Posted on 07/01/2012 3:24:51 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
History degrees would be okay in an up economy—libraries, museums, educators, researchers, etc., but those jobs are mostly dependent on tax dollars all which have been cut due to (DUH!) no jobs. It’s a vicious cycle, one which the Libs seemed to have not figured out. (see Wisconsin) They think the $$$$ come from magic $$$ fairies and will be there forever.
Twenty or thirty years ago you were correct. The problem is that you are comparing liberal arts degrees of yesteryear to those of today. The point about “honing critical thinking skills” glaringly illustrates the ignorance of the poster concerning most of today’s liberal arts curriculum.
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!”
Rocky Balboa/Sylvester Stallone
That’s what it’s all about.
I shake my head sometimes at the young people who pass on nursing. Never mind being a new college grad — I went into nursing at the ripe old age of 44! Did a 2nd degree program, graduated, worked in it for 5 years, and now am working on a masters in nursing.
When I suggest it to a lot of them, they just shudder and tell me they can’t stand the sight of blood or some other such thing. They could EASILY start as techs, just drawing blood and being assistants, then work their way up.
I say they are EXTREMELY stupid. Nursing pays well, and challenges you at every level. Of course, you do pay your dues cleaning up poop and various bodily fluids, running your BUTT off taking care of crazy patients — but it’s a fantastic stepping stone to management, nurse practitioner, teaching, research, pharmaceutical sales, etc. ... I have a prior degree in journalism, so I plan to combine the two skills in some way. My writing background has only helped, esp in grad school.
You HAVE to pay your dues sometimes. These damn kids DO NOT want to pay dues of any kind. Either that or they’re just too stupid now to pass the tests.
You have a good point. I truly have no idea about what is being taught today in the liberal arts programs iu colleges and universities. I have no children, hence no grandchildren, so there is no reason for me to investigate the matter.
Of course, in my case, it’s more than 20-30 years ago, more like 45 years.
Good luck, wish you all the best, you may be proof that old dogs can learn new tricks!
I completed a BA in Liberal Arts with a strength in Management. Than I went for the MA in my current field. Depending on your pursuit, a Liberal Arts Degree is fine. In my field the MA is needed to lock in higher pay. The BA was just a stepping stone. I could have spent another year getting a BS in Electronics, but a Liberal Arts degree was an excellent transition to my Masters program. Fact is the percentage of unemployed decrease with the level of education. Degrees are good. Sometimes young people just need to think outside the box, I believe it was Locke that said something about the world being what we perceive it to be. Young people need to think outside the box or change the world as they perceive it if they plan to have successful careers in this new world.
My first job (1967), paid $80 per week. I remember celebrating when I moved up to $100 per week.
My first job (1967), paid $80 per week. I remember celebrating when I moved up to $100 per week.
Well, sadly, not an option for all of us. I have a disability so I can’t enlist. :) Doesn’t mean I can’t root from the sidelines.
Good to hear it! We need more honest businessmen like yourself. Too many of them waddling up to the trough.
“History degree???? What the HELL would they be good for in the workplace?? “
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I majored in History as it was an accepted prerequisite (pre law) to Law which my plan back when I was at university. Switched majors eventually to Business Management but I did have the required GPA and course units to attend Stanford Law school.
My history profs got annoyed when I kept referring to the Civil War as the “War of Northern Aggression”.
Earlier this year my company was hiring for a social media coordinator. We figured it would be a piece of cake to find someone, as social media is so popular with recent grads. As we expected, we got SLAMMED with applications. Strangely, very few of them even maintained a Facebook or Twitter page (that they were willing to show us), and even fewer could string together a 140 character tweet that made sense. We actually had to pay to relocate someone from out of state. We were pretty stunned....didn’t think that would be the case at all.
Wait until you see the neck tattoos. They don't even attempt to hide their bad decisions anymore.
A good liberal arts education is far more valuable than a so-called "liberal arts" degree consisting mostly of mush. It's important not to confuse the two, and the former still exists.
In fact, it's best not to assume someone with a degree has learned anything at all. Care to evaluate the communication skill of the average Communications major?
Veterans cannot protect themselves alone, it takes a team of patriots including those rooting from the sidelines.
I tell every lady I tutor to go into Nursing. Did quite a bit of tutoring in Biology, Chemistry, etc to get them on track for where they needed.
Just because the degree says history, doesn’t necessarily reflect the courses taken. ;) I have the bare minimum of history credits and 60 science credits. 50/50 between science and arts.
“History degree???? What the HELL would they be good for in the workplace?? NOTHING but be Mr. KnowitAll.”
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More like Mr. Knownothing! I have known a couple of recent university graduates who majored in history and I have been amazed to discover that they could not pass the seventh grade history final from 1957. When a history major cannot name the only president of the CSA and cannot correctly name the decade of the American civil war it is pathetic. Words such as Battle of Hastings and Magna Charta went unrecognized.
The main problem is not that college EDUCATED people cannot find jobs, the worst part is that college GRADUATES don’t have a real HIGH SCHOOL education, let alone a real college education.
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