Not me, but a fair chunk of New Zealand were laughing at "those Idiots" that got "useless degrees in basket weaving" back in the late '80's, early 90's. They are now bringing lost art back to life. They got jobs in movies as master artists, creating those works for things like Lord of the Rings, etc. Our Maori history is being showcased to the world through their work, people pay not just for their amazing baskets but to see them work.

WayneH_nz , Joice Rivas Report

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Georgia Ireland

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I know how to make baskets.

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Was told as a naturally artistic child that there was no point in pursuing art, I needed to "go to college and get a real job." So, following this practical advice, I got a bachelors degree in botany.

And a minor in art, and then did a one year MA with a focus in metals.

I own over a hundred houseplants, thanks botany! ....and have been a jewelry designer and jeweler for about 25 years, and still paint and draw.

You can't stop the signal.

Gibber_Italicus , Marcus Aurelius Report

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Tempest

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OP is like me! I’ve always loved architecture (since I was in primary school), always drawing up my own plans for houses and even making very detailed model houses. But because I went on to get top grades in school, my parents pushed me to do medicine saying “you can do architecture later in life”. (I did express an interest in medicine but not as much as for architecture.) I have now graduated with a MD degree but am still at a stage of doing exams and more exams (licensing exams and whatnot) with the end goal of being an actual working doctor still far far away. I have honestly lost most of the passion I had for medicine so it’s actually much harder for me to navigate this challenging field now (went from top student at school to struggling student). But I still absolutely love architecture! I never once lost my passion and love for it. But sadly I don’t think I’ll ever be able to be one cause by being a doctor I wouldn’t have time to go back to university for another degree. :(

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I have an art degree in glass art. Have been a professional glass artist since 2000, just started on the 2nd largest commission of my career for a $60,000 suspended sculpture.

Sunlight72 , Quino Al Report

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Mrs.C

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I am intrigued by glass art. I love that you've made a profession out of a passion!

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I didn't get [a] degree in it, but I did minor in women's studies since I already took a bunch of sociology classes and just needed a few more for the minor. I'm a doctor now, and it's actually been pretty helpful in helping me recognize my own biases and how they might influence my medical decision-making.

anon , Ivan Samkov Report

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Rob

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The world needs more people like your good self to ensure that 50% of the population are properly considered in all areas of life, particularly policy making!

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My dad barely graduated a 5+ year college run with an English degree. He wanted a business degree but was declined from the program numerous times. Couldn’t find a job after graduation. Saw a newspaper ad for a concrete gig. Learned how to do the stuff. After a few years on the job, he quit and started his own concrete empire, I don’t know the exact numbers, but from what I know, he pockets at least 2 mil a year. His best advice is: “All you need out of college is a piece of paper, to prove to an employer that you can put in time, effort, and hard work. It doesn’t really matter what’s on the paper.”

rainystarlight , Min An Report

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Mrs.C

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You don't need the paper if you're working in the trades. So many will hire you, train you, and pay you all the while. We need to get away from this idea that you MUST have a college degree to be successful.

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BFA in studio arts. I am a tattoo artist, co-own a studio, and intend to go back for my masters to teach when my body doesn’t want to tattoo anymore.
I specialized in graphic design and do all the branding/marketing/interior design needed for the studio.
I taught painting classes, worked in graphic design, and sometimes do commission artwork. I prefer to make stuff I enjoy.

jessieisokay , Antoni Shkraba Report

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Pheebs

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I got a degree in photography in the early aughts, when the world was moving to digital. Saw the trend of cellphone photography and photoshop/filtering was going to boom, so switched to computer programming instead of making myself insane trying to do pro photography. Had a friend who went from a PhD in Biology program to photography to selling real estate.

