I know it may be fashionable to call liberal arts degrees "worthless" but I STRONGLY disagree
I've been meaning to get this off my chest for a while now. So a little over 15 years ago (05/10/2003 to be exact the year of our basketball centennial! I was HS class of 1999, last of the 20th century!) I graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in history and a BA in political science (the requirements for each were so intertwined with each other so of course I used three summer school sessions at the local then-UK affliated community college to get the 144 credit hours needed to get double degrees rather than mere "double majors"). Granted I didn't make as good grades as I would've liked (2.57 GPA) but me working almost six hour nights and all day Saturday ( I did need some spending money plus it helped keep the loan debt way down) plus my then undiagonosed Aspergers (which I didn't find out I had until 2006) might have had something to do with that.
So why am I bringing all this up you might ask? Well it's just that I often see headlines/opinion pieces/whatever about how "worthless" liberal arts degrees/majors are and I could not disagree with this notion more. Now look, I knew all along history and political science weren't the kind of majors one makes anywhere near six-figures off of. I know STEM majors are the "in-thing" but I just wasn't cut out for those. So I majored in the subjects I enjoyed and even to this day I enjoy doing things like reading those Britannica yearbooks (I did World Book ones last year) which I call "freelance" learning. No worrying about grades, no strings attached.
Unfortunately I made the mistake of moving back to my hometown area instead of staying in Lexington where there of course there were far more good job opprotunites. Once I was finally able to move out on my own in 2004 the only jobs that were avaliable at the time that I could get was a brief stint at the local hospital cafeteria, grocery checker form 2004-2010, and a brief stint at a local factory in 2011 before I was forced to go on disablity (VERY long story, please don't ask me for details).
Of course I wanted something more "college level" but aside from the opporutines just not being there in my area at the time, I honestly after college had no idea exactly what I wanted to do. It was my big dream/goal to graduate from college at the best university I could get into and once that was done, it was like, "now what?" I certainly toyed with some ideas such as clerical, sub teacher (you have to have a masters to be a full fledged teacher), and so on but again, despite my best efforts and paying my dues working the above jobs and such, it just didn't pan out.
So this may sound like a classic story of "See? Your college degrees ARE worthless!!" but the fact of the matter is that I'm one of very few in my immediate family who went to college (my parents didn't even finish HS)...the only others I know of off the top of my head was one of my great-great grandfathers who was a renowned old-fashioned country doctor and one of my first cousins once removed who served as a local judge who married me and my wife Denise in 2005 All the more reason I consider it a real privilege to get the chance to go to a real good college when just a couple generations or so ago only those who were rich and/or super smart or athetic enough to get a scholarship got to go to college for the most part. And from the start my attiude was that even if I never get/got a chance to do a "college level" sort of job/career I have none/zero regrets whatsoever for getting so called "wasted"/"worthless" degrees. I was able to get many experiences and memories at UK that will last me a lifetime and I know for a fact that I would've very very much regretted it for the rest of my life if I did not finish college.
So forgive me if I rambled on and on too much like I sometimes do, but bottom line is for those of you in college or going...there is no such thing as a "worthless" degree. Even to this day only a little over 30%ish of Americans have at least a bachelors so anyone who does achieve it regardless of their chosen major or its earning potential should feel very very proud and very lucky to get that kind of chance. I do!
All that being said though, my wife was able to get two masters degrees and back in her day got to work with a few Ivy League places along with John Hopkins...so I'm even more proud of her (and I tell people all the time how she's the REAL brains of our family! ) and quite envious of her smarts
So why am I bringing all this up you might ask? Well it's just that I often see headlines/opinion pieces/whatever about how "worthless" liberal arts degrees/majors are and I could not disagree with this notion more. Now look, I knew all along history and political science weren't the kind of majors one makes anywhere near six-figures off of. I know STEM majors are the "in-thing" but I just wasn't cut out for those. So I majored in the subjects I enjoyed and even to this day I enjoy doing things like reading those Britannica yearbooks (I did World Book ones last year) which I call "freelance" learning. No worrying about grades, no strings attached.
