College majors

[bones72]

Or secondary education, come to think of it. My oldest is in animal science, the pre-vet thing. The incoming frosh will be in International Business and Economics(math brain) and junior, who is a high-school freshman is planning on being a pilot. Fortunately my kids have always had their heads screwed on straight. My degree is History with an emphasis on the 20th century(I have a bus. admin degree as well) my wife's is in Fashion Design. She works in mental health(hahahaha).
Question,"should parent's drive kids towards a viable, "worthwhile" degree"?

p.s. I run a car dealership! History B.A.'s aren't so useful there!

[lorraineb]

yes and no. I think it's important to educate the children to know what degrees are likely to help them, but you can't force them into something that they really don't want to do. My personal opinion is that the college degree isn't all that important, but the lessons and interactions made while in college. That being said, it makes no sense to go to a more expensive college than one needs to. I made a deal with my kids. I was willing to pay tuition for the in state college. If they wanted to go to a more expensive college, they were responsible for the difference in cost.

[MonkeyMama]

The best guidance my parents ever gave me, probably, was to choose a "useful" degree while following my passions.

I think it just depends. My younger son is very artistic, like my spouse. You can't fit a round peg in a square hole, which is what my dh's folks tried to do with him. It's hard though because he has an extremely practical side, and probably so will my son. (I doubt either would feel comfortable with the "starving artist" route). Instead of telling him "he can't study art and should study business" we will definitely follow my parent's lead. Let's really look at our options and consider what is most fulfilling and most likely to lead to a steady future income. It's not like you can't make a practical lifestyle our of graphic design. Plus, it's okay to settle for a low income if that is what really and truly makes you happy.

My spouse does have a business degree, which is useful. But he wasted so many years trying to do what his parents advised and following his practical side while ignoring his passions. He's still young though, so there is hope. (He now is focusing 100% of his energy on his passions. Just wish he had done that in his 20s like I encouraged. He's wasted so much time, and it gets harder with age and responsibility. Most of that time wasted has been unhappy or unemployed. My spouse would have been far better off financially just being happy with a $20k-$30k income, rather than feeling like he has to provide a large paycheck).

[breathemusic]

The other thing to consider is whether they're only thinking of a desired profession conceptually vs what those jobs are like in reality. I don't think parents should try to convince kids to major in something that they truely dislike just because it might pay more, but it's definitely important for kids these days to really understand what sort of real earning potential they would have in the fields they're interested in.

I would suggest that parents with kids who are into subjects that have little earning potential suggest combining that major with another minor, or even a double major. Anyone who is into the arts would absolutely benefit from a business minor or major. Especially the person wants to eventually work for themselves or own/work in a studio or art gallery.

I always wanted to be a paleontoligist when I was a kid since I loved dinosaurs so much (never grew out of that and still managed to take 2 college courses about dinosaurs because I was interested), but I realized that although I love the subject matter, I don't really like the work environment (digging in what is often a desert). The concept of digging up and discovering new species was fascinating, but the actual nature of the job wasn't really what I was looking for.

Bones mentioned his kid being interested in flying. Before he spends thousands of dollars learning to fly, he should definitely research the field. I have a friend who got her private pilot liscense, but realized that she really wasn't interested in commercial flying (way more boring according to her since the planes practically fly themselves other than take-off and landing). It ended up being more of a hobby for her. Not that I'm trying to knock Bones' kid's dream to be a pilot, it's totally a great goal! I'm only using it as an example of understanding what the job really means and being sure that you're interested vs just thinking it would be a cool job.

[sblatner]

I think people are lucky when they can make money from their hobbies. I also think it is important to distinguish between hobbies and careers. Maybe you have a career to make a living but then have fun practicing your hobby in your off hours.

Our boys are hoping to major in engineering which has a great career path.

[disneysteve]

Question,"should parent's drive kids towards a viable, "worthwhile" degree"?

To some extent but not going overboard. The student needs to study something that interests him/her, ideally something he/she really has a passion for.

