People with "useless" majors and degrees, what do you do now and do you regret it?

I work in a field that did not exist when I graduated from college.

One hundred percent of my day involves working on things, which again, did not exist in any way, shape or form when I graduated. Meanwhile, my worthless degree was in a field that no longer exists.

Weird, I guess.

I don't understand the notion of "useless majors." You are all set for a huge variety of professional fields if you are: 1) a good written and oral communicator, 2) capable of processing new information relatively quickly, 3) in possession some basic research skills, and 4) able to do math at at least an algebra level. These are all abilities that you can and should develop in ANY major, and they will make you more than employable.

I got a B.A. in Physical Education (K-12) and never used it. Went through the whole student teaching and certification process too.

Decided it wasn't for me and I went back to school for Chemistry! LOL! Went to night school for 11 years (yes) and got my B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry. Now I make $115k/year as a researcher. Best decision I ever made. I haven't taken a sick day in over 10 years (honestly) and love my job.

My top three recommendations for young workers;

1) Be the hardest and most reliable worker on your team

2) Practice your public speaking skills. Your boss will consider you "management material" if you can communicate effectively to a large group

3) Have a positive attitude at work and don't play office politics. Be a team player.

Do these three things and you'll do well.

erstwhile athelete wrote:

Studied English at top Midwest private school on Dad's dime. Had a good time and did well enough to get a PhD in Linguistics from top public school but not well enough to get a university teaching job. Did a couple of years of Peace Corp after failed job attempts. Returned with a foreign bride and no job prospects so went MHA route at a different top school. Did a little consulting with a small firm before landing a decent upper level job in a large hospital. Finishing up career that turned out ok but it would have been much harder with current school costs and absence of family money. No regrets especially considering ignorance of outcomes from different decisions.

Studied anthropology at a top Midwest private school (with a lot of biology/zoology but not a double major), also on Dad's dime. Had an okay time, disappointed with running and decided that anthro (cultural studies-ethonographies or archaeology) weren't for me and switched to ecology and natural resources. So worked and went back to school (on my dime at first, then the state and industry paid my way as an RA) for masters at a top (in my field) research university, more work and then more education at a out of the way mid-major (because the study seemed pretty cool and it was funded).

The righteous here would no doubt think that this was a wasted education and only things that make money for industry or self are worthwhile.

After teaching and research for a few years, been working for 20 years since in sustainability, resource use, and policy. Again, the righteous would think that this is worthless, but whatever.

I still run.

HRE wrote:

Norbit Rasputia wrote:

The top ten Most useless majors:

1. Gender Studies

2. Sociology

3. Humanities

4. Theology

5. History

6. Philosophy

7. Acting/Drama

8. Kinesiology

9. Psychology

10. Gender Studies (so useless I had to list it twice)

https://youtu.be/CVEuPmVAb8o

No degree is worthless if it's in a subject you want to learn about.

I have degrees in two of your top 9: an MA in Sociology and a BA in Psychology. It was a waste. I wish I would have worked right out of high school, or served in the military. 18 is far too young to make future decisions like a forever career.

I went back to school at 30-years-old on my own dime while I was broke, somehow I didn't qualify for any financial aide. I got a teaching certification in Social Studies. I was hired by the School District of Philadelphia and am entering my 4th year of teaching English, lol! Getting a teaching cert was a great choice. I love my job. I like it so much I teach an after-school program and summer school. Plus, I'll get a pension.

My major was "applied piano performance". How about that for a useless major..

As it turns out there are quite a few options if your piano skills are very high.

Lots of theater. Theme parks etc. But if you learn how to play good "pop" or jazz and a little theater there are jobs. Plus some teaching on the side.

Benefits aren't the best so you have to be a good money manager.

I also worked non music jobs part time on the side.

Well I made it. Am semi-retired. Collecting SS and still teaching and playing. (Last 3 month's have not been good haha).

BS is Exercise Science & Sports Medicine.

Worked as a personal trainer and in corporate wellness for 6 years.

Left that to join the Army at 32.

Love my job in the Army and my Ex.Sci education has come in handy as far as helping me get promoted, helping me get into certain schools, and giving me opportunities to stand out.

I guess going the DPT route after undergrad would have resulted in more money...

...More to life than money.

I have the best job in the world.

Alan

I did mechanical engineering, plenty of opportunity after graduation, finished my career working in safety analysis within the nuclear field. Excellent career and comfortable life.

I got a degree in math back when math was useless.

yoyoyo... wrote:

I got a degree in math back when math was useless.

When was that?

Math, 1982, pre PC days. Great for graduate school-NSF grants in Economics, Epidemiology, and Statistics. Not so good for jobs. Great major for someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of time doing schoolwork but likes to think. Embarrassed by my laziness today.

Graduated History major, English and Politics minor. Started working the week after my final exam downtown in the financial sector doing risk management for a large insurance company. Starting salary was 42k not including bonuses/benefits. The incompetence I encountered in the industry blew my mind as I’d grown up believing in the private sector efficiency vs public sector bloat. The amount of frivolous expenditure on company dime (lunches, dinners, booze, hotels – meeting up for a 2hr steak lunch to discuss something that could be a 20 minute phone call), overblown egos, posturing etc. Also the amount of stunningly stupid people who managed to rise so high in the business with just a positive attitude and being good conversationalists. If you can combine those positive attributes with a good work ethic and genuine intelligence and that’ll be more important than any degree in the long run.

Anyway promotions/cash couldn’t maintain my sanity, quit after a few years and went to law school because I wanted to use my brain more. Ended up in litigation (gov side) making similar money but enjoying life more, dealt with more enjoyable people, better pension/benefits.

In the end the life decision that made the biggest financial impact on my life was marrying someone who earned more/came from a much wealthier background.

Couldn’t make it in engineering so got a BA in Math. Agree...totally useless.

Now a partner in a financial services firm. $225,000 last year.

I did physics and if I could go back I would have gone for civil engineering or straight into medicine. In theory you can get into finance or computing professions with a physics degree but it takes a lot of luck and further training which costs time and money.

Considering that this is letsrun, I'll use a NCAA running analogy based on the 1st and last teams at the 2022 xc championships:

A 'useless' degree (random grievance studies or art history) from NAU is going to be viewed different than an art history degree from Princeton