<p>"Granted the only concrete example I have of this is from my cousin who is a Dartmouth sociology major and achieved the status of executive at Kinsey (big consulting firm)"</p>
<p>That's MCKinsey.</p>
<p>That's another case in point. Whatever your major is, I strongly believe that if you're smart enough, it's really not going to matter what you do--you can make it in anything. My dad knows someone who got both graduate and undergraduate degrees in art history, was an oil trader on wall street, and for whatever reason decided to get back into art (stability, probably).</p>
<p>^ That just shows that your major won't hold you back from doing consulting or finance, but what happens if you don't manage to get one of those extremely selective positions? What career is the sociology major going to lead into? At least the engineers have, y'know, actual engineering jobs to fall back on. In finance, jobs which require more quantitative ability are also more accessible to those with math/science/engineering training, in addition to anything else a liberal arts major could get.</p>
<p>Another thing you might be concerned with as a potential sociology major is the intellectual engagement of your peer group. You may have a genuine interest in Foucault and Habermas, but if your major supposedly attracts those who are looking for an painless path to a degree, I can only wonder how much enjoyment you'll derive from class discussions.</p>
<p>right, what % of the proverbial sociology majors are able to get jobs in the world of business? You may know someone who made partner at McKinsey at 27, and I know someone who without even a high school degree made a hundred million as a wall street trader... but are those really the typical cases you want to be modeling your career after? That's like saying that everyone should go into the rock industry because rock stars have an awesome life and make a killing. There's no consideration of the odds there. You may believe yourself to be the type who can make partner at McKinsey coming out of a sociology major at Columbia, but it's several times as likely (at least) that you'll end up the equivalent of flipping burgers. There is risk in that scenario which you are not accounting for.</p>
<p>If you don't want to work in your field of study, and don't want to go to graduate school, the notion of picking a major in something that proves you have a specific skill (e.g. math) makes a lot of sense. It improves your odds and mitigates your risk.</p>
<p>I really have to disagree here. Nowhere in my post did I say that sociology major = executive by 25. It was an example, the only one I have first-hand account of, of possibilities of an ivy degree in sociology. It's important to show both sides of the coin.</p>
<p>And really, I think its -WAY- more far fetched to say that a Columbia graduate with a decent GPA, grad school intents, and a head on his/her shoulders could likely end up flipping burgers with a sociology major. It's far more unlikely than the high-paying position scenario.</p>
<p>To say that your major decides your career is inaccurate. To claim that a major in sociology dooms your career is asinine. The econ/math degree is not the key to the business world. It's valued in a certain aspect of business yes but it's certainly not a bio-to-biologist path.</p>
<p>The problem with picking a major only based on employability, is that the job market changes. Think of everyone dreaming of investment banking, suffering through courses they hate, to hit Wall St. this year. What a waste of the four years of your life when you are free to follow your intellectual passions. I think people should study what they enjoy studying, and if they're smart and good enough, at some point a job path will turn up. Really creative people manage to find ways to make money from their interests -- perhaps not right away, maybe a few jobs down the line, but eventually.</p>
<p>That said, people are overlooking the huge private sector interest now in social networking. S's friend who was an anthro major turned down a consulting job to work in Silicon Valley. No coding experience, just a job that attempts to predict who is likely to link to whom. I'd think a sociology major would be applicable. These are the kinds of jobs that no one could have anticipated existing even a few years back.</p>
<p>LionHeaded...i dont think Denzera meant that a sociology major would end up flipping burgers. I think he meant "the equivalent of flipping burgers" which would mean that despite being intelligent enough to get into Columbia, a sociology major may end up in an almost meaningless job without much room for advancement. </p>
<p>Also, by no means does a major decide one's success or position in life but the major that someone chooses can either increase or decrease the chances of success and stability during their career. Basically, picking a major like sociology doesnt exactly increase someone's chances of landing a top-notch job. It doesn't eliminate them from getting this job, it just makes it more difficult than it would be in a more "useful" major. It's arguable whether certain majors are more useful than others but it all depends on what employers are considering "useful majors".</p>
<p>People-- you're missing the larger point: That your Ivy League sociology major who goes on to have a good job, get paid a lot, etc. got where he/she is IN SPITE OF his/her sociology major -- and <em>not</em> BECAUSE OF it.</p>
<p>sac, you make a very good point. it's always a can't-miss plan to do something you love.</p>
<p>i think a lot of the problems arise when someone can't muster the passion - or the self-knowledge or emotional courage - to decide on a particular path that they know will really make them happy. i knew a dozen fellow grads like that, because not everybody (even supposedly carefully selected ivy leaguers) are necessarily rabid careerists. without a clearly defined "calling", people would do well to most improve their odds of success at whatever Plan A is at that particular moment. Going to a top school is a very good first start; choosing an in-demand major would be a not-overly-bold second step.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i think a lot of the problems arise when someone can't muster the passion - or the self-knowledge or emotional courage - to decide on a particular path that they know will really make them happy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Actually, there's a whole profession composed of these kind of people: investment banking.</p>
<p>want to meet a few investment bankers who love their job? I've met plenty. Outnumbered by the disaffected, yes, but it's not a small set either.</p>
<p>besides, working in banking while not being happy or not knowing what you want to do with your life, beats the hell out of being unemployed or flipping the proverbial burgers while in the same situation.</p>
<p>Do Sociology. You also must plan accordingly; be the best of the best, and try to get as much undergrad. research done. For those that say nay, forget them. This is America. Might as well go for the gold.</p>