Great in History, English, Journalism etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot imagine getting a degree to write listicles for Buzzfeed.

How about a degree which qualifies you to be an intelligence analyst for the CIA - or any number of private companies which contract with the IC? Or a diplomat with the State Dept.? A writer of any kind? That STEM degree would be useless. But good luck crunching numbers until a computer takes over your job!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they are gifted in those subjects and is truly interested in Journalism, a school like Northwestern might be an option. Their journalism school takes a much more holistic look at the applicants.

Former journalist here (for 25 years). No one should major in journalism. Major in something else and learn journalism. It’s a trade, not a profession. You don’t need a degree in it (or at all, really), but you do need something to write about.

Counterpoint from someone who graduated with a BA in journalism from a school known for its J-school program. A benefit of majoring in journalism from a school with an excellent reputation in that field (e.g., Northwestern, Missouri, UNC, etc.) is that the school will have numerous journalism professors whose connections and recommendations can get you that first job. Happened to me (no longer in the field, but got great internships/jobs because of my journalism professors).

Otherwise, I agree. A journalism degree isn’t appreciably more helpful in finding a job.

My daughter just graduated from a state flagship with a degree in journalism. She and all her friends have jobs. Not a single one as a “journalist.” But all are in positions for which the degree was very helpful in securing. Not sure why people think majoring in journalism = being a reporter or columnist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're not looking at a degree in STEM, I would seriously consider whether or not college is a worthwhile investment.

This is a classic lower class attitude. The point isn’t what the student “does with” college; it’s what college “does with” the student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're not looking at a degree in STEM, I would seriously consider whether or not college is a worthwhile investment.

This is a classic lower class attitude. The point isn’t what the student “does with” college; it’s what college “does with” the student.

Talk about class attitudes, lol! Yours is nasty and disingenuous. Lots of UMC kids are in college to get their tickets punched, to network, and to enjoy a few years of freedom while still on their parents’ dime but free from their immediate control. They aren’t in college to acquire knowledge or skills or character. They know that’s not how they’ll get jobs. And not getting a job is still unthinkable to them (and if that happens, there’s always grad school in some form of another). That’s not everyone of course, but it’s a really common attitude at the elite colleges UMC families covet.

And there are a helluva a lot of working class people who see college as a way to better themselves — to be exposed to more and different things (ideas, books, cultures, places, ways of life, experiences, people) than they would otherwise have access to.

The main difference (shocker) is that the UMC has lots more money than the working class. When faced with the staggering costs of higher education in the US, people who have lots of other immediate needs (and who see unemployment as a real threat) may be forced to ask whether/under what circumstances college is worth it. While the UMC, who generally can’t set their kids up for life via inheritance or control of a family business, cling to the notion that we live in a meritocracy where the smartest/best-educated win. So they’re desperate to get their kids into the right school(s). And/or to claim whatever schools their kids go to ARE the right schools. Somewhere in the middle of those two groups are people whose main goal is to get their kids a decent college education (because employers expect/demand at least a BA) while not saddling them with lots of debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're not looking at a degree in STEM, I would seriously consider whether or not college is a worthwhile investment.

This is a classic lower class attitude. The point isn’t what the student “does with” college; it’s what college “does with” the student.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're not looking at a degree in STEM, I would seriously consider whether or not college is a worthwhile investment.

This is a classic lower class attitude. The point isn’t what the student “does with” college; it’s what college “does with” the student.

+2

Ok, I’ll bite. Just what do you imagine college “doing with” your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they are gifted in those subjects and is truly interested in Journalism, a school like Northwestern might be an option. Their journalism school takes a much more holistic look at the applicants.

Former journalist here (for 25 years). No one should major in journalism. Major in something else and learn journalism. It’s a trade, not a profession. You don’t need a degree in it (or at all, really), but you do need something to write about.

Current journalist here. Married to another current journalist. Journalism is the only degree we told our kids we wouldn't pay for.

[Anonymous]

There are too many domains that are neglected for some reason. If we were to talk about journalism, the majority of the press is not doing a good job. They are giving false information and you cannot even call that journalism. One time, at our university, each one of us had to write an article about any subject in order to see how hard it is to actually do a proper job. I've written about karim jivraj canadian conservative and many of my colleagues have written about political candidates, since it was pretty accessible.