I believe college provides an education that goes far beyond what is learned in the classroom. It is really an experience that prepares you for adulthood and independent living. You learn critical thinking and problem solving that helps you long after college regardless of what career path you ultimately follow. Many people end up in jobs that aren't directly related to their degrees, but that doesn't necessarily mean the education was a waste.

[swapnil]

According to me Yes, College education and degree is important but for material benefit means just to show them to get a job or so, because what is important is not the theory or practicals learnt in college but the practical lessons learnt on life while in college are more important, theory is important just to make basic clear for doing a thing, but unless you don't try it practically, you will not succeed so conclusion practical is more important than theory

[AhsanDaredia]

The best guidance my parents ever gave me, probably, was to choose a "useful" degree while following my passions.

I think it just depends. My younger son is very artistic, like my spouse. You can't fit a round peg in a square hole, which is what my dh's folks tried to do with him. It's hard though because he has an extremely practical side, and probably so will my son. (I doubt either would feel comfortable with the "starving artist" route). Instead of telling him "he can't study art and should study business" we will definitely follow my parent's lead. Let's really look at our options and consider what is most fulfilling and most likely to lead to a steady future income. It's not like you can't make a practical lifestyle our of graphic design. Plus, it's okay to settle for a low income if that is what really and truly makes you happy.

My spouse does have a business degree, which is useful. But he wasted so many years trying to do what his parents advised and following his practical side while ignoring his passions. He's still young though, so there is hope. (He now is focusing 100% of his energy on his passions. Just wish he had done that in his 20s like I encouraged. He's wasted so much time, and it gets harder with age and responsibility. Most of that time wasted has been unhappy or unemployed. My spouse would have been far better off financially just being happy with a $20k-$30k income, rather than feeling like he has to provide a large paycheck).

I agree with this.

My parents always encouraged me and border-line forced me to do business because my family comes from a long history of doing work in finance. As a freshman and sophomore I did international business, finally succumbing to their suggestions. I got bored of it and wasn't doing well in it. Junior and senior year I switched to psychology. I graduated with my BA in psychology in August of 2011.

Fast forward to March of 2013 and...I'm a financial analyst and doing my MBA in corporate finance lol. I think I read an article once that said there are SO many majors and concentrations out there now, kids get confused and overwhelmed because they want to do everything. I realized though that what your degree was in doesn't matter. Out of all my job interviews, they didn't ask me and if they did, didn't mind that I was a psychology major.

On the other hand I know a couple of people that majored in other liberal arts such as art history, history and fashion designing...6 months and still looking for work.

[AhsanDaredia]

Oh I forgot to add, once I actually gave business and finance a shot...I loved it. Now everything I do just has to include numbers, analysis and forecasting! It's kind of a hobby now especially since financial security is so big for me and my future. Hence, why I'm here on this forum.

[neatdesign]

I went to college 20 years ago and my parents were very hands-off, allowing me to make my own academic choices. I was one of those students who had NO clue what she wanted to major in, much less what kind of career she might want to enter, but eventually I decided to double-major in Latin American Studies and Spanish and minor in history.

One of the reasons I opted for Latin American Studies was because studying abroad was one of the requirements for the major, and I didn't think my parents would let me go abroad otherwise. I studied in Costa Rica and fell in love -- not just with the country and culture, but with the entire concept of international education. Suddenly I knew what I wanted to do with my life!

After returning to campus that fall, I immediately got a job in my university's study abroad office, where I worked for the next two years during the school year. The following summer I got an internship in Washington, DC at NAFSA, which is one of the major organizations in the field of international education. A month after graduation I moved to Chile and lived there for two years, taught English, improving my Spanish skills and using what I'd learned about Latin America history to understand my new world around me.

When I returned to the States, I bounced around and lost career focus for a while; 6 years, to be exact. But then 7 years ago, I saw a want ad for an administrative assistant in the study abroad office at a local university. It was the lowest rung on the ladder, but it was a foot in the door. I applied for and got the job, a job I still have today (and have progressed in very nicely through lots of very hard work!). I use my Latin American studies knowledge and Spanish skills regularly, and my own abroad experience comes in very handy because I can relate to students on their level.

