<p>Who is or might apply for fall 2010?</p>
<p>I am. Applying for McCombs at the end of December.</p>
<p>Me too. Applying to liberal arts for urban studies. Hopefully we’ll all be classmates. :)</p>
<p>I’m applying for Spring 2010 but have a feeling I’ll get rejected and have to re-apply for fall.</p>
<p>I am… but I don’t know to what college…</p>
<p>I am…I emailed my admissions counselor to see if I’ll be counted as an instate or out of state student (it’s complicated).</p>
<p>I’m applying for either the Liberal Arts(history major) or Engineering School(Computer Engineering). I’m not sure if you dobule major</p>
<p>I’m just a mom of a junior, but I’m curious. Do you think the average HS applicant does any kind of future job research before declaring a major or do they just go down the list and choose something that sounds interesting (I’ve seen this in MANY threads - not just picking on you guys) ?</p>
<p>I don’t mean to be critical, but there are so many kids here interested in liberal arts majors and I am doubtful they will be able to pay their rent after college. Are you guys unconcerned about the salary and just all about the self-fulfillment? Not that salary should be the MOST important thing, but you (and/or your parents) are investing $80k to go to UT… shouldn’t there be a financial benefit in the end?</p>
<p>My viewpoint is tainted by a friend with a masters in a liberal arts field. She never intended to work (she married a fairly rich guy), but when the guy bailed and she had to support her kids she sure wished she had a more ‘employable’ degree!</p>
<p>I for one, will not be a HS applicant. I will be a much older transfer who has figured out what I am truly passionate about and want to study. I’m not sure about anyone else on here.</p>
<p>Many students who have liberal arts degrees are just fine after college, and it’s not because of what they majored in. It’s because they were able to network during school and become involved. The same goes for any major. Sure, you go to the business school at McCombs. But did you make yourself known and show that you are worthy of a job after graduation? It’s much, much more than the major you choose.</p>
<p>I have absolutely no respect for someone who goes to college just to make money. While it is important in some aspect, I think it’s stupid of someone to major in something just for the sake of getting a job right out of college, and it shows that they’re lazy and they just want things haned to them. You have no clue how many people go to major in engineering (and not because they want to), just to do a crap job at what they do. In the end, it’s the people who do what they love, whether it be history or medicine, that are the successful ones, because they wind up doing a better job, because THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO DO IT.</p>
<p>And no offense to your friend, but from what you’ve said about her never intending to work, it just goes to show how much work ethic she has, regardless of degree. Her degree is perfectly employable, she just either doesn’t know where to look, or she is using that as an excuse for her own shortcomings. </p>
<p>I’m sorry, but I have to defend the liberal arts students, and any student who is studying something they’re truly passionate about, because they wind up getting a lot of flack. “Medicine? You know you’ll be up 36 hours at times right?” “Teaching? You know you have to deal with snotty kids all day right?” And anybody who says “Yes, I know, and I can’t wait,” deserves all the success in the world.</p>
<p>Nope, most HS grads do not have a clue. I know as I used to employ college grads, even honor students; most had no plans or direction. I suggest to most young people coming out of college to get a good idea of what they want to do while in the work force. School should be, for the most part, designed to make you employable.</p>
<p>Any degree should be tailored towards what field you want to work in or what you want to study in grad school. With this economy job requirements are becoming more specific and it’s tougher to find a QUALITY job without specific experience or education.</p>
<p>80K is a lot on school and if you have no direction or plan that leverages the degree, than it’s not money that is wisely spent. </p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>I was a HS school student once too. =)</p>
<p>Also keep in mind, most students change their major at least ONCE in college.</p>
<p>DreamIncitrus…right on.</p>
<p>I’m a dual major in Theater (Tech focus) and History. And I won’t lie, people laugh at me because they believe I will be dirt poor when I graduate. (They also are under the impression that because I do well in my classes, they can’t possibly be as challenging or intensive as other majors classes.) But I laugh at them, because they absolutely hate studying their major, which ultimately means they will be unhappy with their eventual jobs. (In my opinion anyway.)</p>
<p>I took quite a bit of time to sit down a decide which major I was most interested in, and even then I wasn’t completely dead set on anything. However, after a year or so of school I made lots of connections and realized that there was pretty much nothing I would rather do than tech theater and sound production/engineering. </p>
<p>Am I worried about job opportunities after I graduate? Honestly no. Unlike the business students that are quaking in their boots wishing THEY had a more employable degree and trying to find any way to stay in college vs. enter the workforce, I am confident in the fact that I have obtained numerous job skills that make ME employable to not only theaters but also to digital media firms. (A pretty big and growing industry right now.) And with one more semester, I can obtain a teaching certificate and give back to the institutions that taught me. (Something that’s been in my plan for a long time anyway.) So either way, I’m set.</p>
<p>Now, I’m not trying to convince everyone to be Liberal Arts majors or anything, but I dislike that we always get classified as slackers or underachievers. (May I add that the Psychology major in the Liberal Arts program allows students to pursue graduate and doctoral studies…and these end up being verrry wealthy people.) Maybe you should look into all the opportunities a Liberal Arts degree offers instead of completely closing yourself (and your child) off to them.</p>
<p>We have an entire office dedicated to choosing a major/exploring careers offered by each one.
