So what are the best college degrees to pursue?

[Achronos]

I think I qualified a year ago, but now I am considered an independent and can receive much more money from the governement than before. So with that, I think I might take a few classes here and there.

I'd love to have a degree in Graphic Design but I've read it's pretty oversaturated and I've rationalized it by being self-taught, which I am.

Fine Arts is something I am pretty good at, I love painting and sadly if college wasn't so grotesquely expensive and I didn't squander a scholarship that's what I'd probably get a degree in. I think it was for the best, I've grown considerably since leaving college for awhile, or so I think.

Anyway, is Accounting really the best for bang for the degree buck? I've taken an interest in it since that's what I do now (albeit nothing what a real accountant does) but I find it wholly boring. I want to do something creative, but all those degrees are just going to serve as a plate to put my Ramen on.

I'm about 10k in student loan debt, don't plan on adding more than that.

However I feel if it comes down to where I need to borrow money, I will. This job searching is so discouraging, so many positions I know I'm qualified for all require a degree. I figure in 10-20 years you may not get even a mediocre job without one.

So, OC.net members, what do you suggest on the best degrees to get for the future? Granted we can't predict what will change in the future, but I'm sure some of the degrees will have a long time lasting value.

[vamrat]

Do you want to actually make money someday?  If so, STEM.

If not, anything you want, cupcake.

(FWIW, I have a B.A. in Liberal Arts.  I have my job because I know people who own businesses.)

[Achronos]

Oh yes, STEM, everything that I am not good at.

[HabteSelassie]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Oh yes, STEM, everything that I am not good at.

Folks always woof about business degrees, but business degrees are literally just as worthless as Liberal Arts degrees without a specific business plan.  If you want to know the real, a lot o great jobs in the US are in mid-level manufacturing which require 2 year degrees or University certificate/apprentice programs as a machinist or tech person.  They are very job specific, and many folks at college simply don't realize their potential which is why there are literally 100,000 openings currently across the nation in such fields.  For Arts degrees, you need a very specific plan from the gate to get anything accomplished financially, and even then, you'd be looking to make 20% less than a person with comparable education and experience in different fields.


You can always get a history degree and work for R.A.N.D.  when I was at university they recruited to me twice

stay blessed,
habte selassie

[PeterTheAleut]

My advice: Find work you really enjoy doing, then go back to school to learn how to do that work better.

I earned my BA degree in music performance but found it pretty much useless financially if I didn't make it into either a military band program or a professional symphony. After kicking around for several years in a number of low paying jobs, I found that I had a knack for computer programming, so I went back to school to earn an Associates degree in computer software engineering. That degree opened the door for me to do the work I enjoy doing most and get paid a pretty hefty income for doing so. After a few more years in this field, I hope to even return to school in the evenings to earn a Master of Software Engineering degree (a Masters degree program for working professionals, as opposed to an academic degree). (I'm still actively involved in music performance, even if only as an amateur hobbyist, and I'm one of the music leaders in my church, so I won't say that my music degree was a total waste of money.)

[HabteSelassie]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

My advice: Find work you really enjoy doing, then go back to school to get educated on how to do your work better.

I earned my BA degree in music performance but found it pretty much useless financially if I didn't make it into either a military band program or a professional symphony.

"Its the only way really, to bring about the final solution to the orchestra question.." Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

stay blessed,
habte selassie

[Asteriktos]

So what are the best college degrees to pursue?

Nursing? There's gonna be a lot of demand in cleaning up baby boomer poop in the coming decades... 

[celticfan1888]

So, OC.net members, what do you suggest on the best degrees to get for the future? Granted we can't predict what will change in the future, but I'm sure some of the degrees will have a long time lasting value.

Biology field

[Kerdy]

Hopefully, a combination of what you enjoy and what you are good at doing.  Don't be like me and spend an entire career in something you no longer enjoy simply waiting on retirement to come.  Have fun and enjoy your work, even if it's simply digging ditches.

