<p>I was trying to get into engineering, but that's not my field. Looks like I'd have to do something more abstract. I'm thinking of double majoring in English and Philosophy. I think this will prepare me really well for grad school, but I have no idea what to go for. I would just feel more secure to think maybe I can go to grad school for something that would help me out a bit more financially. I think if money wasn't a problem, I would've straight out gone into the liberal arts path, but I felt a bit insecure about having no money. I just wanted to know how the liberal arts major can seem to have no financial worries and just jump into something they like. I guess if you like it enough, you won't care, but realistically speaking, how do you make yourself not worried knowing you'd have the risk of not being financially stable?</p>
<p>i know what you feel like. i just recently made the desicion to leave engineering and major in philosophy. in fact if u go to the engineering forum my thread is still there. anyways, i see what you mean. i was just thinking about that when i saw this thread. i realized that i basically flushed my salary down the drain (at least that what it seems like at first). but then again, the very fact that i did change out of engineering tells me that i wouldn't have made money anyways because my heart wasnt in it. you really have to be passionate and interested in it in order to do well, otherwise your life is gonna be a living hell. can't really just do it for the money (like I was in it for). but as far as what im gonna do now....its still up in the air. im sure ill get it worked out though. im not too worried about it at this stage. there are tons of ways to make real good money out there. (more than engineering) you just have to do your research. someone in engineering suggested getting into investments and stuff like that. if you want to make money bad enough you will find a way. look how many liberal arts majors there are. it outnumbers the engineering students by far. you mean to tell me that all of those kids are going to make less than engineering because they have liberal arts degrees. you can do basically anything you want with liberal arts degree (besides engineering, duh) so the options you have are enormous. look at the CEO and founder of HP (if its not HP its some sort of hardware company) he majored in like philosophy and history or something along those lines. there are tons of other examples out there.</p>
<p>Yeah, I agree. It's just very hard to convince myself I won't be a bum if I don't do something like engineering or business. I think a person's life will be much more interesting with various careers if they don't major in engineering. Investments? I was thinking of going into the stock market or something.</p>
<p>As someone with a BA in Phil and Polsci, an MA in Phil, and soon to be pursuing a PhD in Phil, I feel that I am qualified to talk about this issue.</p>
<p>I worry about money, but if I have enough to survive I am okay. I could not do anything else with my life. I love philosophy, and I love teaching. I know, for sure, that if I did anything else I would not be happy. I don't worry because I know that I am happy doing what I am doing. I've never had much money in my life, and I don't feel like I'm missing out on too much.</p>
<p>Most liberal arts graduates do quite well in business, government and nonprofit settings. You learn core knowledge and analytical and writing skills. You are well prepared for our globalized world. Not to fret -- there are many paths for liberal arts grads!</p>
<p>How do I sleep at night? I really don't know. My parents want me to do business, but I knew that was never for me so I decided to get a LAS degree. The problem is I don't know what to major in. I love to learn why people act the way they do and to know the meaning of things; for this I may do Sociology and minor is Philosophy. Does anyone has any advice?</p>
<p>Someone said that the liberal arts major outnumber engineering/practical majors. Even if that is so, that doesn't mean that we can stop worrying about getting good jobs later on...</p>
<p>Someone else said that they don't care much for money and the Philosphy major and teaching are for them. Come to think of it, someone really into religion/spirtial stuff, like a mediating monk would find this major appropriate and not care too much for money. If it makes you happy, then I guess its alright...the only thing is getting a PHD in any thing requites several years of initial capita expenditure, right from the get-go...</p>
<p>Reading and writing skills will prepare you well for Law School and a law career, and a career in law can be financially rewarding.</p>
<p>sadly, i don't want to do law or teaching.</p>
<p>a liberal arts degree will basically prepare you for anything that doesn't require a specific knowledge of math or science. don't investment banks recruit from all majors? unless you go to a super-renowned program like Wharton, both major and minor businesses don't care.</p>
<p>Do you mean "liberal arts" or do you mean "humanities"? The liberal arts include philosophy as well as natural philosophy, i.e. physics, mathematics, etc.</p>
<p>A liberal arts education should include the humanities, the sciences, and the social sciences. It is well-rounded.</p>
<p>People with degrees in the sciences and some of the social sciences have less difficulty finding suitable jobs than people in the humanities.</p>
<p>
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don't investment banks recruit from all majors?
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</p>
<p>Yea, if you go to an ivy or a select few others.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think I mean humanities. I think philosophy and english undergrads have the lowest paying jobs? that stinks...</p>
<p>If you don't like law, I know a number of people who transitioned to Wall Street from philosophy, comparative literature, Russian Studies, German, and history, some after college, some after receiving PhDs, some as tenure-track professors. As pointed out previously, however, an Ivy credential at your last jump-off point helps, and catching Wall Street on an up-cycle is critical.</p>
<p>My neurosurgeon's ug degree is in Philosophy. A friend of mine's D is about to graduate from med school and her ug degree is vocal performance. Not sure about the surgeon, but the girl had to take classes in the physiology and anatomy of the vocal chords/ent areas to understand sound production in vocal performance and also some of the health issues related to vocal performing arts. As her mother is a singer, she understood some of the medical issues singers face and that not all doctors know how to treat singers so as to maximize their performance and protect their voice, so she became more interested in singing from a medical point of view.</p>
<p>After the singer graduated with her B.M. in vocal performance, she spent a year or so taking stuff like organic chemistry she needed for med school apps, then took the MCAT and applied. The medical schools apparently loved the fact that she had NOT been premed in college and had this "different" background. </p>
<p>So the thing to do in ug is to study what your interested in and see where that takes you. You may wind up pursuing a path you cannot even see right now. It may mean more school after your bachelors degree, but hey, that's what student loans are for.</p>
<p>^ Neat. I wish her only the best.</p>
<p>Yes same here. Our wishes upon the behalf of all us liberal majors! We must unite our tears joy happiness and sorrow....and redundancy....</p>