Unfortunately I made the mistake of moving back to my hometown area instead of staying in Lexington where there of course there were far more good job opprotunites. Once I was finally able to move out on my own in 2004 the only jobs that were avaliable at the time that I could get was a brief stint at the local hospital cafeteria, grocery checker form 2004-2010, and a brief stint at a local factory in 2011 before I was forced to go on disablity (VERY long story, please don't ask me for details).
Of course I wanted something more "college level" but aside from the opporutines just not being there in my area at the time, I honestly after college had no idea exactly what I wanted to do. It was my big dream/goal to graduate from college at the best university I could get into and once that was done, it was like, "now what?" I certainly toyed with some ideas such as clerical, sub teacher (you have to have a masters to be a full fledged teacher), and so on but again, despite my best efforts and paying my dues working the above jobs and such, it just didn't pan out.
So this may sound like a classic story of "See? Your college degrees ARE worthless!!" but the fact of the matter is that I'm one of very few in my immediate family who went to college (my parents didn't even finish HS)...the only others I know of off the top of my head was one of my great-great grandfathers who was a renowned old-fashioned country doctor and one of my first cousins once removed who served as a local judge who married me and my wife Denise in 2005 All the more reason I consider it a real privilege to get the chance to go to a real good college when just a couple generations or so ago only those who were rich and/or super smart or athetic enough to get a scholarship got to go to college for the most part. And from the start my attiude was that even if I never get/got a chance to do a "college level" sort of job/career I have none/zero regrets whatsoever for getting so called "wasted"/"worthless" degrees. I was able to get many experiences and memories at UK that will last me a lifetime and I know for a fact that I would've very very much regretted it for the rest of my life if I did not finish college.
So forgive me if I rambled on and on too much like I sometimes do, but bottom line is for those of you in college or going...there is no such thing as a "worthless" degree. Even to this day only a little over 30%ish of Americans have at least a bachelors so anyone who does achieve it regardless of their chosen major or its earning potential should feel very very proud and very lucky to get that kind of chance. I do!
All that being said though, my wife was able to get two masters degrees and back in her day got to work with a few Ivy League places along with John Hopkins...so I'm even more proud of her (and I tell people all the time how she's the REAL brains of our family! ) and quite envious of her smarts
Comments
I was HS class of 1999, last of the 20th century!)
Centuries start on the 1s. Class of 2000 was the last of the 20th Century.
I would say my BA was near worthless. It was certainly favorable when I was hired at my current job but by no means a requirement.
When it comes to decently paying jobs, tons of degrees are worthless. It depends on the direction you look at it.
No degrees are "worthless" when it comes to personal enrichment and education.
It also depends on where you live. In the Bay area, a degree in theology or russian art history is almost worthless unless you decide to teach that subject at a college.
I saw higher education exclusively as an investment. If I spend X in time in money on higher education, I need it to translate into XX in salary/job security/enjoyable career that would otherwise be inaccessible to me.
I learn all the time for free with the internet, I want my college education to better my finances and lifestyle. Both my undergrad and grad degrees have provided me with a career that I love and a very livable salary, I would be incredibly disappointed to have spent the same money on a different degree path and be left with a career that I could have had without that college experience.
To each their own and if you're happier as a result of the experience than it was certainly worth it to you.
Edit: The majority of my friends who are the most financially successful didn't attend college and are either in the trades or have a government job. Electricans, plumbers, union laborers, postal workers, etc. I think exploring the trades as a career path is criminally under rated.
Edit: The majority of my friends who are the most financially successful didn't attend college and are either in the trades or have a government job. Electricans, plumbers, union laborers, postal workers, etc. I think exploring the trades as a career path is criminally under rated.
I agree with this sentiment. One could drop out of HS, get a job as a “goffer” in construction, pick up some skills, work hard and become a foreman, realize “I could manage this” and slowly build their own construction company, retiring early and more wealthy than most of us. The key is motivation and hard work. I didn’t do thag but from my childhood, I know more than a few guys that are on a similar path.