[celticfan1888]

Hopefully, a combination of what you enjoy and what you are good at doing.  Don't be like me and spend an entire career in something you no longer enjoy simply waiting on retirement to come.  Have fun and enjoy your work, even if it's simply digging ditches.

^^^ Actually that's the best advice.

Just do what you like, and be the best at it.

[LizaSymonenko]

I can't even count how many jobs I've had in my illustrious career - retail, temp at a bank, telemarketer, sign shop,....throughout my college years.

Then I grew up and had to get serious.

I used to be a programmer, but, that job got sent to India.  So, I while I still retained my job, I had to retrain in something else....which became software packaging (creating and testing MSI's).....until that job got outsourced to.....India.  So, while I retained my job, I had to retrain in something else...Client Assurance Testing.....until....

What I really enjoy is "art"....however, I also realized that would get me nowhere financially. 

Therefore, I hold down a job that I have never been truly comfortable with, in order to pay those pesky bills.

However, I still do "art" on the side.  Anybody who needs anything "creative" done, knows to come to me and I will help them out....be it flyers, pamphlets, photos, etc.  I usually do it for the Orthodox Community where I live, free of charge....because I feel that this creative "gift" was given to me free of charge, and therefore, I give it "back" free of charge.

My advice for the next generation would be something in the medical field...and there are many options.  While other jobs can be outsourced, people will always be getting sick and needing assistance.  Granted the radiologist who reviewed my last set of X-Rays actually was physically not in the U.S., however, the technician was.

For job security find something to do with the human "body".....medical or otherwise.  Hospital jobs, nursing home jobs, doctor's office jobs, dentist,  hair stylist, nail salon, foot doctor, physical therapist, psychiatrist/or therapist, ophthalmologist, etc.

In addition to the human "body" jobs....the human "spirit" jobs will also reap huge rewards - clergy (perhaps not monetary)...but, what better way to spend your life?

[Papist]

Nursing - great pay, great benefits

[LizaSymonenko]

Really? 

I know a couple of nurses, who always complain about the low pay, long hours, etc.

[CoptoGeek]

Nursing - great pay, great benefits

I heartily second Papist's nursing suggestion. Some nursing schools will even subsidize your education if you agree to work at their hospital system for a set number of years.  The schooling is not too bad & there many specialities you can choose.  I hope you'll at least look into it, Achronos.

Best of luck in whatever you choose!

[CoptoGeek]

Really? 

I know a couple of nurses, who always complain about the low pay, long hours, etc.

I guess it depends on what type of nursing & their geographic region. Plus, people will always complain.

[PeterTheAleut]

Funny how we say, "this career will work for you," or, "that career has great benefits". Yet we know nothing about Achronos except what he posts of himself here. We know nothing about what he loves most to do. We know nothing of his personal skills and aptitudes. So in the end, all we're doing is listing a bunch of careers that need filled by someone without any idea that Achronos may totally hate every one of them. They may sound attractive to us, but what about him?

So I come back to the advice I gave earlier. Find work you love to do, then go back to school to learn how to do that work better.

[pensateomnia]

Funny how we say, "this career will work for you," or, "that career has great benefits". Yet we know nothing about Achronos except what he posts of himself here. We know nothing about what he loves most to do. We know nothing of his personal skills and aptitudes. So in the end, all we're doing is listing a bunch of careers that need filled by someone without any idea that Achronos may totally hate every one of them. They may sound attractive to us, but what about him?

So I come back to the advice I gave earlier. Find work you love to do, then go back to school to learn how to do that work better.

That's a good model. But you still have to do some research on what kind of jobs are out there that you might like to do. Here's a list of "The 25 Best Jobs" from US News and World Report: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-25-best-jobs

It's not perfect, but it does give you some idea of fields that are projected to grow in the next 20 years.

[jmbejdl]

Really? 

I know a couple of nurses, who always complain about the low pay, long hours, etc.

My wife's a nursing assistant. It's fair to say that I know quite a few nurses who complain about the same things. Most of them still wouldn't do anything else but I'd definitely describe nursing as more of a vocation than a job for someone who simply wants to pay the bills.

