Gyroscopic Investing

I thought I'd crowdsource the intelligence in this here forum as to what they think the best major is.  I am considering pursuing a degree the non-traditional way by earning credits via examination.  The problem is that the field is currently very limited in what degrees you can earn all or most of it doing it that way: business (100%), accounting (90%), liberal arts (60-80%) and computer science (60%).  This missing percentages can be filled in by a portfolio of life experience (or even traditional college), so that's not really an issue.

I'm considering this with an eye towards traditional employment with a stable, relatively high income in a job with intellectual novelty that I can actually can stand to do every day, not entrepreneurship, startups or other risky ventures.  Now, I have zero interest in accounting (I can't imagine anything more socially-regressive and boring!) and am reluctant to do computer science for wage income as I've had my fill of technology and its endless problems for over 33 years now.  I'm unclear what the vague "business" is supposed to be composed of, but I have zero interest in management, managing people or getting an MBA.  Liberal arts incldues things like psychology, sociology, criminal justice which starts to get more interesting, but I don't get the impression they pay enough to be worth the bother as shown below (and certainly not if you had to pay the over-inflated costs of traditional college).  I'm also keeping in mind the forthcoming changes that will be highly disruptive due to software algorithms, artificial intelligence, robots and other mass displacement of human labor.  I'm not a creative or artistic type so the Imagination Era is going to have to simply do without me.

At one time I was really interested in a triple disciplinary major of psychology, economics and political science via the traditional route (albeit online) and student loans, but it would have been a rather expensive undertaking for very little clear future benefit.  Assauging my ego is not a smart financial decision when it comes to earning what is just a commoditized paper slip into the doorway of traditional employment.

What say you all?

I think you're going about this backwards. What is it that you actually want to do? Make a lot of money? Do something productive? Pursue a passion? You're semi-retired, right? If that's the case, and you have the luxury of not needing to be super focused with the money angle, that frees up a lot of possibilities. But I think you need to get a handle on what exactly you want to do first, and then see what degree might suit you. Because you may find that what you want to do doesn't even require an extra degree if you have the right experience or connections.

If you're not married then I would advise going to a physical university location for the babes.

You probably won't learn anything either way.

I got a Finance degree and MBA from University of South Florida and it was loaded with Russian (and Ukranian) hotness.

I was happy with my major.

1/3 of the classes looked like the Russian women's curling team.

I'm considering wasting 20-30k and going back for a PhD 

Kshartle wrote: If you're not married then I would advise going to a physical university location for the babes.

You probably won't learn anything either way.

I got a Finance degree and MBA from University of South Florida and it was loaded with Russian (and Ukranian) hotness.

I was happy with my major.

1/3 of the classes looked like the Russian women's curling team.

I'm considering wasting 20-30k and going back for a PhD 

Ahh off-topic but I've been on that campus many times...the entire area is a hotbed for hotness.

iwealth wrote:

Kshartle wrote: If you're not married then I would advise going to a physical university location for the babes.

You probably won't learn anything either way.

I got a Finance degree and MBA from University of South Florida and it was loaded with Russian (and Ukranian) hotness.

I was happy with my major.

1/3 of the classes looked like the Russian women's curling team.

I'm considering wasting 20-30k and going back for a PhD 

Ahh off-topic but I've been on that campus many times...the entire area is a hotbed for hotness.

I basically went straight there from the Army so you can only imagine the scenery shift.

Derailment concluded.

Like Pointed said, depends on what you mean by best.  Here are my opinions being young and in management (on my efforts, no family network help).

Law or Medical: Best per hour Pay
Finance (going into I-Banking or Private Equity): Highest earning potential, insane hours
Engineering (I would go nano): Very cool cutting edge work here, makes the brain think

If I had to do it all over again, I would go to a military academy like I planned when I was kid.  Degree in some engineering field, and serve with honor.  (Honor to me is worth more than anything, guess I am old fashion on that one)

Kshartle wrote:

iwealth wrote:

Kshartle wrote: If you're not married then I would advise going to a physical university location for the babes.

You probably won't learn anything either way.

I got a Finance degree and MBA from University of South Florida and it was loaded with Russian (and Ukranian) hotness.

I was happy with my major.

1/3 of the classes looked like the Russian women's curling team.

I'm considering wasting 20-30k and going back for a PhD 

Ahh off-topic but I've been on that campus many times...the entire area is a hotbed for hotness.

I basically went straight there from the Army so you can only imagine the scenery shift.

Derailment concluded.

Can't you guys just see Kshartle trying to argue anarchy to his C-O!?

Bahahaha.

You must have been in great shape back then.  Looooots of push-ups.

moda0306 wrote: Can't you guys just see Kshartle trying to argue anarchy to his C-O!?

Bahahaha.

You must have been in great shape back then.  Looooots of push-ups.

Starting mid-way though year two I gave my two-weeks notice to my squad leader at morning formation every morning.

I was a fitness excellence badge holder (let me work out on my own a couple days a week instead of with the company). So yeah........plenty of push ups 

IMHO, the degree is a red herring. You're limiting your options rather than expanding them, and your 33 years of experience in technology will always overshadow a piece of paper. Think more differently.

At one time I was really interested in a triple disciplinary major of psychology, economics and political science

Why not skip the degree and run for local office?  You're already plenty qualified.

Start with what interests you and sell your strengths to expand into something new.  If your interests are non-technical, I think the degree is likely unnecessary at this point.

Tyler wrote: IMHO, the degree is a red herring. You're limiting your options rather than expanding them, and your 33 years of experience in technology will always overshadow a piece of paper. Think more differently.

At one time I was really interested in a triple disciplinary major of psychology, economics and political science

Why not skip the degree and run for local office?  You're already plenty qualified.

Start with what interests you and sell your strengths to expand into something new.  If your interests are non-technical, I think the degree is likely unnecessary at this point.

+100

Excellent feedback, so far!  Keep it coming. 

I came across this new trend today:

Nanodegrees are a new solution to a modern problem: with the rapid pace of change in the tech landscape and economy, we need small chunks of education on demand. A big degree before your career starts isn't enough to keep you at the cutting edge.

Nanodegrees teach you what you need to know, when you need it. We recognize that a career is not always a straight line. You should get the lifelong education you need as you go.

Each nanodegree has a compact curriculum that teaches what's essential to get a job in technology. They are innovative, yet nimble.

More Details: http://about.att.com/content/csr/home/b ... ducat.html

I don't see the allure of working for big, bureaucratic corporations like AT&T, Adobe, etc. but it seems to be an interesting free market solution to the increasingly uselesslness of traditional colleges.