As for me, I have a BS in Information Systems and I’m just beginning to debate/think about persuing a JD in patent law. I probably won’t but I feel I’d like a career change. I have a good friend who has a PhD in chemistry and after working ad a scientist for a while, he didn’t like the work. He got into patent law and, I don’t know, his path is inspiring me a bit. Who knows if I’ll go throw with it or not but your going to have to get a lib arts degree if you’re going to be a medical doctor or lawyer. I see value in that, I suppose.
Edit: The majority of my friends who are the most financially successful didn't attend college and are either in the trades or have a government job. Electricans, plumbers, union laborers, postal workers, etc. I think exploring the trades as a career path is criminally under rated.
I agree with this sentiment. One could drop out of HS, get a job as a “goffer” in construction, pick up some skills, work hard and become a foreman, realize “I could manage this” and slowly build their own construction company, retiring early and more wealthy than most of us. The key is motivation and hard work. I didn’t do thag but from my childhood, I know more than a few guys that are on a similar path.
As for me, I have a BS in Information Systems and I’m just beginning to debate/think about persuing a JD in patent law. I probably won’t but I feel I’d like a career change. I have a good friend who has a PhD in chemistry and after working ad a scientist for a while, he didn’t like the work. He got into patent law and, I don’t know, his path is inspiring me a bit. Who knows if I’ll go throw with it or not but your going to have to get a lib arts degree if you’re going to be a medical doctor or lawyer. I see value in that, I suppose.
Starting a construction company isnt that simple. (At least not in CA) licensing and bonding is quite expensive. And Almost all union trades require a GED.
All that work comes at a physical toll to the body as well, something many people dont realize.
I have been a union electrician for 10 years, and was a mechanic for 8 before that. Both of my hands are shot at 35, and my right elbow needs to be “cracked” every few hours or it becomes painful.
Sometimes I wish I went to college just to alleviate the wear and tear on my body. Luckily I am the general foreman now, so I dont actually do any physical labor anymore. I have no idea how some of these guys do it for 40 yrs.
I disagree.
When it comes to decently paying jobs, tons of degrees are worthless. It depends on the direction you look at it.
No degrees are "worthless" when it comes to personal enrichment and education.
It also depends on where you live. In the Bay area, a degree in theology or russian art history is almost worthless unless you decide to teach that subject at a college.
I find it funny when people say things like "you should go teach that in college" - as if you can just go up to a college and get hired! For humanities and non-science fields the competition is incredible. Hundreds sometimes thousands of people with PhDs may apply for one faculty position. Even in science the competition can be insane, although not as much. Ultimately I think education is never a waste of time. However, you won't necessarily get a "good" job afterwards. Consequences to everything.
please note I meant “if” one decides to go teach, not people “should”.
Edit: The majority of my friends who are the most financially successful didn't attend college and are either in the trades or have a government job. Electricans, plumbers, union laborers, postal workers, etc. I think exploring the trades as a career path is criminally under rated.
I agree with this sentiment. One could drop out of HS, get a job as a “goffer” in construction, pick up some skills, work hard and become a foreman, realize “I could manage this” and slowly build their own construction company, retiring early and more wealthy than most of us. The key is motivation and hard work. I didn’t do thag but from my childhood, I know more than a few guys that are on a similar path.
As for me, I have a BS in Information Systems and I’m just beginning to debate/think about persuing a JD in patent law. I probably won’t but I feel I’d like a career change. I have a good friend who has a PhD in chemistry and after working ad a scientist for a while, he didn’t like the work. He got into patent law and, I don’t know, his path is inspiring me a bit. Who knows if I’ll go throw with it or not but your going to have to get a lib arts degree if you’re going to be a medical doctor or lawyer. I see value in that, I suppose.
Starting a construction company isnt that simple. (At least not in CA) licensing and bonding is quite expensive. And Almost all union trades require a GED.
