<p>That really only holds for things like english, history, philosophy etc where there's not much you can do directly related to your major besides continue the great circle of academia. Besides the fact that most decent jobs require a college education, if your major doesn't have anything to do with your job, what the hell were you in school for?
Credibility? Stamp of approval from an accredited university? Because everyone else has one, you need one as well in the job market?
I'm interested in what the most annoying stereotypes people say about your major are.
History major. </p>
<p>"What do you are you going to do - be a teacher?"
"Do you know about [random battle in random year of American history]? OH REALLY? (smug look on their for one-upping me)"
"If you're not going to teach, what are you going to do, go to law school?" etc.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i get very sad when people ask about my major. i sometimes want to lie about it, but i never do anyway. well, i tell them i'm an english major, and the most annoying response i ALWAYS get is, "oh, you wanna be a teacher?" WTHeck... it's not like I'm majoring in education or something. i just want to say back "what's wrong with being a teacher?" though i really had no intentions on being a teacher. English is probably also the last subject i would ever want to teach. i feel very degraded when people do that to me, hence i feel like lying.
[/quote]
That's right! You tell those people that you don't have to teach after graduating as an English major! Stand up for yourself! You have plenty of options after graduating with an English degree... McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Subway, Dominos, the list is endless.</p>
<p>Oh, that was an English major stereotype right there, by the way. For the record, I'm a Molecular+Cell Bio major; I try to avoid telling people I'm premed, because I hate premeds and being associated with them.</p>
<p>Well, I'm a Marine Transportation major. When asked what that is, I typically reply its for becoming a sailor. To which they reply something along the lines of:</p>
<p>"oh, so you're like a pirate, with all the drinking and whoring"</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>unfortunately, that stereotype is almost dead on.</p>
<p>"Oh, you are majoring in Accountancy and minoring in Aviation. You must be really fun and will some day have a lot of money. You are also very good looking and a pleasure to be around."</p>
<p>When I wanted to be a Russian major= "Wow, that's freaking hard... what are you doing to do with your Russian? What kind of jobs can you get"?</p>
<p>After 3 1/2 years of learning how to make people actually interested in my major, I've spiced up my conversation so that being a history major is actually cool. Like my thesis on my hometown and Jewish people (with other Jews), and my museum internships in DC... My CV is my lifesaver to the dreade question of "So you want to teachin History?"</p>
<p>Or if i feel like it, I'll reply,. "Yes, I do. The first thing my students will get from me is a pop quiz on basic US History relating to maps and landmarks."</p>
<p>"Oh, so you're a History/English/otherliberalart major? Me too! And my dad was one too, and now he's the wealthiest man in Rhode Island! Don't you just love History/English/otherliberalart?!"</p>
<p>Response 1: ** most common response **
"Eww... Chemistry was my WORST subject. I hate chemistry"
(oh thanks, well it's my major so obviously I don't hate it)</p>
<p>Response 2: ** favorite dumb response **
"Oh cool! What's your favorite molecule? I like carbon"
(Well first off this is a stupid question. Secondly carbon is an element not a molecule. I've come up with different answers... I tend to stick with ethanol or caffeine"</p>
<p>Response 3:
"What kind of job can you get with that? It's hard so it must pay well"
(Well actually the job market is diverse - chem majors can work anywhere from a pharmaceutical company to makeup/personal care products to ink/paint/coatings, computer chips, etc. But unfortunately the B.S. degree doesn't pay a whole lot hence why a good percentage go to grad school)</p>
<p>Response 4: (when they attempt to know something)
"Oh cool! What do you do research in?"
(High temperature thermoelectric materials - materials that convert heat into electricity)
"Oh that's awesome. Solar power is really cool!"
(Yes it is, but my research isn't in that)</p>
<p>haha, captain.innes, people assume the same thing about my anthropology major as well (I've taken archaeology classes, it's part of the anthro. major here). They're all OMG that's awesomeeeee! But, then they automatically assume I want to go dig up mummies or I know lots of shiz about Native Americans or something. I'm like, uh.... no. I like Egypt and mummies and King Tut as much as the next nerd, but that's not my specialty and I know absolutely crapola about Native Americans besides the fact that my great-grandmother's grandmother was Seminole. My primary interest (right now at least) is in primates and human origins/taxonomy, when then leads people into the whole, "Oh. so you like believe in evolution/don't believe in the bible/etc.?" bullsh-- that people in the south are oh so fond of. Yes, I do believe in evolution, no I don't believe in the bible, Deal With It.</p>
<p>Next best:
"I'm an anthropology major"
"<em>eyes glaze over at big word</em> er... cool?"</p>
<p>Fact: I look down on psychology, cultural studies, and sociology majors. I even tell them they're stupid. They're taking up spots at competitive universities just so they can indulge in the same B.S. lifestyle, thus decreasing the U.S.'s global competitiveness. How's that for a culture study. </p>
<p>I don't look down on English majors, though. I like reading a good book.</p>
<p>Why do I reserve the right to be so judgmental? Cuz I'm the man...</p>
<p>To the anthro/archeology majors... I kind of wanted to major in Anthro not only because I found the classes enjoyable (though I'm not good enough to make a living out of it) but because it sounds so cool. Totally shallow of me... :x</p>
<p>I'm a major in hospitality administration. People at my school say that I'm not smart enough or dedicated enough to be in the real business program. I respond by telling them that I learn the same business principles that they do (accounting, marketing, HR, technology, leadership, etc) but learn even more in that we add in courses on people-skills and service-industry perspectives. It makes me realize how much those business major could use a course in people skills. They are as obnoxious and abrasive as they come.</p>