The millions of American college students heading back to campus this month face a grim reality: A college degree is no guarantee of economic success. But through their choice of major, they can take at least some steps toward boosting their odds.
The link between education and earnings is notoriously fraught, with cause and effect often difficult to disentangle. But a look at detailed data on college graduates by major reveals some clear messages: Don’t be pre-med if you aren’t planning to go to medical school; don’t assume that all “STEM”? — science, technology, engineering and math — majors are the same; and if you study drama, be prepared to wait tables.
Those lessons might seem obvious, but there’s evidence that many students aren’t learning them. By far the most popular major in recent years, psychology, is also one of the lowest-paying and leaves more than half its graduates working in jobs that don’t require a college degree.
Shockingly, the top six majors all contain the word "engineering."
Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary, but competition for limited resources remains a constant.
- CEO Nwabudike Morgan
I've been comparing notes with friends who like us have seen and supported our kids through college recently. We all agree after the fact that standing aside and letting kids pick majors for self-actualization and what not is a bad idea. "Oh, you like history, you are getting a history degree, sure, that makes sense!" Most of the time and money spent on college is completely wasted. We all seem to feel in hindsight we should have steered them into some field of professional study. Accounting, science, engineering, health care, things like those. Surely there is some productive, professional field in which each of our kids could find some interest and satisfaction.
If you "like history", or art or such, then make that your hobby!
This is just view of one pair of parents and a few of our friends, who've all been there, done that. Among the kids in the group I'm describing, those with the professional type degrees are employed and satisfied with their lives. Those with the fru-fru degrees are un- or underemployed and mostly unhappy. Your mileage may vary.
Last edited by I Shrugged on Fri Sep 12, 2014 4:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I Shrugged wrote:
This is just view of one pair of parents and a few of our friends, who've all been there, done that. Among the kids in the group I'm describing, those with the professional type degrees are employed and satisfied with their lives. Those with the fru-fru degrees are un- or underemployed and mostly unhappy. Your mileage may vary.
That is my personal experience as a semi-recent college grad as well. Most of my classmates who majored in "fru fru degrees" (love it!) are unemployed, underemployed, or drowning in debt they won't pay off until they're 50 and unable to make any meaningful progress with their lives. They made the mistake of thinking that pursuing money chains you down, when in fact, the lack of it chains you down way more.
Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary, but competition for limited resources remains a constant.
- CEO Nwabudike Morgan
I Shrugged wrote:
This is just view of one pair of parents and a few of our friends, who've all been there, done that. Among the kids in the group I'm describing, those with the professional type degrees are employed and satisfied with their lives. Those with the fru-fru degrees are un- or underemployed and mostly unhappy. Your mileage may vary.
That is my personal experience as a semi-recent college grad as well. Most of my classmates who majored in "fru fru degrees" (love it!) are unemployed, underemployed, or drowning in debt they won't pay off until they're 50 and unable to make any meaningful progress with their lives. They made the mistake of thinking that pursuing money chains you down, when in fact, the lack of it chains you down way more.
That's "frou frou", please. We need to give those degrees all the respect they deserve!
Foofoo
Adjective used to describe anything that is just a little to frilly, fancy, or "upper crust". Things that are foofoo might also be a bit on the delicate side, or too elegant by half, or even offensively fruity. Spoiled little lap-dogs, $1000 designer handbags, and pink capri pants worn by men all qualify as foofoo. Volleyball, a lightweight game - not a "sport" - played by athletic girls and openly gay men, does not qualify as foofoo.
"I just saw Mrs. Vanderbilt buying a Gucci sweater for her poodle. The whole scene was so foofoo."
... Mountaineer
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
