<p>im a transfer student whose majoring in a liberal arts major. i've always thought that as long as you'll do good in college you'll go far in life career wise and personal wise, but now my peers and parents tell me the only thing that matters if you want to be successful or get a respectable paycheck is to do something else, (doctor, engineer, lawyer) and major in something that employers want. My major isn't obscure but it isn't widely popular</p>
<p>If you can’t decide on what to major in, a liberal arts degree would encompass a little of everything. The degree isn’t always make or break in private industry. Smart people can get smart jobs. It just depends on the company, job, and training program. More specialized jobs such as being a doctor, lawyer, or engineer require substantial academic training. There was once a time when Boeing trained its computer programmers in house and required a high quantitative score on their psychometric examination rather than a degree. It just depends on the field, job, and company. </p>
<p>The major problem with majoring in liberal arts is that many companies may not take you seriously for a competitive job. Since many other candidates will take traditional routes into their training programs. Try to intern each summer and find the job that you’re most happy with or area of study you would like to pursue for graduate level work.</p>
<p>People other than doctors and lawyers make respectable salaries. They aren’t as lucrative, but that isn’t why people study them. Do you know why you’re studying liberal arts? That might be a good question to ask yourself if you’re upset by other peoples’ thoughts on your degree. </p>
<p>Most likely, what you’re hearing now is reactionary fear due to the economic downturn. It’s hard for anyone to get a decent job right now, so technical and professional degrees are doing significantly better, because the jobs that they seek are in areas that are necessary to run the economy. Philosophers and historians aren’t as immediately crucial as doctors and lawyers. </p>
<p>If the liberal arts are really important to you, you will be willing to wait for the economy to turn around in order to work in a field you love. If it isn’t all that important, maybe its time for some inward examination.</p>