All that work comes at a physical toll to the body as well, something many people dont realize.
I have been a union electrician for 10 years, and was a mechanic for 8 before that. Both of my hands are shot at 35, and my right elbow needs to be “cracked” every few hours or it becomes painful.
Sometimes I wish I went to college just to alleviate the wear and tear on my body. Luckily I am the general foreman now, so I dont actually do any physical labor anymore. I have no idea how some of these guys do it for 40 yrs.
This is a really good point. The toll trade jobs take on your body shouldn't be taken lighlty.
I had my own personal experience in it with HVAC. I was making great money, was running my own jobs after a year(residential nothing too fancy) and was being groomed to replace the main guy whenever he decided to move on. Really I was sitting pretty and could have bought a house by now had I stayed with it. But that being said the company I worked for had us working six days a week, 8-12hours on installations, then on your way home a slew of repair calls. Summer was brutal as the part of New Jersey Im from has alot of old homes with no AC, so new installations were typically done by putting equipment in the attics. The attic temps could approach 130,140,150+ especially on those slate roof homes, and your up there for 10 hours rolling around in insulation, mouse crap, and basically hunched over or on your knees the whole time.
After two years, like I said great money, but I was burnt out. Im looking at the older guys in the company in their 50's that can barely walk straight or get out of a chair. I don't really want to end up like that so I came back to college a few years ago so that I could do something that might be boring, but that I could do long term and still be able to enjoy my time off without having to feel like Im constantly broken. Im proud that i was able to move up fairly quickly and that I was able to gain the respect of the old timers there, but just from a logical perspective there is no reason to go through that to make a living if you dont have to. That is not a dig at the guys that do this kind of stuff (like you Mr. Wunderful) I have nothing but respect for the guys that stick with it, theres definatley a toughness there that not many can match.
Also note there is a HUGE difference between real humanities (classics, history, art history) and leftist post-modernist grievance degrees (gender studies, XXX-American studies, etc.)
Pro strats: Get a STEM degree and a double degree in humanities (or at least minor in humanities). Easily doable within 4 years with some planning.
Also note there is a HUGE difference between real humanities (classics, history, art history) and leftist post-modernist grievance degrees (gender studies, XXX-American studies, etc.)
Easily doable in four years? No. Just no. It would take at least five years, possibly six depending on the requirements of each major. That said, I do think that's a decent idea depending on the student, although very challenging in a number of ways.
Pro strats: Get a STEM degree and a double degree in humanities (or at least minor in humanities). Easily doable within 4 years with some planning.
Also note there is a HUGE difference between real humanities (classics, history, art history) and leftist post-modernist grievance degrees (gender studies, XXX-American studies, etc.)
Easily doable in four years? No. Just no. It would take at least five years, possibly six depending on the requirements of each major. That said, I do think that's a decent idea depending on the student, although very challenging in a number of ways.
A degree and a minor should definitely be achievable in 4 years, that's the whole point of the concept of a minor.
As for two degrees, it takes some planning but I knocked out a comp sci and a classics major with only a couple 18 credit semesters at the endby choosing prelims carefully.
Pro strats: Get a STEM degree and a double degree in humanities (or at least minor in humanities). Easily doable within 4 years with some planning.
Also note there is a HUGE difference between real humanities (classics, history, art history) and leftist post-modernist grievance degrees (gender studies, XXX-American studies, etc.)
Easily doable in four years? No. Just no. It would take at least five years, possibly six depending on the requirements of each major. That said, I do think that's a decent idea depending on the student, although very challenging in a number of ways.
A degree and a minor should definitely be achievable in 4 years, that's the whole point of the concept of a minor.
As for two degrees, it takes some planning but I knocked out a comp sci and a classics major with only a couple 18 credit semesters at the endby choosing prelims carefully.
A minor yes, double degree is a whole different ballgame.
I disagree.
When it comes to decently paying jobs, tons of degrees are worthless. It depends on the direction you look at it.
No degrees are "worthless" when it comes to personal enrichment and education.
