete the program. Most went to law school - 5 Harvards - one Duke - and one mediocre guy bringing up the rear (Georgetown - me). I did really well in law school after two years working trading futures - as in couldn’t do any better - law review and so on - and it was not anywhere near as rigorous as the history program. Don’t get me wrong - I liked the law school education and had great mentors. It was just not nearly as difficult as the history experience.

One of the benefits of the major is that in my adulthood I had hundreds and hundreds of books, really thousands.My brother - a well known PhD in institutional finance - used to, like me, work in NYC often. We would spend evenings buying books and shipping them home from the Coliseum Bookstore. Our spouses thought we were a little crazy, but again as guys from poverty we wanted to learn. And again staying out of trouble! My kids went to Princeton (and I did nothing to further that other than spoil them and leave countless books strewn about the house). My first adult daughter jokingly says I am responsible for her only reading non-fiction! The books were not only history books and reflected a wide spectrum of political views. I enjoy being comfortable at being uncomfortable - another benefit of the liberal arts.

I remember receiving notice of the history high honors award. I have never been so excited in my life. I had no parents in my life whatsoever - my brother who supported me in all things was traveling to accept a fellowship - no one to call - so I irrationally sprinted to Duke Gardens and sat in front of a waterfall and met an elderly couple who was willing to listen to me jabber on. I thank the history program for the best moment of my young life. I no longer felt I was an outcasted dumb athlete.

This is soo beautiful!!

Would you consider creating a new post and telling your story and giving advice to those of us who have younger kids or are going through the college process now on how you raised kids with such intellectual vitality?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I double majored at a top school in history and Econ. Attended on athletic scholarship as it was the only way to pay for the school. Econ helped me get my first job, history was far more valuable. I was in the honors program for history and it was rigorous. It was not difficult to double major at the school so it is an option worth considering. If asked, I consider myself a history major.

People fail to understand how rigorous a history major is, even more so at T10, T15 schools. The endless number of written papers, thesis, reading, etc. I had an easier time memorizing facts for my biochemistry major, dropped the history minor.

Also the style of writing. My lord I’d always have great analysis but couldn’t decode the writing style to save my life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I double majored at a top school in history and Econ. Attended on athletic scholarship as it was the only way to pay for the school. Econ helped me get my first job, history was far more valuable. I was in the honors program for history and it was rigorous. It was not difficult to double major at the school so it is an option worth considering. If asked, I consider myself a history major.

People fail to understand how rigorous a history major is, even more so at T10, T15 schools. The endless number of written papers, thesis, reading, etc. I had an easier time memorizing facts for my biochemistry major, dropped the history minor.

I wrote a 125 page thesis on French economics at my school - already having finished my Econ major. I finished typing the thesis in a Philadelphus hotel after finishing well at the Penn Relays. Finished at 4 in the morning, thankfully away from the trouble you could get in at the parties that night. And you could get in trouble! Ten people in the honors program. Two high honors - I received one of them although I wondered if they were overly generous to a scholarship athlete willing to complete the program. Most went to law school - 5 Harvards - one Duke - and one mediocre guy bringing up the rear (Georgetown - me). I did really well in law school after two years working trading futures - as in couldn’t do any better - law review and so on - and it was not anywhere near as rigorous as the history program. Don’t get me wrong - I liked the law school education and had great mentors. It was just not nearly as difficult as the history experience.

One of the benefits of the major is that in my adulthood I had hundreds and hundreds of books, really thousands.My brother - a well known PhD in institutional finance - used to, like me, work in NYC often. We would spend evenings buying books and shipping them home from the Coliseum Bookstore. Our spouses thought we were a little crazy, but again as guys from poverty we wanted to learn. And again staying out of trouble! My kids went to Princeton (and I did nothing to further that other than spoil them and leave countless books strewn about the house). My first adult daughter jokingly says I am responsible for her only reading non-fiction! The books were not only history books and reflected a wide spectrum of political views. I enjoy being comfortable at being uncomfortable - another benefit of the liberal arts.

I remember receiving notice of the history high honors award. I have never been so excited in my life. I had no parents in my life whatsoever - my brother who supported me in all things was traveling to accept a fellowship - no one to call - so I irrationally sprinted to Duke Gardens and sat in front of a waterfall and met an elderly couple who was willing to listen to me jabber on. I thank the history program for the best moment of my young life. I no longer felt I was an outcasted dumb athlete.

