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While there's no doubt that getting an education is a good thing, the question is usually: what is the best degree to get? Is it social sciences? Humanities? STEM? After all, no one really wants to finish their studies and realize that the thing they studied for is utterly useless.
But there's always someone who ends up in such a situation. Today, we have a full list of people's revelations of what happened with their careers after they got diplomas for certain degrees. After reading this, you might realize that sometimes those "useless" degrees aren't that useless in the grand scheme of things.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Fine Arts degree. I draw toy designs for Hasbro, it's awesome.
RELATED:
#2
Using the f**k out of my theater degree so I can act like I care in my customer service job.
#3
Don’t use my first degree, but I met my wife getting that degree, that’s worth more than anything.
Many of us, since we were little, are told that getting a good education is important. And it’s not a lie – it brings plenty of benefits to one’s life. The most commonly mentioned ones are a possible edge in the labor market, better critical thinking skills, and an increased level of general knowledge.
Basically, education helps a person grow in various ways and become a more well-rounded individual, which is far from a bad thing, is it?
One of the traditional ways to get education is school – from elementary to high school to higher education. While the initial stages are mandatory for everyone to go through, further degrees like a bachelor’s, a master’s, and others aren’t, still, a lot of people decide to seek them. We probably don’t have to tell you why they decide to do so – we already established that education is simply a way to improve one’s life.
#4
Masters in Acting. I took the skills I learned from a student job building theatre sets and became a general contractor.
#5
Archaeology/anthropology degree. I work at an engineering firm as an archaeologist. 🤷♀️.
#6
Japanese degree. Went to law school.
Now I can understand the anime I watch during my breaks.
At the same time, there are some who argue that getting a higher education degree in the modern day isn’t worth it. Especially if a person decides to go for something that is considered a “useless” degree.
What are such degrees, you might wonder? Well, this is a rather subjective thing to declare – for some, certain degrees can seem way more worthy than others. It all depends on what kind of factors they are considering.
#7
Philosophy degree. I work at dollar tree.
#8
English and Classics dual major. Neurosurgeon.
#9
History degree here.
I took a full time job unrelated to my studies because it was June 2020, so I figured I should have something at hand. Ended up loving the job so I didn't continue down the path to my masters or credentials for teaching. Glad I didn't as well, from talking to my peers. Now I work in public transit and it's honestly much more fulfilling than I ever would have thought.
Since these things are usually decided based on an average paycheck after graduation, employment rates, and so on, there are certain degrees that show up on the “useless” degrees list more often than others.
The thing is, these degrees are quite often related in some way to the arts, humanities, or social sciences. Simultaneously, STEM degrees are considered way more worthy than others. We can’t deny that STEM is important, but regarding it as the only branch of science worth someone’s time is a mistake.
#10
Undergrad in Latin, masters in history.
Am now a lawyer.
Nils Skirnir 4 days ago
Virtually all the heads of US corporations and major politicians were Liberal Arts majors. Some of the former followed that up with a finance degree or MBA. In the Anglosphere, the days of engineers or technical people running things is long gone. NB for the fanboys- No Musk was not an engineer or techie. Neither was Zuckerberg or Thiel. None of them.
#11
I got a degree in anthropology. My father, having paid for this degree, then told me I needed
“something with a certificate.”
So, off to nursing school I went. It was the perfect profession for me.
#12
English degree. I do data entry and paperwork at a medical clinic. Computer literacy (in general) and professional writing/typing skills do help a lot.
Degrees in the arts encourage people to express their creativity and understand art with a deeper perspective, while studies in humanities and social sciences let people have a better understanding of themselves, others, human nature overall, and things like that. So, it’s not completely useless – in fact, we would argue that no degree is useless, as long as it allows a person to grow in a positive way.
Today’s list is full of such examples – it’s made up of stories from people who studied for these so-called “useless” degrees. While some don’t do anything even relatively related to their studies now, that doesn’t mean that they’re worse off.
#13
Not my story. I met a man who said he had a "useless" degree. I asked him what it was. He said, "Victorian studies".
But then Steampunk became popular. He is doing really well as a maker now. This is his shop: Brute Force Studios. He was also a judge on a show on Steampunk crafts, and wrote a book.
WindySwede 4 days ago
"BruteForceStudios is taking a short break, Last updated on 26 Nov, 2024." 😕
#14
Well I personally figured getting a Chemistry degree would be an easy way to avoid having a useless degree but then I found out all entry level lab work is open to high school GED's and pays less than fast food where I live. That said hazardous waste is good work if anyone is feeling it. Comes with its own retirement in the form of chronic poisoning but but but you get life insurance as well so someone you know will be happy when you pass.
Inservio Smurf 3 days ago
LOL whoever wrote this is my spirit animal. I absolutely adore the ascerbic wit
#15
I got a degree in East Asian studies because my advisor said it doesn’t matter just major in something you like there will be jobs, worked retail for 10+ years im now at my uncles real estate company, nepotism to the rescue!
Maybe the butterfly effect worked for them – if they hadn't gotten their seemingly unrelated degree, their life may have turned out completely different, maybe for the worse. There’s no way to know.
Still, what we want to communicate is that even if you decide to study for a degree that others call “useless,” don’t be unmotivated – you can’t fully know where it will lead you. In the future, you may or may not be able to use it directly, but at least you'll have the education and knowledge – and that's never a bad thing.
#16
Political Science degree....
Ended up deciding not to go to law school. I work in insurance, but because I developed a skill in writing, I am able to do a lot of my work via email with client services, and get paid pretty decent and I have a work from home job. Education is never useless and always helps even if it's not the path you originally thought it would be.