It also depends on where you live. In the Bay area, a degree in theology or russian art history is almost worthless unless you decide to teach that subject at a college.
I find it funny when people say things like "you should go teach that in college" - as if you can just go up to a college and get hired! For humanities and non-science fields the competition is incredible. Hundreds sometimes thousands of people with PhDs may apply for one faculty position. Even in science the competition can be insane, although not as much. Ultimately I think education is never a waste of time. However, you won't necessarily get a "good" job afterwards. Consequences to everything.
My brother in law is a Chinese history professor, and had some interesting stats to talk about while he was on the job hunt a few years ago.
For US history, there are, on average, SEVEN professor slots nationwide per year that are on the table.
Chinese history wasn't much better, I think he quoted 15 or 20 slots, nationwide.
Kind of makes you wonder what most PhDs in history end up doing for a living.
I don't mean this to rip on OPs original point, though, and I know that in the past I have probably said some less than kind things about BAs that I am not particularly proud of.
But I do think people pursuing BAs in liberal arts subjects need to be realistic about their likely prospects and take as little student debt as possible accordingly.
The big movement over the last decade to give them such a ribbing has to do with stories of music majors in 200k of student debt and other similarly absurd and sad tales.
I have a BS in Information Systems and I have been a software developer for years now. I know classmates of mine who got the same degree that are not doing anything programming related.
What most people don't realize is college guarantees nothing. I advanced my career by hustling and taking calculated risk. I had nice and easy jobs yet moved on to more difficult positions for career growth. It has paid off well and I still really love developing software after all these years. That being said I am not one of those that says everyone needs to do STEM.
Edit: The majority of my friends who are the most financially successful didn't attend college and are either in the trades or have a government job. Electricans, plumbers, union laborers, postal workers, etc. I think exploring the trades as a career path is criminally under rated.
I agree with this sentiment. One could drop out of HS, get a job as a “goffer” in construction, pick up some skills, work hard and become a foreman, realize “I could manage this” and slowly build their own construction company, retiring early and more wealthy than most of us. The key is motivation and hard work. I didn’t do thag but from my childhood, I know more than a few guys that are on a similar path.
As for me, I have a BS in Information Systems and I’m just beginning to debate/think about persuing a JD in patent law. I probably won’t but I feel I’d like a career change. I have a good friend who has a PhD in chemistry and after working ad a scientist for a while, he didn’t like the work. He got into patent law and, I don’t know, his path is inspiring me a bit. Who knows if I’ll go throw with it or not but your going to have to get a lib arts degree if you’re going to be a medical doctor or lawyer. I see value in that, I suppose.
Starting a construction company isnt that simple. (At least not in CA) licensing and bonding is quite expensive. And Almost all union trades require a GED.
All that work comes at a physical toll to the body as well, something many people dont realize.
I have been a union electrician for 10 years, and was a mechanic for 8 before that. Both of my hands are shot at 35, and my right elbow needs to be “cracked” every few hours or it becomes painful.
Sometimes I wish I went to college just to alleviate the wear and tear on my body. Luckily I am the general foreman now, so I dont actually do any physical labor anymore. I have no idea how some of these guys do it for 40 yrs.
That is one of the main reasons i got out of it. I poured concrete for 10 years and got to see first hand how beat up the old timers got and could even start feeling it myself even though i was still in my early 20s (hand troweling floors for 13 hours at a time everyday can make anyone feel old really fast. lol). The money was great for my age but it was seasonal, which sucked in the winter. I made a promise to myself to get out ASAP and haven't looked back.
One thing i will say about choosing your degree is to calculate how much that degree is going to cost you and how much you can potentially earn. I know quite a few people who have almost 100k in debt and barely make 40k a year with their degree.
One thing i will say about choosing your degree is to calculate how much that degree is going to cost you and how much you can potentially earn. I know quite a few people who have almost 100k in debt and barely make 40k a year with their degree.