Love this. My dad was a chemist, but intellectually brilliant and a history buff which he passed on to his grandsons. He had bookcase upon bookcase filled with non-fiction history books. After his death my oldest, middle schooler at the time, took home box loads. He reads them all the time. Instead of on his iPhone while waiting for his sports physical, he had a hard copy book on the Peloponnesian War from my dad’s collection. He’s headed to an Ivy this Fall. We also didn’t do any Tiger parent stuff. They just had a natural love of learning. My dad also used to give them those big Trivia and fact books - when they were in elementary school. They tore through them.

My oldest wants to study international relations/history/politics. He’s equally strong in STEM- but he has a true passion for history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I double majored at a top school in history and Econ. Attended on athletic scholarship as it was the only way to pay for the school. Econ helped me get my first job, history was far more valuable. I was in the honors program for history and it was rigorous. It was not difficult to double major at the school so it is an option worth considering. If asked, I consider myself a history major.

People fail to understand how rigorous a history major is, even more so at T10, T15 schools. The endless number of written papers, thesis, reading, etc. I had an easier time memorizing facts for my biochemistry major, dropped the history minor.

I wrote a 125 page thesis on French economics at my school - already having finished my Econ major. I finished typing the thesis in a Philadelphus hotel after finishing well at the Penn Relays. Finished at 4 in the morning, thankfully away from the trouble you could get in at the parties that night. And you could get in trouble! Ten people in the honors program. Two high honors - I received one of them although I wondered if they were overly generous to a scholarship athlete willing to complete the program. Most went to law school - 5 Harvards - one Duke - and one mediocre guy bringing up the rear (Georgetown - me). I did really well in law school after two years working trading futures - as in couldn’t do any better - law review and so on - and it was not anywhere near as rigorous as the history program. Don’t get me wrong - I liked the law school education and had great mentors. It was just not nearly as difficult as the history experience.

One of the benefits of the major is that in my adulthood I had hundreds and hundreds of books, really thousands.My brother - a well known PhD in institutional finance - used to, like me, work in NYC often. We would spend evenings buying books and shipping them home from the Coliseum Bookstore. Our spouses thought we were a little crazy, but again as guys from poverty we wanted to learn. And again staying out of trouble! My kids went to Princeton (and I did nothing to further that other than spoil them and leave countless books strewn about the house). My first adult daughter jokingly says I am responsible for her only reading non-fiction! The books were not only history books and reflected a wide spectrum of political views. I enjoy being comfortable at being uncomfortable - another benefit of the liberal arts.

I remember receiving notice of the history high honors award. I have never been so excited in my life. I had no parents in my life whatsoever - my brother who supported me in all things was traveling to accept a fellowship - no one to call - so I irrationally sprinted to Duke Gardens and sat in front of a waterfall and met an elderly couple who was willing to listen to me jabber on. I thank the history program for the best moment of my young life. I no longer felt I was an outcasted dumb athlete.

This is soo beautiful!!

Would you consider creating a new post and telling your story and giving advice to those of us who have younger kids or are going through the college process now on how you raised kids with such intellectual vitality?

I take no credit really. I married well, as in sound values. Both of her parents are Holocaust survivors so I don’t think there was any sense of entitlement ever. My sister in law had of course similar values and contrary to many on DCUM, sent her kids to Herndon and all went to top 20 schools. The kids have to own their work as opposed to making Mom and Dad happy.

There is dumb luck in play too. My youngest daughter finished Princeton in 3 years and had the highest scores in the state. But my focus with her was on being a regular fun kid. She for some reason respects what I did which is surprising because I can’t keep up with her. Very unexpected as no one in my family but my brother and me went to college or did well in school. And we went to college on athletics. We were very premature twins in slow classes until third grade - not that my parents cared. But going to a good suburban school I sure did.

I did not hover in any way and made it clear that since homework and school was something I already did and I did not need to do their thing and from a young age the person in the mirror was the one to satisfy. My twin had similar outcomes as I did with the same perspective. Then again he married my wife’s college roommate. He just passed away, a PhD economist and a world renowned institutional finance guy.

I will say that in high school and college I did three things: 1) mother was an addict and because of that and athletics did not drink at all or do any drugs - as in none - the truly talented could do that but not me, 2) I had a few great teachers and never missed a class - ever , and 3) I was thankfully such a dork I treated women with respect, erring on the side of dorkiness and being very cautious in relationships - I never was worried about having an incident that could impact my future - rich kids get second chances and I had no margin for error.

One thing I would inform that it was not all wonderful. I entered university behind my peers and the athletic demands didn’t help. I had a professor who challenged me and said that learning is about sustaining lots of ego damage - no safe spaces. I got beat up intellectually pretty bad but got better. The law school performance was simply a reflection of finally being really good. Many of my athletic competitors were minorities and I cringe today at the safe spaces narrative as it doesn’t help them. Being behind in preparation is not a sin and like any race one can catch up. This is not a political point but I was eye to eye with them in athletics and really liked them and they were as potentially capable as I was on the academic front.

