The value of a liberal arts degree in the workforce

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm a Singaporean, so naturally the need to be pragmatic bugs me the most. It's a small and competitive job market here, so undergraduates have always had to carefully think through their degree choice in order to best secure employment after graduation. I'm not exactly keen on working in a foreign country, but that of course may change later on.</p>

<p>So the question is this: I'm considering applying to Williams College. For anyone who remembers me, I got into Duke this year but can't afford it, so i'm focusing on the need-blind colleges this cycle. My teacher tells me that liberal arts students are products of a broad-based education, not a technical or vocational one, meant to prepare them for further graduate studies, and not so much for professional life. I'm not even sure if I could afford a masters' immediately after graduation, so I'm gonna have to consider what kind of careers a liberal arts degree opens up.</p>

<p>Could you guys tell me about which careers liberal arts grads usually go to or are favoured?</p>

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<p>The best LAC will teach you to read,write and think. These skills can be applied in any field of study. Go to college to become educated. You will be employed easily and even better, if your career goals change, you wont be pegged in a field you cant escape.</p>

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<p>Well if you're worried about making money out of college, then consider majoring in economics. Econ majors from top liberal arts colleges are heavily recruited. Wall Street companies recruit from Amherst, Williams, Wesleyan,etc. The only problem/inconvenience may be that you have to seek out employers. At a big university, companies will come to recruit on campus. The answer to your question depends on what major you are talking about. A biology major will not have the same job as a history major. Liberal arts degrees are valuable; employers like them, but you have to market them well.</p>