Useless Degrees?

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I too must bring up this humerous quote.

Snobby art grad here. I wasted my efforts in an art supply store (education was not needed to get that job) for far longer than I'd like to admit. When I finish my year of maternity I'm going to ditch the retail industry once and for all and get a job doing what I'm VERY good at.

 

Then you know what to expect next time. Even if it is a "free" job, it's still experience and in no way less than what you get from a "official job." You simply must value what you have, bring it out right, and forget that there are any negative sides. Try practising in front of a mirror. If you can convince them, you can convince anyone.

Of course, there can be...

...just dumb luck in the game too.

Really, though; official jobs are the most difficult place to start a career. A lot of competition and very critical interviewers... A bad combination. Will try it first, myself, but it would be better to think of the alternatives. I will probably try to offer some consulting services as an independent entrepreneur and, hopefully, earn my badges that way. Or at least enough money to move out and get abroad.

 

I'm on my way to an MA in English and German. Add my mother tongue (Dutch, or Flemish as some people prefer to call it ) and I have a pretty complete knowledge of Western European Germanic languages.

It may be useless to you, but my children will know correct English, damn it!

 

In Finland, it's possible to do a degree in theology. It's not a seminar, it's in a university.
The jobs you usually get with that degree is either a religion teacher, or you can be ordained as a priest to the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland, if a parish will accept you.

Other possible jobs might be a consultant, or a personnel manager in some company.

As a non-religious person, I find that a separate degree in theology is useless. Scientific theology studies are somewhat self-contradictory. If you're a person of faith, you might end up in a serious religious and personal crisis with your studies. If you're not, then why bother studying theology.

 

Some faiths require a Seminary Degree to be a minister these days. the trick is to go to a Seminary that mostly asgrees with what you believe.

Me, just a 2 year degree and I'm a Registered Nurse, I work 1 full-time job and 2 part-time jobs and still only work 4 nights a week (gotta love 12 hour shifts)

 

There is no useless education only a lack of use.

Degrees on the other hand are only useful to get a job and sometimes not even then.

 

Or getting points. Never forget the points. Countries give potential immigrants points based on their education and probably some companies do the same too. It's always important to score high.

 

I have digrees in 'Gaelic' and 'Ulster Scots', pretty useless for outside of Ireland. Gaelic is quite hard as there are many dialects e.g. Munster Gealic, Ulster Gealic and Meath Gaelic. I couldn't be bothered getting a degree in Scots Gaelic as I have never met a Scottish person that could speak their local language

Very soon I will have my degree in Computer Science, though I am going into holistic medicine namely 'Stone Massage' therapy.

 

Having a degree shows something. Either that you had enough money to buy it, or you had the determination to finish it. Showing that you have determination to finish a long term task is a very good thing.

 

I am considering a "useless" degree in English or philosophy, but am taking chemistry and biology courses to apply to medical school. I could go for a biology degree (and I do like biology a bit), but English and philosophy are more interesting to me. Plus it makes me stand out in the applicant pool.

 

heh, my dad has a degree in gunsmithing and works for a high school teaching math.

 

My undergrad degrees were in Political Science with minors in Russian Language and History. Although I don't really use the degrees per se, they were the foundation for my next degree and my career: Law.

The undergrad degrees taught me how to communicate effectively, conduct research, and use logical reasoning...All skills I've needed in my career.

I think having university level education is important, but what's equally important is what you do with it once you get it.

 

Considering that I'm applying for an English Lit and Creative Writing degree, I think English degrees are very useful. Besides, I'm sure America needs English teachers...


Guys, I'm kidding.

Now, back to my coursework. The Great Gatsby *yawn*

Hey, why does my English Lit course contain Fitzgerald? This is rubbish! I want my money back!

 

I got an at the moment useless degree in teaching. Social science and English for upper secondary school pupils.

Which basically amounts to English (duh) and political science which have both been labelled previously as worthless.

Unemployment gives me more time to play World of Warcraft.

 

Being a high school dropout, I find my GED to be quite useless are far as employment is concerned; however, as a whip-cracking driver towards my successful completion of a chemistry degree, there can be no more fearsome piece of paper.

 

English skills aren't worthless if you combine them with some language skills. Since english is a universal language, there is a huge demand for english teachers in countries like China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and so on... Sadly, in most of those countries english doesn't really have that developed position as in Europe, so the vacancies will not just "drop" for you without some work.

Truth to tell, if I could speak chinese, even a little, and teach english, finding a job from Asia would be piece of cake.

 

English skills certainly are not worthless. I'm about to reject an otherwise promising candidate for a vacancy at my work because he bombed out in a verbal reasoning test we gave him due to his terrible grasp of some fundamental English concepts that do not seem to be taught at school very effectively any more.

 

Wasn't there a degree in the Spice Girls a couple of years ago? And I think there's one you can do in David Beckham studies somewhere

 

I've got a Ph.D. in MIS, with a speciality in AI. I'm a professor at the uni here, teaching computer and project management courses -- so I guess I'm using mine. (I've also worked as a project manager -- mostly in the telecomm industry -- so I've seen a bit of both sides.)

 

I'm an English instructor at the secondary level, and let me tell you, we need English teachers! Employ me, Employ me!

That said, in all seriousness, it's not the hammer (degree) but how it's swung. I say that the mental discipline and work habits that go into getting pretty well any degree are really good indicators of potential value as an employee.

As for theology degrees, if you are religious and belong to an organized religious group, I can see the value in knowing that your clergyman has studied faiths around the world and has deeply studied the faith which you both profess. that knowledge could increase your faith in his counsel.