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The usefulness of that depends on whether you think academic higher education is vocational ("I'm doing a chemistry degree so that I can be a chemist") or inqui
by growse 2y ago
The usefulness of that depends on whether you think academic higher education is vocational ("I'm doing a chemistry degree so that I can be a chemist") or inquisitive ("I'm doing a chemistry degree because it's so heckin' interesting").
I'd tend to advise people to study stuff they find interesting. I'd wager the percentage of degree holders doing a job that's directly related to their degree is in the minority, and that's not a bad thing.
- spacebanana7 2y agoInquisitive education is great for people who’re independently wealthy or academically exceptional. But the average person takes a real risk of underemployment with that approach. A friend of mine with a degree in marine biology works as a barista, another with a philosophy degree works as a retail assistant.
- jmye 2y agoThose people don’t have those jobs because of their degree. As a non-wealthy, not particularly bright creative writing major, the focus of your degree only holds you back if you let it, or if you are utterly unwilling to work outside of your focus area. Tech, especially, has an absurd number of on-ramps for anyone willing to do the tiniest modicum of extra-curricular work.
- dbetteridge 2y agoUnfortunately while it shouldn't be the case, education for education sake is regarded as a privilege for the wealthy. Most are becoming educated and going into significant debt to get a specific job, or salary.