why do people study such useless degrees?

[Gubbins]

Quoting oddly familiar from 17:33, 4th Mar 2007
I've heard that a PhD (in non science subjects, or at least; in non industry-friendly sciences) can actually be a hindrance to getting a job afterwards, if you don't go into academia. Is this true?

Simply put, it keeps you out of the job market for another 3(+) years, thereby meaning you need to catch up afterwards. Some people may also think you're overqualified if its a PhD in an unrelated discipline, but that's probably a lesser effect.

Quoting Malcolm from 18:52, 4th Mar 2007
To be honest, I don't see the purpose in a PhD unless you want to be in academia, in any discipline

Or go into research (of any kind) in industry or marketing. It could also serve you well in public relations as your writing skills get a lot better doing a PhD!

[hr]

...but then again, that is only my opinion.

[Irish Frank]

I am studying MA IR with Middle Eastern Studies. I plan to intern with an Afghan warlord this summer.

[Thalia]

To be honest, I don't see the purpose in a PhD unless you want to be in academia, in any discipline (gets flame-proof suit from wardrobe).

I mean, look at all the Dr, Prof etc at Universities who all have PhDs... there were literally 1-2 PhD people teaching at my high school which was a top Edinburgh private school.

So, unless you want a high ranking academic position or want to work as an academic at a University, I don't see the point.

Obviously there is an exception here with areas of psychology - sadly we don't get to walk away from St Andrews and tell the world we are psychologists

I would hate being stuck in the world of academia for the rest of my life but i need a phD to become a psychotherapist.

[hr]

You've been nothing but an angel every day of your life and now you wonder what it's like to be damned...

[Captain_Spanky]

Quoting Thalia from 00:44, 7th Mar 2007


I would hate being stuck in the world of academia for the rest of my life but i need a phD to become a psychotherapist.

[hr]

You've been nothing but an angel every day of your life and now you wonder what it's like to be damned...

I take the "The" out of Psychotherapist.

[hr]

Beatrice - Darling. Dearest. Dead.

[Guest]

Quoting Kizzy from 16:15, 6th Mar 2007

Quoting Sabjeet from 17:43, 22nd Feb 2006
some examples - philosophy, english, art history. how will studying these help you get a job?
Sabjeet

Are you genuinely interested? If so, I can happily provide you with a step-by-step guide as to how my English degree led me straight into a job that related to the work I'd done at university.

Go on, do it. I bet you can't.

[mick]

hmmmm - how about physics, is it not 'natural philosophy'? being a physicist (and studying therefore a much more fundamental subject than eco. and finance) i think that most scientists will agree that seeing things from a different viewpoint is vital to the advancement of science, and where would we be without the vision and philosophies of einstein maxwell and schrodinger? Modern science and technology is based on cornerstones laid by ancient philosophers

[MBK]

Quoting harmless loony from 19:57, 3rd Mar 2007
(two posts)

HARMLESS LOONEY
thanks for the posts madam/sir. they are helpful.

i'm in the process of trying to find a job after having graduated this past christmas.

i finally have a job interview tommorrow, working for a media sales company in the heart of london. while i know i shouldnt be overconfident in assuming i have the job, i am abit excited to have finally the opportunity opened to me (as opposed to no reply/rejection). however, i am unsure whether media sales is a route to my career, as i want to be working in performing arts/publishing/theatre/film, that sort of thing (behind the scenes, of course). but right now, i'm trying to find any job i can as i dont want to rot any longer in this place. and i need the money.

while this is good, i think the contract for this company might be like for a year or so, startup. now in that process i shall still be trying to find work in my line of industry. my concern is, though, if i do find one, within say the next few weeks or months, and have to quit the media sales job, would this harm me in my application process, because it would make me look like a 'job hopper' - taking advantage of positions, that sort of thing. because then it would give me a bad reference when applying for the 'right' job when it comes along (eg working at bbc, etc)? what should i do

would like some advice on this matter. hope this all makes sense?

anyone else feel free to contribute. thanks

[Kizzy]

Quoting from 19:14, 6th Mar 2007

Quoting Kizzy from 16:15, 6th Mar 2007

Quoting Sabjeet from 17:43, 22nd Feb 2006
some examples - philosophy, english, art history. how will studying these help you get a job?
Sabjeet

Are you genuinely interested? If so, I can happily provide you with a step-by-step guide as to how my English degree led me straight into a job that related to the work I'd done at university.

