<p>I have an MBA and was an anthro major. the truth is you learn alot in these “random” fields. I learned how to have a thesis, to argue it, and to be open minded to my conslusions. My writing skills improved significantly, ans my ability to critically think did as well. In the end, these “core” skills help me in my job (I am a media exec, at age 27), as much if not moreso than my MBA.</p>
<p>This thread has changed my view of these “useless” majors:)
But a lot of them seem English/History related, not my forte:(</p>
<p>Master,</p>
<p>You seem to think that what we should do is force people to study things that will maximize the efficiency of mankind. That’s not (and shouldn’t be) how things work. People study thing like anthropology because it interests them. Companies hire these people because they have shown that they are intelligent and can be taught the details of their job. Time spent at a university isn’t comparable to a trade school. A lot of what one learns may not be directly applicable to their future job, but it helps them grow as a person. It isn’t a bad thing to have more and more people who are well-read and able to make critical decisions for themselves. These are skills that any major (even what you term useless ones) learn throughout their years at a university. College is more of a general education period in one’s life than time spent rigoriously preparing for one specific job.</p>
<p>(By the way, I’m an engineering student. A lot of things in my major aren’t directly applicable to what I will want to do in the future. The key is that they make me grow as an engineer by making me experience different fields and think scientifically about a variety of problems. In a way, I’m growing as a scientist by taking things that aren’t exactly my specialty. The same thing goes for liberal arts majors. They are getting a variety of experiences where they can learn to think critically.)</p>
<p>I don’t know…a history degree from Harvard seems to have very good use in placing into the top jobs…:)</p>
<p>And so does an econ degree from Dartmouth, Brown, Yale, Columbia, Cornell or Princeton.</p>
<p>Between the kids who major in biology or chemistry and those who major in Humanities it has little effect in MCAT scores. They tend to excel in different areas of the test. There isn’t any proof that shows kids who devote their undergrad to studying science related fields are any better off then the kids who study other areas.</p>
<p>Like the OP, my mother is pressuring me about my college major. She once asked me to major in engineering because she thinks that engineering is very lucrative. I certainly can understand what her concern is because I’m majoring in English and possibly business.</p>
<p>Anyways, what I wanted to know is when you guys say that a lot of people you know with impratical college majors got great jobs at fortune 500 companies or other good organizations, how do you all know that these people did not get these jobs because they had personal connections (knowing someone) to someone who works there?</p>
<p>I found this which may be interesting: <a href=“http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI23.asp[/url]”>http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI23.asp</a></p>
<p>I have switched to Econ…it kicks ass!</p>
<p>the most popular major for students accepted into medical schools is music.</p>
<p>and my dad would know this - he researches about 5x as much as I do into med school stuff… and I’m only a first semester freshman…</p>
<p>Guys come on obviously only ibankers are happy with their lives</p>
<p>Wrong. IBankers, consultants, and engineers/computer programmers.</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>Vtoodler, that just isn’t true. I had no personal connections, neither did almost everyone who worked with me or who got one of these jobs! The elite firms actively recruit at the top schools because of the school brand, notthe major. 90% of the top 15 schools don’t even have “trade” majors like business! Do you think Harvard grads are unemployed because there’s no business major. Of course not, they get access to the best firms regardless of major. </p>
<p>If you don’t got to a top 20ish, then you need to major in somehting practical. But at the top schools (Ivy and other elites) you have the liberty of being able to major in practically anything. By the way, these are not fortune 500 jobs (which are seen as less desirable) but usually the elite banking/ consulting jobs.</p>
<p>i concur with slipper
its all about the prestige</p>
<p>In the UK (and some other European countries), you can study law right at the undergrad level.
This is currently one of the most heated public policy issue debates. A lot of people think that you’re too young at undergrad level to be doing a professional course of that sort.
IMO…The deep rigorous thought put into your subject at undergrad level and the kind of knowledge you get from other undergrad courses is paramount to your holistic development.</p>
<p>
I don’t know how anyone can prove or disprove this. My experience, and I went to 3 top schools, is yes there are some people who get jobs because Daddy knows someone but they are by far in the minority. Top companies and top programs go to the top schools and hire the best applicants … and in many cases (consulting, management development programs, etc) there is little to no correlation to the applicants undergraduate major. They are looking for smart people, who work hard, who can get things done, who can think on their feet, and who can communicate … those are attributes of successful people not skills learned in a major.</p>
<p>While I went to 3 top schools I mostly hung out with my middle-class brothers and sisters and we all did just fine in our careers with the only limitations being our choices or our abilities.</p>
<p>No matter what major you choose in college, you should gain certain skills invaluable to any business: the ability to analyze & think critically, time management, the ability write well, the ability to research/learn, and effective communication skills. THESE are the skills employers are looking for when they say “4-yr degree required”; notice how most of these ads don’t say “(major here) degree required” except for engineering majors, science majors, and other fields which DO require specific skills.</p>
<p>bump…</p>
<p>Colleges and Universities aren’t vocational training camps.They’re actually for learning.Of course,they prepare you for work,but there’s more to life than work.Some employers actually prefer majors like these. Philosophy majors excel on a lot of standardized tests.They soar on the LSAT,for one.</p>
<p>Graduating from pre-med won’t get you a job</p>
<p>Are you saying they should stop offering it?</p>
<p>Just because some majors involve more work after undergrad doesn’t mean they’re useless. If you’re a pre-med, you need to go to med school before you can get a job. If you’re an anthro major, there isn’t a pre-defined career track for you, so you have to do a little work finding a job…doesn’t mean you can’t get an amazing, well-paying job.</p>
<p>Try looking through this:
<a href=“http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/college/majors/index.html[/url]”>http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/college/majors/index.html</a></p>
<p>That site is pretty amazing</p>
<p>Can you say drug rep?</p>