Liberal Democrat says Algebra is not necessary

[Hauldren Collider]

No way. Even full-time minimum wage will get you $15K. But I guess they don't work full-time, hoping something will open up.

I was counting all the 0's (unemployed).

[Hauldren Collider]

Obviously then getting into CMU without a scholarship or parental help is a poor option, but there are other universities around.

No, it's great if you study something useful. Note that since only a small handful got jobs in industry, everyone else could have gotten their jobs WITHOUT GOING TO COLLEGE.

On the other hand, virtually all CS students got jobs and the median income was $80k/year. The program I'm in (although I plan to switch to CS) was $70k/year.

[Fake Boris]

Lots of jobs require a generic degree, too.

[Al B. Sure!]

Lots of jobs require a generic degree, too.

That's when they hire the business majors

[Fake Boris]

That's when they hire the business majors

Not necessarily.

[Al B. Sure!]

What jobs are you thinking of that require a generic 4-year degree? The most common ones I have noticed are managerial jobs (like manager of a restaurant or store), management training programs (like Enterprise's), financial advisers, underwriters, etc.

Pretty sure all those jobs would still prefer a business background over liberal arts.

[Asher]

I don't think you are familiar with the concept of doing something that you like.

It's what I do everyday.

[Asher]

Lots of jobs require a generic degree, too.

Very true. Our testers need to have a degree.

They make something like $40K a year following scripts telling them which buttons to push.

Do you think they have BAs or BScs?

[loinburger]

I don't think you are familiar with the concept of doing something that you like.

Do you think I went into college thinking "I'd really like to get a BA in literature so that I can spend the rest of my life analyzing Jane Austen novels for the New Yorker, but instead I'm going to compromise my principles and get a well-paid job in computer science even though I hate computer science"? Because you would be wrong.

How many writers has your company hired, Loin?

We have two secretaries, I don't know what their degrees are in (assuming they have degrees) but a BA in creative writing would qualify them for their jobs (although I doubt they would have gotten degrees in creative writing in the hopes of being able to write memos and the like). We have four technical writers, two who have degrees in finance, one with a degree in EE, and one with a 2-year degree; again, even assuming that somebody with a BA in creative writing were qualified for the technical writing positions, I doubt that this would qualify as "doing something that they like."

Incidentally, I enjoy creative writing, and having a career in computer science doesn't prevent me from pursuing a hobby of creative writing. (Nothing published, because while I may enjoy creative writing, I'm also not very good at it.) If I loathed computer science and were much better at creative writing then I would either a. go to college in order to pursue a degree/career that will pay well, so that I can afford to pursue my hobby of creative writing and hopefully turn it into a career, or else b. skip college and its attendant student loans (or else go to a community college for a cheap 2 year degree) so that I can get a job that pays poorly, so that I can afford to pursue my hobby of creative writing and hopefully turn it into a career. Under no circumstances would I get a worthless and expensive BA in creative writing, or literature, or philosophy, etc.

[Ben Kenobi]

Under no circumstances would I get a worthless and expensive BA in creative writing, or literature, or philosophy, etc.

If you have an interest in it, why not? School isn't just about pursuing a degree that pays. Also - there are broad dividends from lit and philosophy that would help you out in the corporate world.

[loinburger]

School isn't just about pursuing a degree that pays - it's primarily about pursuing a degree that pays. I took several courses that were well outside of the purview of computer science, but no more than I could afford.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

School isn't just about pursuing a degree that pays - it's primarily about pursuing a degree that pays. I took several courses that were well outside of the purview of computer science, but no more than I could afford.

As Loin aludes to schools already factor in a number of non major curricula in order to facilitate well rounded individuals. I think a few of mine were comparative mythology and landscape architecture IIRC.

[The Mad Monk]

If you have an interest in it, why not? School isn't just about pursuing a degree that pays. Also - there are broad dividends from lit and philosophy that would help you out in the corporate world.

Perhaps, but there is nothing stopping you from part timing it for fun after you're gainfully employed.

[Kidlicious]

When someone gets a degree they know what they can expect from it. There's nothing wrong with it. Everyone doesn't have to make the same decisions. Some of you people are like Nazis thinking everyone has to be the same.

[loinburger]

Nobody is saying that people don't have the right to make stupid decisions.