That university is my alma mater, and that study abroad office is the same office where I'd worked as a student assistant 15 years before. I've come full circle, and had I not decided to study what I did, I probably wouldn't have studied abroad, definitely wouldn't have lived abroad on my own, and not been introduced to a field that I feel very passionate about. And I love my job! Doesn't get any better than that.

[Doublejm1]

I think parents should be upfront:

If the kid wants to get a degree in history or theater, he or she should be cognizant of the fact that finding a job will likely involve more work than it would for, say, someone pursuing accounting or something in the natural sciences. I think it's incumbent upon the parent(s) to see to it that the child realizes this.

[~bs]

You should not push someone into a field that they will truly dislike (and they will know it from the classes), because even if they get a job in that field, they'll quickly bomb out, then it's back to square 1. Nor should you just tell them to do what makes them happy because what they'll do is take the easiest major possible, then party it up for 4 years. Then have to get a job pushing carts at walgreens, before deciding to go back to school for a masters.

My opinion of jobs and careers is simple. "you don't have to like the work that you do, as long as it pays decently well and you don't hate it."

Example: They may love art, but the job opportunity is limited, so they should - at the least - compromise and double major in art, plus something else that's "practical". So if their career as an artist bombs out, at least they have the other "practical" degree as a backup.

[~bs]

I went to college 20 years ago and my parents were very hands-off, allowing me to make my own academic choices. I was one of those students who had NO clue what she wanted to major in, much less what kind of career she might want to enter, but eventually I decided to double-major in Latin American Studies and Spanish and minor in history.

The problem with that approach nowadays is that EVERYONE has a degree, so the playing field is a lot more competitive. Back 20 years ago, even if you had a "junk" degree, it still meant something because you're one of a much smaller population that actually has a 4 year degree. Parents, who may or may not have degrees themselves, haven't adjusted to the phenomenon over the past 10 years of "everyone can afford to take out a loan to go to college".

[Singuy]

I think a lot of people are forgetting these are 18 yo kids you are dealing with and they have little sense of real life due to all the sheltering parents have provided for them.

I think a majority of the kids going to college really doesn't think about potential earnings after college, or that they will be that lucky someone who ends up going to the NBA because they have more passion for basketball than their friends. (ie, you can get a job majoring in writting..I can be the author to the next Harry Potter books!).

Also college is a trap in itself. There are a billion useless classes that cost the same as the more "useful" classes. The trap is, the more useless the classes are, the more interesting they are for 18 yos. (ie. psychology 101/ greek mythology/the study of South African Kittens are always more interesting than differential equations/biochemistry/pathophysiology. Instead of earning a degree in engineering/medical related fields..your kids may end up studying 6 years for a bachelor in liberal arts(aka the study of everything and nothing).

Now your child ends up working for some bank as a teller with a 100k in debt thanks to the growing cost of higher education...or can't find a job at all! (and this is where these kids start blaming the government for not creating enough jobs...etc..etc). In the end, it's the kid's fault for squandering his chance away due to a lack of direction.


It really does not take 6 years of soul searching @ 30k/year to discover what you want to do for the rest of your life..because what we all want to do is closely the same (ie. travel or live luxurously or save baby whales..all comes down to having financial security).

Someone will always try to make the point "you can't do something you hate for the rest of your life, you'll be extremely unhappy". Good point, except that it's impossible to find anything engineering related/medical field related, a worst job than being unemployed with 100k worth of debt.

I know I went to a few extremes, but I am shocked to see how many kids end up with 100k worth of student debt making 12 dollars/hour...what the heck for?! College is a tool, use it wisely and the payoff is worth it, abuse it wildly and you'll end up trapped forever in debt.

I went to college at 18 yo, came out at 24 yo making 120k/year because I strictly went to a pharmacy degree knowing the job security it can provide me (all of my classmates got a job making 6 figures BEFORE graudation day). I don't enjoy my job, there are days when I hated my job..but no matter how much I hate my job, I'm still making 6x more money than any other monotonous job.

[scottgriffin]

Get a good degree

I got my degree in computer science and to be honest I haven't referred to my degree for any job that I have. It's quite sad but at least I can say that I got my degree.