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Bachelor's degree in animation. I deliver mail now. **Edit:** Because this is strangely the most popular post I've ever had on Reddit, and I'm still getting blasted with replies, I'm going to clarify some things here rather than replying to so many comments individually. 1- I don't think animation is useless. I love animation. I don't think any degree in any field is useless. There is always use in education. However, I took the quotes around "useless" in the thread title to mean "what other people consider useless." As anyone who has pursued a degree in any kind of art knows, the world at large loves to tell you your degree is useless. 2. That being said, from my experience, *a degree* in animation vs *a diploma* in animation signifies only that you spent more money to receive a less focused education. 3. Please stop making assumptions about me or my career. It is not your business, but yes, I did get some jobs in the industry and no, I don't want to be in the industry anymore. I'm quite happy delivering mail. 4. I made the transition because my mental health was just taking too much of a hit.

EkbyBjarnum , Sarath P Raj Sarath P Raj Report

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Jrog

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Friends tell me both 3D (clips that go into games or movies) and 2D (cartoons) animation is not a good industry to be in. Long hours at a substandard pay, job uncertainty because studios pop up and close down at blistering pace often without paying in full, unsatisfactory job at the lower tiers where it's mostly menial and repetitive tasks. If you are a freelancer you have upfront yearly expenses for the software that are quite significant, the project deadlines are often very short alternating long spells of unpaid time and short burst of 100hs/wk and the value of the work is often underestimated by clients.

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BA in medieval studies from an Ivy. I work in VFX. I've wanted to work in the film industry since I was in college, and I get to work on the coolest stuff. Love what I do.

nifflerriver4 , Pixabay Report

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Agamemnon O'Neill

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I would have LOVED to take medieval studies! When I retire I'm going to go back to school and take the things I'm interested in.

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History degree.

Went to law school and got my JD. Went to work for a private developer doing government and public relations stuff. Now working for a nonprofit as an advocate for indigenous peoples working on social and political issues like human trafficking and climate change policy.

nekosaigai , Markus Winkler Report

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Rinso the Red

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I use the skills I learned my History degree all the time. The ability to consume large amounts of data and create a compelling argument is almost universal. Currently, I do quality assurance for the technical documentation used by a large call center in the medical field.

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Psychology degree -> bartending

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Mrs.C

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Many times they are one in the same.

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My liberal arts degree helped me understand how the world works a little better. Turns out that is very useful when applied to investing. I retired at 50.

Heavy_Direction1547 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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sbj

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Lucky you!

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Independent Researcher* (AKA, unemployed, or at least seriously under-employed, but I spend a few nights a week at the library pretending to be a post-doc, trying to write research papers on my degree subject because I miss doing my PhD.) I studied volcanology, which I -definitely- don't think is useless, but it is niche and hard to stay in. I'm all for people studying what sets their hearts on fire and not letting people devalue their degrees, and I love to see it when people shut the naysayers up and make it work.

ItsGonnaGetRocky , Eriks Cistovs Report

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LizzieBoredom

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It could have been worse. You could have studied Vulcanology.

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Philosophy degree. I think about life a lot. *EDIT:* I was actually a double major in Philosophy (because I wanted to explore the Big Questions of Existence) and Economics (because I figured that many philosophers starve). But I didn’t end up directly using either body of knowledge in my work career. I was an editor for some technical publications, then I made an early-midlife swivel and became a middle school math teacher, which I did for decades. I really do still ponder those life questions a lot, though.

MisterBigDude , Tingey Injury Law Firm Report

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Kavin

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I want to get a philosophy degree, but I'm worried Iḿ not going to be able to find a job :(

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*What do you do / With a BA in English?*

Cloud application manager.

SonuvaGunderson , Houcine Ncib Report

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Maggie Fulton

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Tech editor, formerly proposal marketing for engineering firms. Not high paying, but I got to spent four years studying my favorite subject. No regrets.

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I got a BA in sociology. Got accepted to law school but opted out because I was burned out and hated everything. I went to work at a hotel and randomly fell into accounting. It worked for me, and now I have a CPA. Life is a journey.

Winstonisapuppy , Vlada Karpovich Report

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Film degree. Work in film production. Be careful what you wish for.

