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+--- Thread: Is a psychology or history degree useless? (/Thread-Is-a-psychology-or-history-degree-useless)
Is a psychology or history degree useless? - missbootyfull - 07-29-2019
I read that and it makes me reconsider if I should do my degree in something else. What do you guys think?
RE: Is a psychology or history degree useless? - cookderosa - 07-29-2019
(07-29-2019, 03:22 PM)missbootyfull Wrote: I read that and it makes me reconsider if I should do my degree in something else. What do you guys think?
You have to finish the sentence.
Is psychology a useless degree when I want to become a plumber? (yes)
Is psychology a useless degree when I want to go to graduate school to earn a doctorate and become a psychologist? (no)
Is history a useless degree for getting a pay raise at Starbucks? (yes)
Is history a useless degree if I want to become a history teacher? (depends on your state's teacher licensure requirements)
"something else" isn't any better than psychology or history until you've identified your target occupation.
RE: Is a psychology or history degree useless? - dfrecore - 07-30-2019
You also didn't show what you read. Your own title?
Like Jennifer says, it really depends on what you want to do as a career that makes a degree worthwhile or not.
RE: Is a psychology or history degree useless? - Ideas - 07-30-2019
A lot of people get a degree in anything or a general degree to "check the box". Any finished degree can help. However, yes the jobs can be more competitive for some degree-holders.
Seems that a lot of people study psychology (or social sciences) during undergrad without having a clear plan. Due to the number of psychology degree-holders, it can be trickier. Psychology is a little different than most areas because many of the decent paying jobs need a Masters.
I think it depends on your skills and interests, your situation, etc. Sometimes people go for the tech or business degree because of the money, but they hate it the whole time. Also, some people would rather get any degree faster instead of spending another 3-6 months for a different degree.
What is your gut feeling about doing a STEM degree or business/finance/accounting?
RE: Is a psychology or history degree useless? - bluebooger - 07-30-2019
also depends on the cost
going to a private university to get a bachelors in History is ridiculous
NYU is $26k per SEMESTER
https://www.nyu.edu/students/student-information-and-resources/bills-payments-and-refunds/tuition-and-fee-rates/2019-2020/undergraduate/college-of-arts-and-science-2019-2020/fall-2019.html
going to a public SUNY university in NY (if you're a resident) is only $7k per semester
https://www.suny.edu/smarttrack/tuition-and-fees/
RE: Is a psychology or history degree useless? - CarpeDiem8 - 07-30-2019
Any degree can be useless, depending on the individual. There are too many factors at play and what you actually need the degree for as well. Generalizations will get you nowhere!
dfrecore (and many others) have sound advice for many years now regarding this - think of where you want to be and work backwards from there to determine what degree you need to start with...otherwise, you're going to be kicking the tire for years and have nothing to show.
RE: Is a psychology or history degree useless? - indigoshuffle - 08-12-2019
(07-29-2019, 06:51 PM)cookderosa Wrote:(07-29-2019, 03:22 PM)missbootyfull Wrote: I read that and it makes me reconsider if I should do my degree in something else. What do you guys think?
You have to finish the sentence.
Is psychology a useless degree when I want to become a plumber? (yes)
Is psychology a useless degree when I want to go to graduate school to earn a doctorate and become a psychologist? (no)
Is history a useless degree for getting a pay raise at Starbucks? (yes)
Is history a useless degree if I want to become a history teacher? (depends on your state's teacher licensure requirements)
"something else" isn't any better than psychology or history until you've identified your target occupation.
Yes. Once again you're on the money. I don't have a problem with any of those degrees per se. What I have a problem with is kids going into debt to get a degree that won't have a significant financial return. Nothing at all wrong with history or psychology if that's what someone wants to do, but do go into debt for it.