When my brother died last month, a number of his teammates wrote to me saying they never would have finished at a top 5 public university/big athletic power but for my brother, a multiple All American and Phi Beta Kappa. He tutored many of his teammates and to one said he taught them not just to read homework, but to distill the key points in their own words so they could really remember it - again hard to do but it works. Lots of ego damage too. Parents of these guys wrote to me, grateful for my brother’s guidance. He was more successful than I was and literally had no fear of anything - on our own completely since age 18. I have never known anyone with less fear.

I am not sure anything I write here is helpful. Necessity does wonderful things. And I would not recommend anyone doing what I’ did - too much poverty and stress. I used to think I was a very tough guy - probably in some respects I was - but when I got my first paycheck out of college and could buy a block of Velveeta (something other than pancake mix and potatoes) I broke down in tears in the grocery aisle. Not a proud moment, and something I can only relate now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you, OP. I am also a history major and often find my peers (without a liberal arts education) to be pretty inarticulate and not very thoughtful. There is a correlation between the demise of the humanities and the popularity of Colleen Hoover-type authors and books.

In spite of the fact that I majored in Aeronautical Engineering and Math (in the late 80s), I whole-heartedly agree with you. Just try to keep in mind that not every engineer has the mumbles and refuses to read the classics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I double majored at a top school in history and Econ. Attended on athletic scholarship as it was the only way to pay for the school. Econ helped me get my first job, history was far more valuable. I was in the honors program for history and it was rigorous. It was not difficult to double major at the school so it is an option worth considering. If asked, I consider myself a history major.

People fail to understand how rigorous a history major is, even more so at T10, T15 schools. The endless number of written papers, thesis, reading, etc. I had an easier time memorizing facts for my biochemistry major, dropped the history minor.

I wrote a 125 page thesis on French economics at my school - already having finished my Econ major. I finished typing the thesis in a Philadelphus hotel after finishing well at the Penn Relays. Finished at 4 in the morning, thankfully away from the trouble you could get in at the parties that night. And you could get in trouble! Ten people in the honors program. Two high honors - I received one of them although I wondered if they were overly generous to a scholarship athlete willing to complete the program. Most went to law school - 5 Harvards - one Duke - and one mediocre guy bringing up the rear (Georgetown - me). I did really well in law school after two years working trading futures - as in couldn’t do any better - law review and so on - and it was not anywhere near as rigorous as the history program. Don’t get me wrong - I liked the law school education and had great mentors. It was just not nearly as difficult as the history experience.

One of the benefits of the major is that in my adulthood I had hundreds and hundreds of books, really thousands.My brother - a well known PhD in institutional finance - used to, like me, work in NYC often. We would spend evenings buying books and shipping them home from the Coliseum Bookstore. Our spouses thought we were a little crazy, but again as guys from poverty we wanted to learn. And again staying out of trouble! My kids went to Princeton (and I did nothing to further that other than spoil them and leave countless books strewn about the house). My first adult daughter jokingly says I am responsible for her only reading non-fiction! The books were not only history books and reflected a wide spectrum of political views. I enjoy being comfortable at being uncomfortable - another benefit of the liberal arts.

I remember receiving notice of the history high honors award. I have never been so excited in my life. I had no parents in my life whatsoever - my brother who supported me in all things was traveling to accept a fellowship - no one to call - so I irrationally sprinted to Duke Gardens and sat in front of a waterfall and met an elderly couple who was willing to listen to me jabber on. I thank the history program for the best moment of my young life. I no longer felt I was an outcasted dumb athlete.

This is soo beautiful!!

Would you consider creating a new post and telling your story and giving advice to those of us who have younger kids or are going through the college process now on how you raised kids with such intellectual vitality?

I take no credit really. I married well, as in sound values. Both of her parents are Holocaust survivors so I don’t think there was any sense of entitlement ever. My sister in law had of course similar values and contrary to many on DCUM, sent her kids to Herndon and all went to top 20 schools. The kids have to own their work as opposed to making Mom and Dad happy.

There is dumb luck in play too. My youngest daughter finished Princeton in 3 years and had the highest scores in the state. But my focus with her was on being a regular fun kid. She for some reason respects what I did which is surprising because I can’t keep up with her. Very unexpected as no one in my family but my brother and me went to college or did well in school. And we went to college on athletics. We were very premature twins in slow classes until third grade - not that my parents cared. But going to a good suburban school I sure did.