Go on, do it. I bet you can't.

No, I really can. I suspect that the sinner community doesn't really want to hear all about my cv (not least because to trumpet it would make me look like an arrogant fool.) However, should you wish to hear such a progression, you can apply in person to kirsty.russell@googlemail.com

But again, I doubt you will somehow...

[friesman with a degree in philosophy]

i graduated with a degree in philosophy also, and i am beginning to wish i never chose this major. i have been unemployed for many months now, and people mock my status because of my degree, saying that i should be ready to spend the next 40 years of my life saying the line 'do you want fries with that'. it truly is demoralising but it's true at the same time. i have been researching the web and some famous people have had degrees in philosophy who have gone on to do much bigger things - working in film, becoming US president, working in martial arts, whatever. i wish i could follow these peoples footsteps to success but i can't because i don't know how. i feel i have wasted all my years at university for nothing but a huge student loan debt to pay and the forever mocking from my parents in saying 'see? i told you. you should never have studied philosophy. look what it got you. months of unemployment and no hope of finding a job.' i so badly want to prove them wrong!

[Joe D]

I'm from the US and I would hire a philosophy major if I did the hiring. It's a good degree but people here don't study any philosophy and don't know what it's about. I did economics.

Quoting friesman with a degree in philosophy from 20:48, 22nd Mar 2007
i graduated with a degree in philosophy also, and i am beginning to wish i never chose this major. i have been unemployed for many months now, and people mock my status because of my degree, saying that i should be ready to spend the next 40 years of my life saying the line 'do you want fries with that'. it truly is demoralising but it's true at the same time. i have been researching the web and some famous people have had degrees in philosophy who have gone on to do much bigger things - working in film, becoming US president, working in martial arts, whatever. i wish i could follow these peoples footsteps to success but i can't because i don't know how. i feel i have wasted all my years at university for nothing but a huge student loan debt to pay and the forever mocking from my parents in saying 'see? i told you. you should never have studied philosophy. look what it got you. months of unemployment and no hope of finding a job.' i so badly want to prove them wrong!

[Raindog]

The sheer amount of people with the degrees is causing the devaluation of actually ehaving a degree. Most Employers nowadays want experience over acaemic merit. I am lucky that i have both and am gaining at a rapid rate experience of working within the financial services, a job which i gained through an agency with no need for a degree. I shold have learned a trade as tradesmen are earning a lot more than the majority of graduates. If i could turn back time i would have not bothered with university and went straight to work, probably e earning 18 grand by now. Students go to UNi because they can't think of what else to do or to not upset mummy or daddy.

[Guest]

Quoting friesman with a degree in philosophy from 20:48, 22nd Mar 2007
i graduated with a degree in philosophy also, and i am beginning to wish i never chose this major. i have been unemployed for many months now, and people mock my status because of my degree, saying that i should be ready to spend the next 40 years of my life saying the line 'do you want fries with that'. it truly is demoralising but it's true at the same time. i have been researching the web and some famous people have had degrees in philosophy who have gone on to do much bigger things - working in film, becoming US president, working in martial arts, whatever. i wish i could follow these peoples footsteps to success but i can't because i don't know how. i feel i have wasted all my years at university for nothing but a huge student loan debt to pay and the forever mocking from my parents in saying 'see? i told you. you should never have studied philosophy. look what it got you. months of unemployment and no hope of finding a job.' i so badly want to prove them wrong!

I am very sorry to hear that you are struggling to find a job. But i'm not sure you can blame it on your degree. My best friend did a degree in philosophy and now he's traveling the world writing the news bulletins for the bbc. They told him that a philosophy degree was extremely useful to journalism as it helps him provide balanced arguments and refrain from bias. He loves his jobs and proves that there are jobs out there for philosophers, it's just knowing where to look. Hope things work out for you though. Good luck on your job hunt.

[Guest]

Maybe thats your experience of it but it isn't most peoples. I wanted to go to univeristy to further my education. As for my parents, they have nothing to do with it as I fund myself. Many go just for the experience... and why not if they can afford it? Also yes you may be earning £18,000, but there are some graduate jobs that pay a starting salary well in excess of that. Also yes experience is important. However almost all the big companies with big starting salaries require a degree. Experience alone is not enough... and vice versa.

