College in the US: Total waste of time

[Zyst]

Alright, first of all I want to lead with saying: I Like the US, love it really. My family is all from the US, I live in Mexico and have lived here most of my life but I've got this question that keeps bugging at me that few people seem to even question.

Why do people study bullshit careers and then get surprised when no one will hire? I'm flabbergasted at how often I see this in media. People will whine that they studied college and they can't get a decent job, but seriously, MANY people go into things like 'English' and 'Philosophy', while I think they are great careers what do you expect to be hired as? A philosopher? A writer? Seriously. People here study engineering, medicine, law, science all straight out of highschool, no one who studies philosophy or languages seriously expects to work in their branch, and almost no one does.

I studied 1 year of physics and math, and now I'm in computer science and I work at a consulting firm as a programmer. Most of the undergraduate students in my career who have even a shred of talent at what they do are already working and getting paid well. But I don't understand why people deliberately choose something that will be useless (or damn near) and then are surprised when only McDonalds will take them.

I understand my question and statement might be riddled with ignorance, and I apologize if that's the case. But most of my acquaintances don't say 'oh fuck no one will hire me, a electronics engineer' the only people who I see doing something similar are the ones who studied stuff like English, Philosophy and so on and so forth.

If I do get an intelligent answer that completely schools me, fuck me I'm fine with that, that's what I want to be honest. But the US amount of Engineers and people in science has actually dropped compared to the 1980's and those people usually find jobs fast.

Now, if it's a thing about vocation and writing is your greatest passion in life, hell, go for it! But most people just go into college to avoid working for a while longer, which confuses me greatly.

Again, sorry for my ignorance, but I would like an answer.

Thank you for any comments!

 

[Kahunaburger]

Yeah, I definitely think there's an issue with the intersection of humanities/student loans/shitty economy. Part of the problem is that some of these (philosophy and English) are to an extent feeder degrees for law programs ppl suddenly can't afford. Another part of the problem is that higher education is orders of magnitude more expensive over here than it is in many countries with comparable systems.

 

[Swyftstar]

While a lot of degree studies dont lend themselves to finding jobs, a degree in and of itself can help you get a job in other fields. A lot of businesses like Investment Banks and the like hire people with degrees that have nothing to do with their business. Just the fact that a person was able to go to college for X number of years and be successful is seen as a litmus for a successful employee. Getting a degree in the humanities and actually expecting a high paying job in that field after graduation is not the fault of the degree but of the person expecting a job in that field without at least checking the job market first. Sometimes you just need to make money and pursue your dreams/passions in your free time or in retirement.
TL;DR It's not the course or degree that's the problem or a total waste of time, it's unrealistically looking for a job in that field while forsaking all other opportunities.

 

[TWRule]

Well, in my case it was passion (both that I couldn't stand studying anything other than philosophy for that long, and that my ultimate goal is to become a professor).

As another mentioned though, there are jobs you can get just with any generic bachelor's degree (like teaching ESL overseas - something I may do to pay off my student loans) - so for people like me, I may as well have spent the time studying something I enjoy.

In the case of philosophy, you can't do much special with the BA, but you can go to grad school and eventually become a professor, or you can go to law school and become an attorney. Both of those are still hard career paths, and I wouldn't honestly recommend either of them to people who weren't passionate and dedicated.

That said, I can't imagine anyone getting a philosophy degree who wasn't aware of how rough it was for getting a job; you're told from every source even from before you choose to study it almost constantly that it's not the most practical degree.

College in the U.S. is still a giant waste of time otherwise though. If I didn't require a Ph.D. to get into my ideal teaching position, I would never have bothered with the system.

 

[CODE-D]

One of the problems is college is a business and doesnt really care also stacking on classes youd otherwise not need.

The other side of that coin is people not knowing what they want to do or really having knowledge of the real world. They just wanna jump into a college but not want it to be hard so they might fail as an easy fix for life so they dont have to work a shit job anymore.

Finally theres parents who may or may not have gone to college pushing their kids into it or parents who did who expect their kids to.


Plus theres just idiots who wanna go to college for fun or cause its cool.

 

[Esotera]

The information isn't really presented to prospective students on how much the overall experience will cost, and what employment rates you can expect after graduating. It's definitely there if you look, but if you expect the majority of 18 year olds to search and study statistics for a couple of days, then you've got another thing coming.

Most people know that STEM fields have better prospects, but they don't know how much this differs, and will be put off as they're much harder and less enjoyable for the average person. There's always the chance that you'll buck the trend and get a successful job with your liberal arts degree though - and this applies likewise to STEM degrees. Which makes me slightly regret my choices, as although I have a better chance of employment than most, it is by no means certain.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

You have a wonderful topic with some good discussion value, however your title is misleading, I thought you'd be complaining about the US college system specifically. I'm pleased to know I'm wrong in that respect and your complaint is more with certain degrees.

