<p>The usefulness of a degree will probably fall on a continuum such as:</p>
<p>Job always requires a specific degree
Job would give some preference to a specific degree
Job always requires a degree
Job usually requires a degree
Job sometimes requires a degree
Job would give some preference to a degree
Job never requires a degree</p>
<p>The higher up the list the jobs that you can get, the more useful your degree. In general, jobs at the top of the list will pay more than jobs nearer the bottom, with some exceptions, such as skilled trades. Some jobs are more plentiful than others and that also has an effect on the usefulness of a degree. </p>
<p>I would suggest that if your job falls among the bottom two or three of the above list, or if your pay is below average, then you probably have a useless degree.</p>
<p>Most of us need good jobs once we are out of college and it is only sensible to assume that college should help in that regard. If you and the triple-major see it otherwise, perhaps you are simply subject to different rules than the rest of us.</p>
<p>FWIW, Tim Burton went to CalArts, which does not look at GPA or SAT scores, but instead admits on the basis of portfolios or auditions. He had made short 8mm films as an adolescent, evidence that he had some innate or self-developed talent that helped him gain admission. Walt Disney, who possibly had less education than Burton, formed CalArts over fifty years ago, and appears to have been even more successful.</p>
<p>OP, it was a touch uncouth. As someone with no mental filter, I get saying it. What I don’t get is not apologizing right away and defending it now.</p>
<p>You didn’t help her. You simply criticized her choice. A choice you haven’t made yet, so she couldn’t critique back – which she probably wouldn’t-- which makes you a perfect and absolute coward.</p>
<p>Oh, I’m sorry, did I overly judge something you did? Was I rude?</p>
<p>As a general rule of thumb, just because something’s true doesn’t mean you can say it out loud. VERY few people appreciate 100% honesty. It’s usually better to play nice than to express what you really think, or else lots of people will get angry (as I’m sure you’ve seen in this thread). Personally, I think this is kind of sad, but it’s how society works.</p>
<p>Yes, yes it is.
I’m even of the opinion that some majors are more of a bad idea than people who choose them want to believe, but that doesn’t make it acceptable to just say that to someone.</p>
<p>Yeah, it’s pretty god damn rude OP. Major in social skills.</p>
<p>Unless the person has said that they themselves think it’s useless. Then it’s ok. If someone called my majors useless I’d probably say “damn right, I wish I had done engineering.” My friend who’s majoring in what most would call a “useless degree” has better job prospects than my dumb ass.</p>
<p>So one night…
I saw some friends and sat with them in a dining hall. We got into a conversation about majors and one girl told me she’s an English major. Now, I was freely speaking my mind at that point on that particular Saturday night (ehem), so I completely tore that bit of information apart.</p>
<p>A week later I get a Facebook message about this. Fortunately for me, she understood my situation and wrote the letter sarcastically. I, of course, made an apology felt completely awkward.</p>
<p>So yeah, I learned that it was offensive to trash talk other peoples majors! </p>
<p>P.S. I don’t think English majors are worthless ; )</p>
<p>If a degree doesn’t substantially increase one’s income and opportunities, then it is NOT useful. Some degrees from some schools could even have a negative ROI. </p>
<p>See my earlier comments (2-23) about a continuum of useful <-----> useless.</p>
<p>I mean, even if you have a practical major, you’re not necessarily going to get a good job. I know a few unemployed engineers that counted their chickens before they hatched.</p>
<p>There’s no need to talk down to others when you don’t know what the future will bring.</p>
<p>@EpicBacon, one is majoring in poly sci, another in anthropology. Both very interesting subjects, but you’d probably consider both “useless.” Well I’ll have you know they’ve both gotten some excellent internships despite their “useless” degrees. </p>
<p>I’m majoring in MIS and logistics and have struggled to even get a food service job, let alone an internship.</p>
<p>It isn’t the subjects of poli-sci or anthro that are useless, it is the degrees in those subjects that might be useless.</p>
<p>The irony is that a holder of a useless degree might very well have some courses and knowledge that could be beneficial in some jobs, but the HR depts, resume bots, and interviewers (if one even gets that far) might never notice.</p>
<p>“Management Information Systems” sounds rather vague even when spelled out. “Mathematics” or “Accounting” sounds more impressive.</p>
<p>As for Epic’s supposedly rude comment, consider that the triple major probably HAS heard it before, and that if she hadn’t maybe she needs a wake-up call, and that she is taking up a space that might be better used by a math or business major.</p>
<p>No matter, the “fat” analogy is poor since someone who is obese is probably aware of the fact, and there is no need to rub it in. A poor choice of major is not always immediately apparent, so a bit of prodding in the right direction can be beneficial.</p>