Yes, but at the same time you should consider if what you're going to do is something you will enjoy. For instance, maybe you could make $200k working in Wall Steet, but is it worth the 80+ hours per week you will work? Sometimes I think people put too much emphasis in simply "how much money will this degree give me?" that is NOT THE POINT OF EDUCATION!!!! Education is to make you think, to learn, to explore. And is thus never a waste of money. Although yes, you do also want to know what you're getting into...
One thing i will say about choosing your degree is to calculate how much that degree is going to cost you and how much you can potentially earn. I know quite a few people who have almost 100k in debt and barely make 40k a year with their degree.
Yes, but at the same time you should consider if what you're going to do is something you will enjoy. For instance, maybe you could make $200k working in Wall Steet, but is it worth the 80+ hours per week you will work? Sometimes I think people put too much emphasis in simply "how much money will this degree give me?" that is NOT THE POINT OF EDUCATION!!!! Education is to make you think, to learn, to explore. And is thus never a waste of money. Although yes, you do also want to know what you're getting into...
This 1000%. Sure the money helps and is important when choosing a future, but at the end of the day, you still have to wake up and go to your job. That being said, persue what you enjoy, even if it means taking a slight paycut. No amount of money is worth being miserable for the rest of your life, try to get a job you can toletate.
Also if you're working 80+ hours on Wall Street, you'd better be making a hell of a lot more than $200k after a few years.
A minor yes, double degree is a whole different ballgame.
Indeed the only reason I was able to do so was because I took three summer school sessions (after HS, after freshman year, after sophomore year) and the local community college at the time was UK-affliated (kinda like a farm team so to speak!) so the courses were exactly the same and counted the same as the ones at UK proper. Plus the history and poli-sci requirements were so entertwined so I figured why not?
I'd say 50%-75% of the people going to college don't give a crap about learning, thinking or exploring and just want that diploma and the economic considerations attached to it. This is true even in liberal arts except for the most rigorous disciplines of humanities.
Also if you're working 80+ hours on Wall Street, you'd better be making a hell of a lot more than $200k after a few years.
IOW, money isn't everything right?
One thing i will say about choosing your degree is to calculate how much that degree is going to cost you and how much you can potentially earn. I know quite a few people who have almost 100k in debt and barely make 40k a year with their degree.
Yes, but at the same time you should consider if what you're going to do is something you will enjoy. For instance, maybe you could make $200k working in Wall Steet, but is it worth the 80+ hours per week you will work? Sometimes I think people put too much emphasis in simply "how much money will this degree give me?" that is NOT THE POINT OF EDUCATION!!!! Education is to make you think, to learn, to explore. And is thus never a waste of money. Although yes, you do also want to know what you're getting into...
I disagree.
Free education is always worth it. Want to take online class or do independent research on a topic? Go for it. Or earn a scholarship? Then do what you want.
But when you pay out of pocket for an education, you have to look at the ROI. Especially when we're talking 5 figures or even 6 figures for room / board at big universities. Most people in their early 20s can't afford to throw away that money unless it will pay off later.
Education is not the most important thing. What's more important? Having the vision of what you want to do! If you have a lifelong passion to be a news reporter then go get that communications degree. You have to have a passion for what you want to do, or at least enjoy the career track enough to not dread work everyday. Not everyone wants do do STEM and there is much more to life than the amount of your paycheck.
The absolute worst waste of college education are the people with no vision or drive that simple get a General Studies / Communication / Liberal Arts / etc. degree... not because they want that degree, but because they don't know what they want to do and that's the "easy button". Not everyone figures out their career early in life but you should at least narrow down to things you like to do. Like worth numbers or work in the medical field or do a trade, etc.
The career vision sets you up for success and the college degree is the check in the box to get there. It is hard to succeed without having both. Not impossible by any means, just much harder.
While it was a heck of a deal back in the early 2000s, today's rates for tution/room/board/etc...eh, not so much They're even tearing down the Kirwan-Blanding complex that I stayed in (Blanding 3, Room 208 all four years! )! Wow even after just 15 years that place has changed A LOT, for example old Student Center torn down and new one built...the original K-Lair Grill went bye-bye as well. If I ever get a chance to visit there again I probably wouldn't recognize half of it!