[Learn</a> About Yourself](<a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/student/cec/students/]Learn”>http://www.utexas.edu/student/cec/students/)</p>
<p>I am also of the belief that money spent education/knowledge is never wasted because it allows you to learn about and challenge the world around you. So what if you couldn’t decide on a major your first two years? You were able to explore lots of different subjects and find something that actually interested you, and the knowledge that you gained from all those in different areas will only enhance your education when you decide to focus in a specific area. (Honestly that’s why UT requires so many ‘core’ classes…because they know its important to have general knowledge is several difference disciplines.)</p>
<p>Now I know I’m part of a select group that believe this, but its insane to think that a HS student has a crystal clear idea of what they want to do when they get out of college. In most districts, students are strapped to a rigid curriculum and never get the chance to explore specific areas of interest. (They have also been under the guidance of their parents for the past 18 years, and as such have probably been steered one way or another.) </p>
<p>I believe it takes at least a year of being out and away from home where you are free to make your own choices to really discover where your passion lies. (I guess unless you are one of the lucky ones who’s known exactly what you wanted from age 5…) So while I would encourage HS students to take an active interest in learning more about the various programs offered by the university, I don’t think they should be expected to CHOOSE right now. I remember all the apprehensive feelings I had before graduation, and it added so much extra stress in my life when I felt like I had to have my entire life plan laid out by the time I was 18.</p>
<p>My son will be applying for fall 2010 in either Chemical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. He is still trying to decide. He is researching both through talking to people in those fields and finding out where his interests best lie.</p>
<p>As to employability of liberal arts majors, my oldest son is graduating from University of Florida on May 3, with a double economics/English degree. He has been hired in banking in Florida - decent salary with full benefits. So, there are jobs out there for liberal arts majors! BUT, he worked full time as a manager at a club in downtown Gainesville, hiring, firing, setting up inventory policies, managing cash flow, etc. and when he interviewed, THAT is what the prospective employers wanted to talk about - NOT his major, grades, etc.</p>
<p>Most of his friends who sat around playing beer pong (;)), no matter if they were business majors, engineering, etc. are still looking, and job prospects are slim in this economy (especially in Florida!). Many are applying for grad school since they can’t find anything else right now :(</p>
<p>Moral to the story, just getting a degree will not guarantee you a job no matter what your degree is in!!</p>
<p>To the School of Architecture. He has been researching the field for a year now, and he has participated in a Mentor program and done some shadowing at a firm.</p>
<p>Hopefully he will get in, he is borderline Top 10, but we went to a UT event, and Top 10 is not the only factor. They are looking for students who are more than just numbers. I know a alot of people thinkt that Top 10 should mean an automatic spot, but the reality is there is only so much space on the 40 Acres. You can’t get all worked up. If he is not accepted, we have some other schools that we are looking at as well. You have to DIVERSIFY your application submissions to all types of schools.</p>
<p>it really makes me mad when I see ignorance bleeding from someone’s posts on this forum. I understand that 80k is a lot of money especially in this economic time, but it truly makes me angry when I hear stories of people who go into pre-med just because doctors have such high base salaries. </p>
<p>I am going into a liberal-arts major, and I am perfectly confident in my success for the future. I’m intending to major in Government or Economics, and with these I am perfectly capable of landing myself a fine education in a great MBA or JD program at one of the most prestigious grad schools. </p>
<p>So to answer your question, a liberal arts degree alone may not get you job offers left and right immediately after graduation, but it can certainly prepare you for a great grad school where upon graduation we will be able to “pay our rent”. I truly hope that you and other parents are not pushing your children into fields they detest simply because of the monetary reward at the finish line (EE or pre-med).</p>
<p>Not to mention the fact that most kids who go in “pre-med” wash out or transfer majors after that first year of science. ;)</p>
<p>That happened to my oldest, started pre-med, found out after the first year that he hated science (which could pose a problem for a prospective doctor ;)) and ended up an econ/English major. And, as I said before, he’s gotten a job!</p>
<p>But, just getting a degree won’t cut it these days - be looking for internship opportunities, summer or part time jobs in your future field, or just a JOB! Employers want to see that you are a responsible adult with some life/job experience. At least that’s is what my son has been saying…</p>
<p>We went to his graduation on Sunday, and he said that amongst the people he was sitting with (they had a lot of time to chat because the ceremony was LONG!), most still did not have jobs yet, including one of the econ valedictorians. He had good grades, but nothing else to bring to the table, AND he didn’t want to settle for an entry level type job. So, instead of getting A JOB right now in this down economy, he’s going to be unemployed… But, he has his principles ;)</p>
<p>ag54, congrats on your son’s graduation! I can’t believe that valedictorian. Just because you have a degree doesn’t mean you’ll be making six figures right out of school. Especially in a time like this, he should be thankful to have an offer with anything, but I guess being stubborn can be one’s downfall.</p>