GibsonMaestro , Nino Souza Report

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Orange Frosting

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The last sentence needs more of an explanation.

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BS Kinesiology. MS exercise physiology. Software engineer now.

ljheartless , Yan Krukau Report

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Nobita

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I got a PhD in Biomedical science, postdoc for 2 years and now Data Engineer at a Financial firm. Universe had different plans for me 5 years ago, I guess

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Did get the typically “useless” psychology B.A. but did go on to get my masters in marriage and family therapy, currently work as a therapist. So it has gotten its use!

SpiritualAssistant91 , Gustavo Fring Report

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I have a degree in accounting, that I used for six months 30 year ago.

My roomate was a flight attendant and was having a blast, I decided to apply got accepted and spent 10 years traveling the world, until I had kids. Once they were older, I got into property management. Getting my degree in accounting was easy for me, and I thought I would be good at it. However, I started hating numbers real quick.

Simple_Ecstatic , Anna Tarazevich Report

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M O'Connell

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What lots of people don't realize about accounting is that it is a highly repetitive grind

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I have a theater degree. I teach theater. Even through several years of [freelancing], I haven't been without work for more than a week since 2011.

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3 Trash Pandas (She/They)

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Theatre teachers are the best!

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Fly planes. Creative writing degree.

nbd9000 , Judit Peter Report

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Mark

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I would've expected a lengthier article considering they have a CW degree

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Make your way in the world. I have the very definition of a “useless degree“ (a BA from a disreputable public liberal arts college). But I found a career that worked for me. I’m self employed, own a house, have a partner, and I’m doing fine (with less than zero help from my parents).

So fellow English majors, fellow underwater basket weavers, fellow sociologists, take heart. Be professional, charming, and smart. Show up on time and do your f*****g best, even if you’re not 100% into it. Take jobs you’re overqualified for. Take jobs you’re underqualified for. Follow your instincts and seize your opportunities. It won’t work out for everyone (this being capitalism, after all), but it worked out for me. And it can for you, too!

I know this seems like a Boomer comment but I’m 43. I felt absolutely hopeless (economically), in my 20s, but it got better.

Fuzzy_Meringue5317 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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I got a Geography degree. I'm an electronics technician at a very large defense contractor.

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FaceTime Audio

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I love geography. Not sure what a geography degree consists of beyond being able to know where everything is, but man I love learning where everything is, and I’d love to learn the other parts of a geography degree.

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Got a psych degree, now im an electrician.

MrSavageManiac , cottonbro studio Report

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Tucker Cahooter

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We now know the real answer to the riddle "how many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb?"

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Bachelor’s: English/Creative Writing

Master’s: Liberal Studies/Peace Education/Educational Theory

Job: Kindergarten teacher

I teach full time on a sub license at a charter, and I’m living the dream.

Edit: I have a sub license, but I was hired in as a full time teacher.

Project_Red_Fall , Jeswin Thomas Report

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Tempest

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I know someone who has a degree in fashion design but never found a job even after getting a masters and now works happily as a primary school teacher.

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Sales. I do brewery tours for fun and often make fun of my German degree, and then teach them related words.

Patamarick , Luna Groothedde Report

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Bachelor in cultural anthropology > CPA

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Psychology degree -> real estate appraisal -> startup founder in gaming industry -> product manager at fintech company. It’s been a weird 20 years since college.

sasquatchsam , Alex Green Report

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Fine arts degree. Worked my butt off for years. Now in sales, which comes so easy to me, and I make so much more money. Wish I studied business or marketing and figured this out many years ago.

SecretGardenBlondie , Deeana Arts Report

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BAs in English and Women’s Studies > f****d around as a copywriter, library clerk (to be a librarian one needs a Library Sciences MS,) managed a home healthcare office, other low-paying endeavors > decided at 30 to go to grad school > At forty, I’ve been a psychotherapist for 7ish years, and I’m now burnt out.

justheretoleer , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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Phred

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Get the library degree and become a medical librarian. We have more fun than most people think!

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