Private University or Trade school?

[marurun]

There are still jobs where having a liberal arts degree can help. Not because you are using a philosophy or english degree directly, but because you have weathered a 4-year liberal arts degree. It means you have hypothetically demonstrated general intellectual capacity and a willingness to learn. It means you just have to look a lot more broadly for jobs instead of having your degree funnel you into a specific, narrow career field. Liberal arts grads are also considered much more flexible and are able to more easily move between job fields. Trade school educations lock you in in a way that general educations do not, with the downside being that no lock-in also means far less direction for those who are not good self-starters.

So if you want that liberal arts experience, I would encourage you to go for it. Just do so knowing you have to do a lot more work on the back end and show a lot of drive and gumption to nail any given job.

[flex wood]

Don't people end up with liberal arts degrees because they aren't self starters though? I'm half kidding but every person I know with one is a server and will probably be one for the next 10 years.

[Sload Soap]

Don't people end up with liberal arts degrees because they aren't self starters though? I'm half kidding but every person I know with one is a server and will probably be one for the next 10 years.

And every person I know with a liberal arts degree had well paid jobs in various industries before they were 30. People I know with science and maths based degrees are unemployed or in low level part time positions still.

Point being, anecdotal evidence rarely equates to truth.

[Jmustang1968]

Don't people end up with liberal arts degrees because they aren't self starters though? I'm half kidding but every person I know with one is a server and will probably be one for the next 10 years.

And every person I know with a liberal arts degree had well paid jobs in various industries before they were 30. People I know with science and maths based degrees are unemployed or in low level part time positions still.

Point being, anecdotal evidence rarely equates to truth.

Well it isnt fully anecdotal. At least in the US, many liberal arts, history, and marketing degrees are suffering in the job finding department, whereas IT, tech, accounting, and engineering jobs are in demand.

A few years ago, I know the UK was looking for engineers to come work. They were encouraging US engineers to come over on work visas.

[flex wood]

Don't people end up with liberal arts degrees because they aren't self starters though? I'm half kidding but every person I know with one is a server and will probably be one for the next 10 years.

And every person I know with a liberal arts degree had well paid jobs in various industries before they were 30. People I know with science and maths based degrees are unemployed or in low level part time positions still.

Point being, anecdotal evidence rarely equates to truth.

I was just poking fun because a liberal arts degree pretty much sounds like a "I don't know what I want to do so I'm just going to get a degree and hope for the best" degree.

And there's a reason my lib arts friends are still servers, they are all pulling in at least 40k a year in what is basically a part time job. I just think it's silly that they bothered to go to college in the first place.

[Jmustang1968]

Those degrees have nothing to do with not being a self starter or not knowing what they want to do. Many have a passion and pursue it, but the job market demand just isnt there for some degrees.

[Jagosaurus]

Don't people end up with liberal arts degrees because they aren't self starters though? I'm half kidding but every person I know with one is a server and will probably be one for the next 10 years.

And every person I know with a liberal arts degree had well paid jobs in various industries before they were 30. People I know with science and maths based degrees are unemployed or in low level part time positions still.

Point being, anecdotal evidence rarely equates to truth.

lol.... what? That is absolutely an isolated experience if you look at statistics on job placement.

I have a masters in business (comorised highly of accounting, finance, statistics, & business math) & a bachelor of science. Graduated on a Saturday, started my career on that following Monday with a fortune 500 company. Not a brag post. I left that company. Simply pointing out the opportunity was there though & it paved the way to my current position due to my studies in math & science.

Nothing wrong with a liberal arts degree but as it was mentioned, you have to market yourself differently in typical business job interviews. Also, some fields LA fits the bill very well such as education settings. All about how you spin yourself.

Bottom line, if you're a fresh graduate who majored in Philosophy... don't be surprised if someone with a management degree (or math as you referenced) beats you out for a business job.

FYI also... math, physics, & engineering majors score the highest on the LSAT & MCAT.

[Sload Soap]

Chill out. I was just saying that using personal experience as evidence is generally a flawed way to argue a position, as someone can counter it with their own experience. Neither are reliable sources.

[Jagosaurus]

No worries... I was (& always am) chilled on these type threads. Just a discussion.

[dsheinem]

This might be strange coming from a liberal arts guy, but I thought I'd introduce some math into the thread:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/201 ... -term-data

For you STEM types who don't like to read, basically the article explains that a LA degree is a longer term game and that because it best prepares you for a graduate degree you will likely earn as much or more than those in other fields during your peak earning years.

So go study history and philosophy, kiddos. Or Communication . Follow your passion. You'll be ok.