[Cogadh na Sith]

i graduated 3 years ago with a degree in art history

How come people do that? I'm serious... I do people do that? Because they have a real love of 'art(s)'? or 'history'? or 'Russian Studies'?

I can see some music degrees--if one just loves an instrument and will be happy making a pitiful living if they love the music.

I broke my ass for a BSEE and am now a Software Systems Engineer working for the Air Force. I love it and it pays...

I can still remember trudging off to spend the next 18-24 hours in the computer lab turning green under the fluorescent lights with my head spinning from the BO of all the stinky Arab, Indian, and Chinese students while the Lib Arts majors and Business Majors were all out drinking beer and playing sand volleyball with the 'hotties'.

Yeah, it was hell, but I like my job now--10 years later and I have plenty of time and money to drink beer play sand volleyball with a new round of 'hotties'.

I always wondered what eventually happened to those people..

[conservativeinbflo.]

I can't answer for others, but I originally studied art history as a stepping stone for historic preservation. I have always loved, and have been involved with, saving historically significant landmarks.

Immediately after graduating college, I got a job with the local preservation group. It wasn't saving old buildings. It was political mumbo-jumbo, butt-kissing, and dealing with morons. Totally turned me off to the entire thing. Now I work with piano rolls. Who knew?

[Chemist_Geek]

I have plenty of time and money to drink beer play sand volleyball with a new round of 'hotties'.

Money, sure, but where does one get the time?

[dmz]

is that Brixton thing a Clash reference? too lazy to go to amazon.com and look at the track listing of London Calling...

anyway, philosophy major (1980 grad) here and effen proud of it. You are right, we do it because we love it. No different from you in that regard. Now I never had any pretensions that I was going to get a job in which I would directly use my major (i looked, no jobs for inexperienced philosophers providing the pay and benefits I was looking for).

I currently manage a technology training department in a 7 billion dollar organization. I daresay my problem solving abilities are far better than most of the people with whom I work.

some of the folks I knew who majored in trade oriented stuff (like computer engineering) ended up with multiple DUIs, drug habits that killed them...some of those history majors are entrepeneurs, spinning the wheels of capitalism...

perhaps it's not the major but what you do with it?