I did not hover in any way and made it clear that since homework and school was something I already did and I did not need to do their thing and from a young age the person in the mirror was the one to satisfy. My twin had similar outcomes as I did with the same perspective. Then again he married my wife’s college roommate. He just passed away, a PhD economist and a world renowned institutional finance guy.

I will say that in high school and college I did three things: 1) mother was an addict and because of that and athletics did not drink at all or do any drugs - as in none - the truly talented could do that but not me, 2) I had a few great teachers and never missed a class - ever , and 3) I was thankfully such a dork I treated women with respect, erring on the side of dorkiness and being very cautious in relationships - I never was worried about having an incident that could impact my future - rich kids get second chances and I had no margin for error.

One thing I would inform that it was not all wonderful. I entered university behind my peers and the athletic demands didn’t help. I had a professor who challenged me and said that learning is about sustaining lots of ego damage - no safe spaces. I got beat up intellectually pretty bad but got better. The law school performance was simply a reflection of finally being really good. Many of my athletic competitors were minorities and I cringe today at the safe spaces narrative as it doesn’t help them. Being behind in preparation is not a sin and like any race one can catch up. This is not a political point but I was eye to eye with them in athletics and really liked them and they were as potentially capable as I was on the academic front.

When my brother died last month, a number of his teammates wrote to me saying they never would have finished at a top 5 public university/big athletic power but for my brother, a multiple All American and Phi Beta Kappa. He tutored many of his teammates and to one said he taught them not just to read homework, but to distill the key points in their own words so they could really remember it - again hard to do but it works. Lots of ego damage too. Parents of these guys wrote to me, grateful for my brother’s guidance. He was more successful than I was and literally had no fear of anything - on our own completely since age 18. I have never known anyone with less fear.

I am not sure anything I write here is helpful. Necessity does wonderful things. And I would not recommend anyone doing what I’ did - too much poverty and stress. I used to think I was a very tough guy - probably in some respects I was - but when I got my first paycheck out of college and could buy a block of Velveeta (something other than pancake mix and potatoes) I broke down in tears in the grocery aisle. Not a proud moment, and something I can only relate now.

This is my DH's story, essentially. He was an athletic recruit, and a history major. He is now incredibly successful for many of the same reasons you mentioned, as are our kids. He's black (I'm not, but I'm also not American) and it's sometimes interesting to see how racist the US was and is, and how far behind the curve many minorities start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I double majored at a top school in history and Econ. Attended on athletic scholarship as it was the only way to pay for the school. Econ helped me get my first job, history was far more valuable. I was in the honors program for history and it was rigorous. It was not difficult to double major at the school so it is an option worth considering. If asked, I consider myself a history major.

People fail to understand how rigorous a history major is, even more so at T10, T15 schools. The endless number of written papers, thesis, reading, etc. I had an easier time memorizing facts for my biochemistry major, dropped the history minor.

I wrote a 125 page thesis on French economics at my school - already having finished my Econ major. I finished typing the thesis in a Philadelphus hotel after finishing well at the Penn Relays. Finished at 4 in the morning, thankfully away from the trouble you could get in at the parties that night. And you could get in trouble! Ten people in the honors program. Two high honors - I received one of them although I wondered if they were overly generous to a scholarship athlete willing to complete the program. Most went to law school - 5 Harvards - one Duke - and one mediocre guy bringing up the rear (Georgetown - me). I did really well in law school after two years working trading futures - as in couldn’t do any better - law review and so on - and it was not anywhere near as rigorous as the history program. Don’t get me wrong - I liked the law school education and had great mentors. It was just not nearly as difficult as the history experience.

One of the benefits of the major is that in my adulthood I had hundreds and hundreds of books, really thousands.My brother - a well known PhD in institutional finance - used to, like me, work in NYC often. We would spend evenings buying books and shipping them home from the Coliseum Bookstore. Our spouses thought we were a little crazy, but again as guys from poverty we wanted to learn. And again staying out of trouble! My kids went to Princeton (and I did nothing to further that other than spoil them and leave countless books strewn about the house). My first adult daughter jokingly says I am responsible for her only reading non-fiction! The books were not only history books and reflected a wide spectrum of political views. I enjoy being comfortable at being uncomfortable - another benefit of the liberal arts.

I remember receiving notice of the history high honors award. I have never been so excited in my life. I had no parents in my life whatsoever - my brother who supported me in all things was traveling to accept a fellowship - no one to call - so I irrationally sprinted to Duke Gardens and sat in front of a waterfall and met an elderly couple who was willing to listen to me jabber on. I thank the history program for the best moment of my young life. I no longer felt I was an outcasted dumb athlete.

This is soo beautiful!!