One thing i will say about choosing your degree is to calculate how much that degree is going to cost you and how much you can potentially earn. I know quite a few people who have almost 100k in debt and barely make 40k a year with their degree.
Yes, but at the same time you should consider if what you're going to do is something you will enjoy. For instance, maybe you could make $200k working in Wall Steet, but is it worth the 80+ hours per week you will work? Sometimes I think people put too much emphasis in simply "how much money will this degree give me?" that is NOT THE POINT OF EDUCATION!!!! Education is to make you think, to learn, to explore. And is thus never a waste of money. Although yes, you do also want to know what you're getting into...
This 1000%. Sure the money helps and is important when choosing a future, but at the end of the day, you still have to wake up and go to your job. That being said, persue what you enjoy, even if it means taking a slight paycut. No amount of money is worth being miserable for the rest of your life, try to get a job you can toletate.
I am not saying go for the degree that makes you big bucks for the sake of making money. I am just saying it's a smart move to make sure that you aren't paying on a student loan for the rest of your life. If you are going for a degree because you love doing it just be thoughtful about it. Maybe start at a community college first or work part time to be able to make some payments on it. I feel like a lot of people don't think about that kind of stuff (especially when you are young and don't understand debt).
Also if you are into learning for the sake of learning there are tons of free resources out there that aren't going to cost you an arm and a leg. Unfortunetely, colleges have turned learning into a huge money making scheme and everyone is paying for it.
And this is all coming from someone who made the mistake of NOT getting a degree when they were younger because they chose a trade. I am in IT/software development now and a lot of doors were initially closed to me because i didn't have a piece of paper that said i went to school for 4 years (i had 12+ years of experience but HR at big companies doesn't typically look at that first.) I could have had a degree in basket weaving and it would have gotten my foot in the door. lol
Also if you are into learning for the sake of learning there are tons of free resources out there that aren't going to cost you an arm and a leg.
That's exactly what I'm doing, along with my video gaming hobby, as I explained in the OP and elsewhere (so much for the stereotype of video gamers just rotting their brain right?)...so my take on that is why not have the best of both worlds?
Originally posted by: avatar!
Originally posted by: Daniel_Doyce
Originally posted by: avatar!
Originally posted by: Daniel_Doyce
Pro strats: Get a STEM degree and a double degree in humanities (or at least minor in humanities). Easily doable within 4 years with some planning.
Also note there is a HUGE difference between real humanities (classics, history, art history) and leftist post-modernist grievance degrees (gender studies, XXX-American studies, etc.)
Easily doable in four years? No. Just no. It would take at least five years, possibly six depending on the requirements of each major. That said, I do think that's a decent idea depending on the student, although very challenging in a number of ways.
A degree and a minor should definitely be achievable in 4 years, that's the whole point of the concept of a minor.
As for two degrees, it takes some planning but I knocked out a comp sci and a classics major with only a couple 18 credit semesters at the endby choosing prelims carefully.
A minor yes, double degree is a whole different ballgame.
It depends. If they're 2 opposing course degrees, you're right that it would take longer than 4 years for 99% of folks. If you're going after 2 degrees, say computer science and engineering sciences, your course workload is nearly identical except a handful of classes. Also, you can test out of classes.
I wouldn't say it's the easiest thing in the world, but it's 100% doable with the proper planning. STEM shares a fair amount of the same courses, so for an ambitious person, I can see it easily happen in 4 years.
Also if you are into learning for the sake of learning there are tons of free resources out there that aren't going to cost you an arm and a leg.
That's exactly what I'm doing, along with my video gaming hobby, as I explained in the OP and elsewhere (so much for the stereotype of video gamers just rotting their brain right?)...so my take on that is why not have the best of both worlds?
I agree! Even schools like MIT have free courses you can take now. These are great times we live in.