Petra Peitsch 4 days ago
Me too. I got also a PS degree in my home country, nd although I never worked in politics or at some institute, I became a journalist. If you have some writing skills, those years in Uni will help develop them more, also your critical thinking. "Useless", yeah, as I was never working in the strict field of my degree, but otherwise nope, worth it. Then changed countries and some professions, but that's another story.
#18
I got my B.A. in French and an M.A. in French Linguistics. I loved every minute of it, but never found my planned career in teaching French. I ended up teaching Computer Science courses for a while and then became an instructional designer. I just retired last month and I don't regret any of it.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 3 days ago
If I was fluent in French I would be planning on emigrating to France immediately. My degree focused on beer and wine production. My second language is Spanish so Argentina is appealing as well.
#19
I have a son with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music, but didn’t pursue music as a career. He works as a manager and trainer at an upscale gym in a large city and makes about six figures a year. I am still proud of him despite his not pursuing his degree career. As long as he is happy, that’s what matters most.
Sven Grammersdorf 3 days ago
Probably making more money managing the gym than he ever would have teaching music
#20
My late sister hated math (barely passed Algebra 1, stopped after Geometry), majored in Art, and ended up as a programmer for Amex.
#21
Criminology. Now I'm an airline pilot.
Huddo's sister 4 days ago
My brother did a bachelor's of criminology, including an honour's year, with the initial aim of going into the police. He got to the interview stage and realised he couldn't answer the question 'why do you want to be a cop?' So he started applying for graduate positions in related fields, like ASIO where he wouldn't be working on the street but doing research/policy work. Didn't get anywhere, even after doing a masters in politics and policy making. So he still works at Salvos Stores which he started as a volunteer after the initial course so he could get government unemployment payments until he found something else. Worked his way up to store manager and has been promised positions in training and policy making in the company, but keeps missing out because the people in those positions don't end up getting promoted themselves. Now he's just hanging in there until after he takes paternity leave for his upcoming child and then will be looking for something else.
#22
Theatre degree > partner at an ad agency. I use my degree multiple times every single day, and my 20s were guaranteed more fun than most of the suits who make just as much as I do now. It’s risky but I say do what you love and know when to pivot.
#23
Theater degree here. Then got an MFA in writing. Basically burned out on both things though I do still write. Ended up as a district merchandising manager after working my way through grad school as a retail manager/merchandiser.
#24
Film degree
You can find my name in the Set Lighting or Grip section at the end of Marvel movies, Top Gun Maverick, and this summer’s F1 amongst network TV shows and a bunch of small indies you’ve never heard of.
Jessica Langmeyer Specht 4 days ago
So, how is this a useless degree if you're working for a successful franchise in the field you got a degree in?
#25
Criminal justice degree.
Yes I became a cop.
No, I didn’t need this degree to be a cop.
But I am compensated more because of it. So it worked out well for me.
#26
Christ the number of people in here that are like "Went to School for ... Programmer / in IT now" explains a f**k load about people I work with now.
Inservio Smurf 3 days ago
Now imagine what it's like for the basement geek getting pushed out of his lifelong hobby and dreamjob, to make room for a normie that couldn't hack it in their own field and decided to memorise a programming language developed sometime in the last six hours. They can learn coding, but I will always suck at humaning.
#27
Unemployed Political science major. Undergrad was expensive and law school is out of reach financially.
Tom De Paul 15 hours ago
They'll give you loans and the schooling will teach you how to discharge the loans in bankruptcy. Go for it.
#28
Studied Computer Games Programming, a degree I switched from Computer Science in my first semester. Got a job as a programmer for a studio that made gambling games, and then six years later got a job at an indie games publisher.
Got laid off from them 18 months ago, but work as a games programmer for a big games company now. Not so useless as my Dad feared it'd be.
Huddo's sister 4 days ago
I have a friend who did a similar degree, created a game app with friends but made very little out of it and now teaches the same courses he studied.
Poll Question
Would you say that there are such things as "useless" degrees?
Yep, you should choose your education carefully.
Maybe, but you can make anything work with enough passion.
Nope, every degree has it's use!
I'm just not sure...
What do you think ?
Gingersnap In Iowa 4 days ago
Majored in Anthropology w/emphasis on archeology. Minor in Art. So not only can I dig something up out of your backyard but I can draw a picture of it!
Nicole Weymann 4 days ago
I invite you to come visit me. We have a 200+ YO house and a big garden - anyplace you DON'T find anything will be great for planting beans, zucchini and pumpkins, and anything you DO dig up will make for an interesting surprise 😄
Nils Skirnir 4 days ago (edited)
I know so many engineers and comp sci majors who started their careers in the fields they trained for, but quit. Why? Though the initial salaries were pretty good, they were not the advertised Google or FB ones and if they were the environment was oppressive. Plus the jobs are often drudgery, imagine spending days moving shims around on CAD Plus engineers/techs have little chance for advancement and job security isn’t great. Many went into real estate and do very well with less pressure. Some started their own businesses, etc
Gingersnap In Iowa 4 days ago
Majored in Anthropology w/emphasis on archeology. Minor in Art. So not only can I dig something up out of your backyard but I can draw a picture of it!
Nicole Weymann 4 days ago
I invite you to come visit me. We have a 200+ YO house and a big garden - anyplace you DON'T find anything will be great for planting beans, zucchini and pumpkins, and anything you DO dig up will make for an interesting surprise 😄
Nils Skirnir 4 days ago (edited)
I know so many engineers and comp sci majors who started their careers in the fields they trained for, but quit. Why? Though the initial salaries were pretty good, they were not the advertised Google or FB ones and if they were the environment was oppressive. Plus the jobs are often drudgery, imagine spending days moving shims around on CAD Plus engineers/techs have little chance for advancement and job security isn’t great. Many went into real estate and do very well with less pressure. Some started their own businesses, etc
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