Would you consider creating a new post and telling your story and giving advice to those of us who have younger kids or are going through the college process now on how you raised kids with such intellectual vitality?

I take no credit really. I married well, as in sound values. Both of her parents are Holocaust survivors so I don’t think there was any sense of entitlement ever. My sister in law had of course similar values and contrary to many on DCUM, sent her kids to Herndon and all went to top 20 schools. The kids have to own their work as opposed to making Mom and Dad happy.

There is dumb luck in play too. My youngest daughter finished Princeton in 3 years and had the highest scores in the state. But my focus with her was on being a regular fun kid. She for some reason respects what I did which is surprising because I can’t keep up with her. Very unexpected as no one in my family but my brother and me went to college or did well in school. And we went to college on athletics. We were very premature twins in slow classes until third grade - not that my parents cared. But going to a good suburban school I sure did.

I did not hover in any way and made it clear that since homework and school was something I already did and I did not need to do their thing and from a young age the person in the mirror was the one to satisfy. My twin had similar outcomes as I did with the same perspective. Then again he married my wife’s college roommate. He just passed away, a PhD economist and a world renowned institutional finance guy.

I will say that in high school and college I did three things: 1) mother was an addict and because of that and athletics did not drink at all or do any drugs - as in none - the truly talented could do that but not me, 2) I had a few great teachers and never missed a class - ever , and 3) I was thankfully such a dork I treated women with respect, erring on the side of dorkiness and being very cautious in relationships - I never was worried about having an incident that could impact my future - rich kids get second chances and I had no margin for error.

One thing I would inform that it was not all wonderful. I entered university behind my peers and the athletic demands didn’t help. I had a professor who challenged me and said that learning is about sustaining lots of ego damage - no safe spaces. I got beat up intellectually pretty bad but got better. The law school performance was simply a reflection of finally being really good. Many of my athletic competitors were minorities and I cringe today at the safe spaces narrative as it doesn’t help them. Being behind in preparation is not a sin and like any race one can catch up. This is not a political point but I was eye to eye with them in athletics and really liked them and they were as potentially capable as I was on the academic front.

When my brother died last month, a number of his teammates wrote to me saying they never would have finished at a top 5 public university/big athletic power but for my brother, a multiple All American and Phi Beta Kappa. He tutored many of his teammates and to one said he taught them not just to read homework, but to distill the key points in their own words so they could really remember it - again hard to do but it works. Lots of ego damage too. Parents of these guys wrote to me, grateful for my brother’s guidance. He was more successful than I was and literally had no fear of anything - on our own completely since age 18. I have never known anyone with less fear.

I am not sure anything I write here is helpful. Necessity does wonderful things. And I would not recommend anyone doing what I’ did - too much poverty and stress. I used to think I was a very tough guy - probably in some respects I was - but when I got my first paycheck out of college and could buy a block of Velveeta (something other than pancake mix and potatoes) I broke down in tears in the grocery aisle. Not a proud moment, and something I can only relate now.

Please write a book. I’m mesmerized…
While I similarly was empowered by “necessity”, I fear my children do not have it. Prosperity and security has perhaps led to some complacency in our household - im trying to figure that out…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you, OP. I am also a history major and often find my peers (without a liberal arts education) to be pretty inarticulate and not very thoughtful. There is a correlation between the demise of the humanities and the popularity of Colleen Hoover-type authors and books.

No it’s the Maga idiots that are the problem

DP. What a truly stupid comment, which seems to be par for the course among certain DCUM types.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of jobs are those with a B.A. in history getting? Kids graduating from schools outside of the top 50?

I am curious about this too. It's great and all that kids from top colleges are getting good jobs, but only a teeny tiny sliver of the college attending population goes to these schools.

I posted earlier. My history majors work within the IC. A history major is a clear signal that you can write well. You don't necessarily have to go into a history-related career and you certainly don't have to go to grad/law school, as some of you claim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of jobs are those with a B.A. in history getting? Kids graduating from schools outside of the top 50?

I am curious about this too. It's great and all that kids from top colleges are getting good jobs, but only a teeny tiny sliver of the college attending population goes to these schools.

I posted earlier. My history majors work within the IC. A history major is a clear signal that you can write well. You don't necessarily have to go into a history-related career and you certainly don't have to go to grad/law school, as some of you claim.

You are correct. My second choice other than law school was a fellowship PhD opportunity at Iowa State for Agricultural Economics. There are days I wish I opted for that choice, particularly after trading livestock and meat futures on the CME. History again was the most helpful platform. But I would have succeeded as a trader without any more school. My lifestyle was quiet and not in fitting with my trader colleagues - so I really wanted peers.