Anthropology! And/or archaeology. Of course, this major was ages ago and the prospects were no better back then either, recession or no recession. If I was thinking of selecting an undergraduate major in this day and age, I’d look into Keller Graduate School online courses as an alternative instead. The biggest draw back to anthropology is the narrow selection of jobs, and that’s only once you’ve obtained a Master’s or PhD since a bachelor’s means pretty much nothing in that profession. With a Master’s Degree, an anthropology major might be lucky enough to land a job at a museum or as a professor at a community college. Acquiring a PhD holds a few more options, but most are in academia and we all know where that path leads…;).
Back in the day, students weren’t taught to question their choice of major, plot out their job prospects or do a cost/benefit analysis of whether the degree was even worth the tuition. A bachelor’s degree in anything was better than not having one. Of course, student loan debt wasn’t spiraling out of control. Now, a bachelor’s degree is a dime-a-dozen and doesn’t guarantee a job.
It’s becoming clearer that students must carefully select their major, analyze job prospects 4-5 years out, work out a cost/benefit analysis, and monitor their student loan debt. Crossing their fingers and hoping the economy remains stable might also help!
Crafting a well-respected resume, or at least one that might get you a phone call, also includes making sure you’re on top of your game. In my case, I’m realizing I need to be bilingual, have a master’s degree, and a dual credential. Great. It’s not enough to have the “bare-minimum” anymore. I need to go further, but I also need to cost/analyze each additional requirement. For instance, the least expensive item would be to add a dual credential for a cost of under $3,000. The most expensive option would be a master’s degree upwards of $10,000 or more. Becoming bilingual is difficult in determining the cost – it all depends on how quickly I could learn the language. It’s also a more difficult task. I know which option I’ll be selecting first.
Do high school’s offer a program or seminar that gives students the information they need to make better choices? My guess is not many do. It’s hard enough for high school students to think about next month or next year, but with a little guidance, it might help a senior save money, get just the education they need for the job they want, and be aware that with every choice there is a consequence – good or bad.
Did you select a major haphazardly? Or did you spend time analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of certain professions and the cost of education?
12 Comments
My friend has anthro degrees (undergraduate and masters) from an Ivy League and can’t seem to find anything anywhere!
I guess you can say its the worst but I know a lot of degrees right now that would make this list depending on the person you are asking. The problem is not so much as the degree being bad its just that many people need to figure out the reason why they are majoring in it in the first place. Is it money or the love of the field. Some degrees just wont make money or take years after internships to get a decent jobs. Others you can easily make six figures but they require years of schooling and you might not even enjoy doing the job.
I chose business because it was a “practical” major. In the end, it turned out to be a pretty good fit. You make a good point that all college degrees are not created equal when it comes to earning power. That said, I’m sure there are high earning people with every conceivable kind of degree. It’s all a matter of balancing your passion with the more practical parts of life.
That is interesting to hear. One of my friends has this degree and has gotten a great job in the tourism industry. She is the marketing manager for a big hotel chain now. I guess it depends on where you live and what the market is in need of.
@Miss T – That’s a great way to optimize a selective major. I once thought I’d work for National Geographic. 😉
I wasn’t thinking about income when I chose my major, sociology. I have gone on to create a solid income stream … but it’s absolutely unrelated to my major. While I enjoyed the classes, I’m not sure that 4 years of tuition, PLUS the opportunity cost of not earning income, was worth the degree. That said, I’m glad I went to college … it taught me how to become a lifelong learner.
@Paula – College definitely teaches more than just the major or course work. Life skills are gained too. Thanks for sharing!
I wasn’t thinking income at all when I chose my college major (Chemistry). Now my career is barely related to it but I still value the education I got!
@Bridget – I don’t think many college students think about income first when selecting a major, I know I didn’t. But from a logical point of view, it makes sense to weigh income as part of selecting a major.
I’m distressed that the liberal arts are frowned upon in lieu of more lucrative majors. Like you stated, I think life is about learning and being well rounded. College is not for becoming a technician.
@Barb – Majors seem to wane and wax and I suppose some are viewed as “soft” majors where others are viewed more as employable. It’s unfortunate, but true.
I sort of fell into my undergraduate major. I’d originally selected political science, and then pretty much immediately discovered that that was NOT for me. So I figured I’d spend a year or two getting the basics out of the way and taking a few classes that interested me. Turned out that all of the classes that interested me were requirements for a degree in Speech & Hearing Science, so that became my major.