OT: Degrees don't necessarily NEED to be used specifically for what they imply. I have a degree in Fine Arts but I'm not displaying paintings in museums or trying to sell them at auctions, I make logos for companies amongst other things which have absolutely nothing to do with "Fine Art"

I can see using an English degree for writing jobs, or at the very least... teaching English. I have a harder time thinking of a use for philosophy though. Certain degrees are better off staying at the associate level and acting as a supplement to a more workable degree.

 

[SeeIn2D]

I don't think it's a waste of time at all, but I think the loans are stupid. I'm currently going into college so I have to take out a loan and I can already see that once I get out of college I'm gonna belong to a bank for a while. Example: Previously when my sister was going to college your loan interest rates did not build up until you finished college, now they build up during the 4 years and also during the grace period after you get out of college where you don't have to pay loans back yet.

But besides the whole belonging to a bank think right after finishing college I don't feel like it's a waste of time. My college for example has core requirements but you can take pretty much any classes you want to fulfill them. An example is a psychology class I will be taking that will also count as a math course.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Some people just like those things lol. It's pretty simple. You have someone who likes reading and discussing philosophy, you have someone who loves books and writing all day. To them, the other career paths are moot, they don't have nearly as much driving passion.




It's the typical starving artist or writer or...philosopher type thing, they just don't quite like that aspect of their reality and complain about society not valuing their contributions to it as much as it has those of other writers, philosophers and so on.



I'm a CS major too...but I'm also a Japanese major...so I kinda go both ways, honestly, I'd love to apply my computer skills in something Japanese culture related...but at the same time I can still pay my bills until that comes from irrelevant programming work. My point is..well...I understand how both sides feel really. It's not stupid people who choose those majors, it's people who just love doing those things and prefer them than food or a roof...or who have family supporting them so that they don't have to provide for themselves but wish they could.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

Alright, first of all I want to lead with saying: I Like the US, love it really. My family is all from the US, I live in Mexico and have lived here most of my life but I've got this question that keeps bugging at me that few people seem to even question.

Why do people study bullshit careers and then get surprised when no one will hire? I'm flabbergasted at how often I see this in media. People will whine that they studied college and they can't get a decent job, but seriously, MANY people go into things like 'English' and 'Philosophy', while I think they are great careers what do you expect to be hired as? A philosopher? A writer? Seriously. People here study engineering, medicine, law, science all straight out of highschool, no one who studies philosophy or languages seriously expects to work in their branch, and almost no one does.

I studied 1 year of physics and math, and now I'm in computer science and I work at a consulting firm as a programmer. Most of the undergraduate students in my career who have even a shred of talent at what they do are already working and getting paid well. But I don't understand why people deliberately choose something that will be useless (or damn near) and then are surprised when only McDonalds will take them.

I understand my question and statement might be riddled with ignorance, and I apologize if that's the case. But most of my acquaintances don't say 'oh fuck no one will hire me, a electronics engineer' the only people who I see doing something similar are the ones who studied stuff like English, Philosophy and so on and so forth.

If I do get an intelligent answer that completely schools me, fuck me I'm fine with that, that's what I want to be honest. But the US amount of Engineers and people in science has actually dropped compared to the 1980's and those people usually find jobs fast.

Now, if it's a thing about vocation and writing is your greatest passion in life, hell, go for it! But most people just go into college to avoid working for a while longer, which confuses me greatly.

Again, sorry for my ignorance, but I would like an answer.

Thank you for any comments!

It's called freelance writing jobs dude.

IMO I think college is a complete utter waste of time and I wish I never invested myself in it. I'm busting my ass listening to pretentious professors tell me shit I could of figured out myself with an internet connection and a library card, all for a bachelors degree that me and everyone else is going to get too.

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian has more money then I ever will and she does NOTHING. It would make more sense to just make a big enough asshole of myself like the Jersey Shore folks cause thats how you make the real money in this country.

 

[Artemis923]

I'm currently going to college for Game Production and Programming, and there's a shit ton of classes that are just...kinda of there. Color Theory, Drawing classes...wastes of a whole lot o' money.

But, it's necessary to learn the skills I'll need for later.

Not like other jack offs who waste time at community college for four years getting worthless degrees...

 

[Fiad]

There are idiots everywhere who take dumb classes. But I can at least say here there are a lot of people who are actually taking worthwhile courses. I am going for a computer science degree myself.

 

[ace_blazer]

But the US amount of Engineers and people in science has actually dropped compared to the 1980's and those people usually find jobs fast.

I'm an Electrical Engineering new grad, specialized in integrated circuits and microwave engineering, with a side of power engineering. I've been looking for a job for a year. My friends who graduated with me have been looking for a year. Electrical, mechanical, civil, the jobs aren't there.

