Will majoring in a liberal arts be a waste of time?

Question

uhmm so will it? and why?

Thanks for all the answers. I plan to do graduate studies in some type of a business. But i was told liberal arts is good because the skills are "transferable".

Answer 1

If your primary concern is to make money, none of which you can take with you when you leave this life, then yes...majoring in liberal arts will be a colossal waste of time.

If, as Socrates said, you believe that the unexamined life is not worth living, then no...majoring in liberal arts will NOT be a waste of time.

I think someone in a previous answer stated that "with a liberal arts education you become a jack of all trades but a master of none. Find what you are good at, learn it inside and out and go from there."
I disagree. I would rather be a jack of all trades than a master of one, because what happens when the trade you've mastered becomes dispensable? Or worse, you get old and your employer deems you to expensive to keep?

I majored in English. I got a BA in 1993, and I've had several jobs I liked a lot since then. The thinking skills I learned at a small liberal arts college enabled me to figure out how my skills transferred to almost any sort of job I wanted to try, then enabled me to talk that employer into giving me a shot. I've learned more skills at each employer, and each and every job I've left has wished me well, and asked if I wouldn't reconsider my decision to leave.

But like I said...if your primary concern is to make money and waltz through life oblivious to the kind of life you are leading, then don't major in the liberal arts.

Answer 2

Depends upon what you want out of your education. As a liberal arts major, I loved every minute of my college experience....except for the math........ I don't think any education is a waste, but if you interest is in business, or computers, agriculture, or some other discipline, then it would be best to major in those. Besides liberal arts is too broad....at my college it included Math, Science, Literature, History, Sociology, Anthropology, Foreign Languages, English, and Art.

Answer 3

Yes, it will. With a liberal arts education you become a jack of all trades but a master of none. Find what you are good at, learn it inside and out and go from there.

Liberal arts educations were created for rich kids that didn't need to worry about money after graduation, they just needed to be able to hold intelligent conversations.

Answer 4

Not at all. You will learn how to approach and learn new things, a skill which is critical in this fast-changing world. You will learn strong writing and analytical skills. Besides, despite constant sneering about the inability of liberal arts majors to get jobs, there are plenty of jobs which will hire any bright college graduate. You just need to learn how to sell yourself.

Answer 5

NO!
Aside from the inherent advantage of learning itself, I majored in philosophy and having a degree has always opened doors for me. You would make more money with, say, an engineering degree- but only if you liked engineering. If you didn't like it you would be unhappy and not good at it. If you have a passion for some profession the best course is to study it and go into it as a career. But if you don't, study something you like. You'll find your calling eventually.

Answer 6

it depends on what you plan to do after college. If you want to go to law school, then a liberal arts major is a good idea. The same thing for med school, as long a you take the required math and science courses.

In the end, you should choose a major based on what kind of career you want to pursue.

Answer 7

Yeah, only what the U. S. desires: "promoting" majors who learn all the actual clever insider ideas abt a thank you to con food market consumers. Anti-lib arts types who'v by employing no potential learn one literature classic of their finished pathetic, ignorant, lemming existence.

Answer 8

Most likely.
Find a specialized field like teaching, nursing, pharmacy etc. then you know you'll be able to find a job. The medical field is especially good right now because of all the aging baby boomers.

Answer 9

lets just say my husband makes 36K a yr after 10 yr exp. and is considered in our area to be one of the best.

depends... do you want to work and make lots of money or do you want to work and love what you do. Also depends on what exactly you do with the liberal arts deg.

Answer 10

Actually, a good percentage of college students change their major, so ...go for it. You may discover an interest/talent that you didn't know was there. You also should have college advisors available to help you.