What are recent liberal arts majors doing now?
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Anonymous
| Hoping to avoid the jokes (waiting tables, etc.). My bright DC is attending a selective university starting this fall. He was a straight A student in all subjects in high school, but math and science just do not interest him. He would be thrilled never to take another course in either subject and is terrified of competing with all the pre meds in the science courses, because those classes did not come as naturally to him. He writes well, loves history, policy, etc. What besides teaching and law (the tracks his humaties-brain parents took) are young people doing these days with liberal arts degrees? Are some degrees (such as economics) considered more"useful" than others by employers? Thanks. |
Anonymous
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He is likely in for a hard time finding a decent paying job unless he plans on going to grad school or law school.
Liberal arts degrees are a dime a dozen today. |
Anonymous
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Graduated from a NESCAC in 2004: Environmental Studies and Geography.
Waited tables! Then became a social studies teacher, middle and high school. Now SAHP. You might be looking for more recent grads, but figured I'd share. |
Anonymous
| One relative graduated from Big Ten university in spring. She is still searching for a job in communications. Another relative went to GWU undergrad then law school and flunked out. Now pursuing career in public policy. Neighbor got into top law school but was an All-American track star. |
Anonymous
| My personal trainer has a degree in psychology |
Anonymous
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My kids all have liberal arts degrees from top colleges. They all also went on to get masters degrees after first doing volunteer work. One is now in a high and well compensated position in a non-profit, another is in the education field, and another is about to start grad school.
We paid their college tuition and could have afforded for them to go anywhere, but we encouraged them to choose wisely and take into account both cost and prestige. One turned down a top 10 private university for in state UVA, and another turned down a top-5 ranked LAC for a top-15 ranked LAC for a half-tuition merit scholarship. Our thinking is that not smart to pay more than you really have for a liberal arts degree. |
Anonymous
| Lawyer. There weren't a lot of other solid choices with an English major. |
Anonymous
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A completely non-quantitative Econ degree is not all that useful (and can't even be done at some schools) so if he can't make himself comfortable with basic calculus and linear algebra, Econ may not be the way to go.
My sense from looking at my 07 grad peers is that the liberal arts grads pretty much have had to go to grad school to get a good career. Whereas lots of Econ/business/compsci majors have been able to have a good career with just the bachelors. |
Anonymous
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My 25yo nephew graduated three years ago with a Philosophy degree. He is making $80k as a new reporter working for a MY publication after having changed jobs twice (he was recruited for this job by someone he met in his first job).
My niece with an English degree is working for a financial services company doing PR. She is 25yo and makes about $60k with excellent benefits. |
Anonymous
| ^^^*NY* publication |
Anonymous
I find it odd that you know your niece's and nephew's salaries and benefits. Tacky for them or their parents to tell you, or tacky for you to ask. We have no idea what our own kids are making, yet again our siblings' kids. |
Anonymous
| I hope he didn't borrow money to go to that selective university. He may have a hard time paying his loans if he does. |
Anonymous
You come from an uptight family. |
Anonymous
| Classic major = investment banking here. |
Anonymous
Kay but unless the selective university op's son is attending is Harvard, Yale or Princeton then this won't work for him |