"Blah blah blah, smartphones, the oil industry, the mining industry, AIRPLANES ARE BOOMING BUY AEROPLANES!" Bollocks. The economy is crap. People are getting laid off. Old people don't want to retire. Companies want experienced people, but don't want to train them. 95% of job postings ask for at least 3-5 years experience. How the hell are you supposed to get experience if no one will hire new grads? And no, co-ops don't count. No the best solution for me right now is to either work in a lower level job (thereby invalidating my chance to get an engineering job with every passing year) or hide from the horrid job market and go for a Masters (bye bye money!!!). Hell the degree doesn't matter, it's who you are as a person, and most of all who you know.

It's an employers market out there, so just because you have a good degree doesn't mean you'll automatically get a job. I'm seeing a large majority of engineers going into law or business school instead of getting a job out of university.

So here's a little advice. Don't get a degree because you think it'll guarantee you a job. It will not. Even in good times people will find they have a costly, worthless degree, and still can't find a job. An unfortunate myth perpetuated in this country.

You should choose a career, and then a degree, not because it guarantees you a job, but because it inspires in you passion, enthusiasm, and energy.

 

[Rabid Toilet]

People don't go for science and engineering degrees because they're hard. Society tells students that they need to go to college to be successful, but a lot of them just want to get a degree and move on, so they go for things like Liberal Arts. Obviously there are people who are genuinely interested in the degrees, but many just want to coast through college.

I'm doing a degree in engineering, myself. It's definitely a serious challenge, but the fact that finding a job once I'm done will be easy certainly helps.

 

[frizzlebyte]

As a computer nerd who only this past semester discovered that I want to go into computer programming (I'm 24, btw), I think that a lot of people who study the degrees like philosophy and the like either are doing it because they *think* it will be easy (not always the case), or because they really do have a passion for the field.

In my experience, the OP's remarks stem from two different schools of thought concerning college:

School 1) "College is a very long, expensive job training program, a stepping stone on the way to a career." This might also be known as the "You are what you do" philosophy.

School 2) "College is a way for people to expand their mental horizons, and think in ways they might not would have before." AKA: What you do is not as important as who you are.

I have sympathies toward both of these schools, as I also want to minor (or double-major) in philosophy, but I tend to agree with the second school the most. Although why that is would take a whole lot more time to get into.

 

[Launcelot111]

College is a waste of time if you let it be. There is a school of thought that believes what you study is not very significant, and that the completion of college is just a way to signal to employers that you are a capable worker. The idea behind this is that an intelligent person could likely be trained to do a job more effectively than a less intelligent person who specialized in a particular field (this argument falls flat for some fields requiring specialized knowledge ie. engineering, medicine). Moreover, employers don't want to waste time evaluating potential employees, and filtering for college degrees greatly simplifies their hiring process.

There is merit to at least exposing yourself to math, accounting/finance and computer science during your college career instead of dedicating yourself purely to the greatest possible understanding of Chaucer and Voltaire, but at the same time, a smart person should be able to sell their education to a broader field of employers than is typically expected.

The education you receive might not be worth much in itself, but if the best jobs require a college diploma, then the degree will hold some value.

 

[Mage of Doom]

Alright, first of all I want to lead with saying: I Like the US, love it really. My family is all from the US, I live in Mexico and have lived here most of my life but I've got this question that keeps bugging at me that few people seem to even question.

Why do people study bullshit careers and then get surprised when no one will hire? I'm flabbergasted at how often I see this in media. People will whine that they studied college and they can't get a decent job, but seriously, MANY people go into things like 'English' and 'Philosophy', while I think they are great careers what do you expect to be hired as? A philosopher? A writer? Seriously. People here study engineering, medicine, law, science all straight out of highschool, no one who studies philosophy or languages seriously expects to work in their branch, and almost no one does.

I studied 1 year of physics and math, and now I'm in computer science and I work at a consulting firm as a programmer. Most of the undergraduate students in my career who have even a shred of talent at what they do are already working and getting paid well. But I don't understand why people deliberately choose something that will be useless (or damn near) and then are surprised when only McDonalds will take them.

I understand my question and statement might be riddled with ignorance, and I apologize if that's the case. But most of my acquaintances don't say 'oh fuck no one will hire me, a electronics engineer' the only people who I see doing something similar are the ones who studied stuff like English, Philosophy and so on and so forth.

If I do get an intelligent answer that completely schools me, fuck me I'm fine with that, that's what I want to be honest. But the US amount of Engineers and people in science has actually dropped compared to the 1980's and those people usually find jobs fast.

Now, if it's a thing about vocation and writing is your greatest passion in life, hell, go for it! But most people just go into college to avoid working for a while longer, which confuses me greatly.

Again, sorry for my ignorance, but I would like an answer.

Thank you for any comments!

There's a difference between 'riddled with ignorance' and 'being an asshole'.

Some people, and I know this might shock you, want to do things they enjoy for a living, no matter how hard it is to get their foot in the door. I just switched from a Bio to English major, as a matter of fact, and there are plenty of jobs in the writing industry.

Enjoy your cubicle for the next 50 years.