Anonymous wrote:Art history is worse!

Wrong. I know a guy who worked at Goldman Sachs who studied art history and actually won several clients by being knowledgable about their art. Boy, you business majors sure are smug jerks.

Yeah, I don't agree with the assertion that liberal arts grads aren't successful. I look forward to my son studying classics at a SLAC, and eventually going to med school after finishing the pre-med requirements through such a program. Will he do it? Don't know. Will I be a jerk about forcing him too? Absolutely not. But I think families can influence their children through providing a solid foundation, just like a solid liberal artus undergraduate major.

If he wanted a trade, and it turned out he had an aptitude for fixing cars, carpentry, or plumbing, I would encourage the study of the trade and skip college.

College shouldn't be a trade school in my view. I suppose others have a different image of the purpose of a university education. We can differ I suppose.

Anonymous wrote:My father was an English major - when he graduated his first employer agreed to hire him if he would go back to school on the company nickel and "learn something." So he became a very well educated metallurgist. This was 1951.

And this one anecdote proves. . .what, exactly?

My father was an English major - when he graduated his first employer agreed to hire him if he would go back to school on the company nickel and "learn something." So he became a very well educated metallurgist. This was 1951.

Art history is worse!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha! I have a BA in English and minored in Paralegal studies - I'm a paralegal Yeah, generally you're not going to be rich with an English degree (or any other liberal arts degree for that matter...)

You'd be wrong. Really smart, driven people who major in liberal arts will always be driven to achieve and do well. Those who are borderline college material who major in liberal arts at an average school because it sounds easy will always be average.

Incidentally, I make 85k a year and could earn more except that I love my family-friendly job (not in a big firm). Obviously I'm no millionaire, but I'm happy. Oh, and another thing, the liberal arts majors I know are certainly among the smartest I know. I'm just saying that generally speaking, we aren't rolling in it.

Perhaps. But really, your undergraduate major has very little bearing on how far you will go in life. People who believe this are either willfully ignorant or woefully misinformed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Counterpoint:

"Those of privilege have appreciated liberal education historically. It has contributed to their access and hold on power and influence. Their sons and daughters, generation after generation, have attended liberal arts institutions without hesitation. There is no job training in their educational landscape. It would be tragic if all the new and previously underserved populations now having access to higher education missed the opportunity for their turn at leadership and influence simply because of the outspoken — arguably purposeful — dismissal of the liberal arts as "useless," often by those who received a liberal arts education themselves and intend nothing less for their own children."

Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2012/11/26/essay-idea-useful-liberal-arts#ixzz2ErrF38DX
Inside Higher Ed

Pretty much this.

Yep. English undergrad. Georgetown Law. Biglaw salary and a love of books and discourse. Learning how to write and communicate is key to landing good jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha! I have a BA in English and minored in Paralegal studies - I'm a paralegal Yeah, generally you're not going to be rich with an English degree (or any other liberal arts degree for that matter...)

You'd be wrong. Really smart, driven people who major in liberal arts will always be driven to achieve and do well. Those who are borderline college material who major in liberal arts at an average school because it sounds easy will always be average.

Incidentally, I make 85k a year and could earn more except that I love my family-friendly job (not in a big firm). Obviously I'm no millionaire, but I'm happy. Oh, and another thing, the liberal arts majors I know are certainly among the smartest I know. I'm just saying that generally speaking, we aren't rolling in it.

English major, Masters in Social Work. Doing pretty well, thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha! I have a BA in English and minored in Paralegal studies - I'm a paralegal Yeah, generally you're not going to be rich with an English degree (or any other liberal arts degree for that matter...)

You'd be wrong. Really smart, driven people who major in liberal arts will always be driven to achieve and do well. Those who are borderline college material who major in liberal arts at an average school because it sounds easy will always be average.

Being average -- oh no, perish the thought! Can't we all be exceptional?

I don't think I'm exceptional. But I am smarter than the average bear and driven to succeed. That's what makes the difference.

Driven, huh? Don't you think it's time to get a driver's license?

Wha?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha! I have a BA in English and minored in Paralegal studies - I'm a paralegal Yeah, generally you're not going to be rich with an English degree (or any other liberal arts degree for that matter...)

You'd be wrong. Really smart, driven people who major in liberal arts will always be driven to achieve and do well. Those who are borderline college material who major in liberal arts at an average school because it sounds easy will always be average.

Being average -- oh no, perish the thought! Can't we all be exceptional?

I don't think I'm exceptional. But I am smarter than the average bear and driven to succeed. That's what makes the difference.

Driven, huh? Don't you think it's time to get a driver's license?

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major, and I got my MD. Now I'm a scientist with great writing and communication skills.

I love you.

Anonymous wrote:I was an English major, and I got my MD. Now I'm a scientist with great writing and communication skills.

And I am a Phoenix!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha! I have a BA in English and minored in Paralegal studies - I'm a paralegal Yeah, generally you're not going to be rich with an English degree (or any other liberal arts degree for that matter...)

You'd be wrong. Really smart, driven people who major in liberal arts will always be driven to achieve and do well. Those who are borderline college material who major in liberal arts at an average school because it sounds easy will always be average.

Being average -- oh no, perish the thought! Can't we all be exceptional?

I don't think I'm exceptional. But I am smarter than the average bear and driven to succeed. That's what makes the difference.

I was an English major, and I got my MD. Now I'm a scientist with great writing and communication skills.