<p>Well, they were saying exactly the same things when I graduated. It’s a perennial drum beat. The only difference was that back then, law was considered safe.</p>
<p>3 years ago I would have sent the OP’s article link to our twins ( now rising seniors at top 50 LAC). However, both are now in full-scale panic mode because they are concerned a about jobs with a liberal arts degree-one in English, the other in Philosophy. They are both adept at math and science, but DH was Mechanical Engineering grad from GaTech and decided he didn’t like engineering in his senior year and was able to go to law school. Now works at an AmLaw 100 firm as a patent attorney. Our kids, though liking math and science, did not want to go down the same UG path as DH. So, they have pursued majors they love, but realize ( with many friends at GT) that the job market may leave them in a place they dread. What continues to be fascinating to me, is that universities like GT, with a number of liberal arts degrees, excel at placing their grads after graduation. DD thought about a transfer to Tech to study History, Science,and Technology-but would have added 2 years to her completion of B.S. I have always wanted our kids to do what they love-so that they would love their careers. Now, I am not so sure.</p>
<p>I vetoed a couple majors for our son because we felt they didn’t have enough rigor in the curriculum. But otherwise, my insistence has only been that he make the decision with eyes wide open as far as the career and income prospects go. I wouldn’t insist that he pick a major based on my or my husband’s preferences, although we both like the work we do. Each of us works in a job highly-related to our major and we are well paid. I don’t think our son has to go one of our routes, but he does need to understand the likely consequences of picking one of the less well paid majors on the list. </p>
<p>My mother-in-law is a former teacher and spent a fair amount of time complaining about the pay. It may be that teachers are underpaid, but she knew what she was getting into when she chose the profession. </p>
<p>So my son knows that he has to own the consequences of whatever choice he makes.</p>
<p>1. What about a double major? Mine was in Art History and Economics. What’s wrong with studying 2 things you like?</p>
<p>Sounds good to me. </p>
<p>It’s when someone only wants to major in something that is unlikely going to lead to a good paying job, then it’s a problem. </p>
<p>And, some majors right now are just too “popular” and there is going to be too many grads fighting for too few jobs. How many “game design” grads do we need in this country???</p>
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<p>If you mean computer game design, there does not seem to be much point for a dedicated major in it. Doing a regular computer science degree, with the courses in graphics and user interfaces chosen, and taking out of major electives in things like art and animation, should be fine for that, while still giving opportunities for other computer science jobs which are much more numerous than computer game jobs.</p>
<p>But a much bigger example is biology – lots of pre-meds major in it, but do not get into medical school, so they flood the job market.</p>
<p>ldinct, correlation does not equal causation. There are more people who care very little about what they’re learning and are just in college to get through classes and party for a while on their parents money in Psych majors than there are in more technical majors because Psych has a reputation for being an easy major. If he takes college seriously and does well there’s no reason that he should make so little. </p>
<p>This is merely a survey, it doesn’t control the most important variable, the people. I think it’s probable that someone will make more in a technical major than in a non-technical major, but the type of people who tend to choose between these two categories exaggerates the gap a lot.</p>