Quoting raindog from 19:24, 16th Mar 2008
The sheer amount of people with the degrees is causing the devaluation of actually ehaving a degree. Most Employers nowadays want experience over acaemic merit. I am lucky that i have both and am gaining at a rapid rate experience of working within the financial services, a job which i gained through an agency with no need for a degree. I shold have learned a trade as tradesmen are earning a lot more than the majority of graduates. If i could turn back time i would have not bothered with university and went straight to work, probably e earning 18 grand by now. Students go to UNi because they can't think of what else to do or to not upset mummy or daddy.

[Midget]

Quoting raindog from 19:24, 16th Mar 2008
The sheer amount of people with the degrees is causing the devaluation of actually ehaving a degree. Most Employers nowadays want experience over acaemic merit.

True

I shold have learned a trade as tradesmen are earning a lot more than the majority of graduates. If i could turn back time i would have not bothered with university and went straight to work, probably e earning 18 grand by now.

Plenty of graduates get 18 grand straight after leaving or at least within a year or so. Perhaps University is about a little bit more than getting a JOB with a 18K salary, lofty though those aspirations be.

[Guest]

Sorry, but college degrees are dime a dozen. If you aren't graduating with a degree in the sciences with a high GPA, you are f***ed unless you know people who can get your foot through the door. Lets face it using economics: world resources are starting to run thin and we are fighting for them through wars and political leveraging. The job market has become just as tough. I have a BA in Econ and I'm now trying to get another degree in electrical engineering. It's hard as hell - I have zero time to socialize or do anything else. Most liberal arts majors make it convenient to drink every night and show up to class late.

[Guest]

Quoting from 02:04, 3rd Apr 2008
Sorry, but college degrees are dime a dozen. If you aren't graduating with a degree in the sciences with a high GPA, you are f***ed unless you know people who can get your foot through the door. Lets face it using economics: world resources are starting to run thin and we are fighting for them through wars and political leveraging. The job market has become just as tough. I have a BA in Econ and I'm now trying to get another degree in electrical engineering. It's hard as hell - I have zero time to socialize or do anything else. Most liberal arts majors make it convenient to drink every night and show up to class late.

That's why you need to go to a University instead of college. Sounds to me like your problem is being American. Having a BA in Economics in a country with no economy sounds pretty stupid to me. Have a nice day!

[Mehmsy]

The last time I got into this argument, I stumbled into a room full of Arts students and proceeded to tell them all that I thought their degrees were worthless and that I was amazing for studying astrophysics. Smiles turned to frowns.

Mind you, I'd had a fair bit of wine and beer by that point, so I wasn't exactly aware of what I was doing.

[hr]

http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37106593

[Gubbins]

To be fair, studying astrophysics does strange things to your brain. I've just spent the last five minutes trying to see whether human skin is more fragile than orange skin by unsuccessfully trying to give an orange a paper cut.

[hr]

...then again, that is only my opinion.

[Mr Comedy]

Quoting raindog from 19:24, 16th Mar 2008
The sheer amount of people with the degrees is causing the devaluation of actually ehaving a degree. Most Employers nowadays want experience over acaemic merit. I am lucky that i have both and am gaining at a rapid rate experience of working within the financial services, a job which i gained through an agency with no need for a degree. I shold have learned a trade as tradesmen are earning a lot more than the majority of graduates. If i could turn back time i would have not bothered with university and went straight to work, probably e earning 18 grand by now. Students go to UNi because they can't think of what else to do or to not upset mummy or daddy.

Or they want a job that pays more than 18k at the age of 21...

[hr]

"I am in no way interested in immortality, but only in the taste of tea. " -Lu Tung

[Mr Comedy]

Quoting Gubbins from 15:09, 8th Apr 2008
To be fair, studying astrophysics does strange things to your brain. I've just spent the last five minutes trying to see whether human skin is more fragile than orange skin by unsuccessfully trying to give an orange a paper cut.

[hr]

...then again, that is only my opinion.

The next logical experiment is if you can squeeze an orange hard and get orange juice, how hard to you need to squeeze yourself to get man juice? Keep up the research good Doctor.

[hr]

"I am in no way interested in immortality, but only in the taste of tea. " -Lu Tung