James

[LizaSymonenko]

Funny how we say, "this career will work for you," or, "that career has great benefits". Yet we know nothing about Achronos except what he posts of himself here. We know nothing about what he loves most to do. We know nothing of his personal skills and aptitudes. So in the end, all we're doing is listing a bunch of careers that need filled by someone without any idea that Achronos may totally hate every one of them. They may sound attractive to us, but what about him?

So I come back to the advice I gave earlier. Find work you love to do, then go back to school to learn how to do that work better.

We're just giving him options.  Perhaps he'll read something he never thought of, and realize he might want to give it a try.

....after all, he is the one who asked for suggestions and ideas.

[podkarpatska]

My advice: Find work you really enjoy doing, then go back to school to learn how to do that work better.

I earned my BA degree in music performance but found it pretty much useless financially if I didn't make it into either a military band program or a professional symphony. After kicking around for several years in a number of low paying jobs, I found that I had a knack for computer programming, so I went back to school to earn an Associates degree in computer software engineering. That degree opened the door for me to do the work I enjoy doing most and get paid a pretty hefty income for doing so. After a few more years in this field, I hope to even return to school in the evenings to earn a Master of Software Engineering degree (a Masters degree program for working professionals, as opposed to an academic degree). (I'm still actively involved in music performance, even if only as an amateur hobbyist, and I'm one of the music leaders in my church, so I won't say that my music degree was a total waste of money.)

Amen to that - I am nearly 60 and I know far too many folks who lived throught unfulling and unrewarding careers because they thought it prudent to seek a ride of the most current trendy degrees at the time they had to choose. Often there was a default field - like law in the 1970's or business in the 1990's or IT today. A lot of us ended up there for no other reason than 'because.'  Nowadays we hear about science, math and IT all of the time, over and over again - soon we will need english teachers and history teachers or more accountants or fewer of this or that.

Be smart, don't just go with your heart - degrees in some fields are probably relatively worthless, but at the risk of being offensive I won't share my thoughts on which ones - but don't over analyze things in reaction either. A blend of intuition, what you like and what you are adept at are good ingredients to put into your choice process.

Seminary is not a bad place to end up by the way!

[Papist]

Really?  

I know a couple of nurses, who always complain about the low pay, long hours, etc.

Most of the nurses I know make $70,000 - $80,000 with an associates degree and work three to four 12 hour shifts a week. When the work a fourth shift it's because they chose to take on an overtime shift. Sounds like a good deal to me.

[Papist]

Funny how we say, "this career will work for you," or, "that career has great benefits". Yet we know nothing about Achronos except what he posts of himself here. We know nothing about what he loves most to do. We know nothing of his personal skills and aptitudes. So in the end, all we're doing is listing a bunch of careers that need filled by someone without any idea that Achronos may totally hate every one of them. They may sound attractive to us, but what about him?

So I come back to the advice I gave earlier. Find work you love to do, then go back to school to learn how to do that work better.

You raise some good points. The intention of my post was merely to point out a good career field/field of study.

[JamesRottnek]

I think I qualified a year ago, but now I am considered an independent and can receive much more money from the governement than before. So with that, I think I might take a few classes here and there.

I'd love to have a degree in Graphic Design but I've read it's pretty oversaturated and I've rationalized it by being self-taught, which I am.

Fine Arts is something I am pretty good at, I love painting and sadly if college wasn't so grotesquely expensive and I didn't squander a scholarship that's what I'd probably get a degree in. I think it was for the best, I've grown considerably since leaving college for awhile, or so I think.

Anyway, is Accounting really the best for bang for the degree buck? I've taken an interest in it since that's what I do now (albeit nothing what a real accountant does) but I find it wholly boring. I want to do something creative, but all those degrees are just going to serve as a plate to put my Ramen on.

I'm about 10k in student loan debt, don't plan on adding more than that.

However I feel if it comes down to where I need to borrow money, I will. This job searching is so discouraging, so many positions I know I'm qualified for all require a degree. I figure in 10-20 years you may not get even a mediocre job without one.

So, OC.net members, what do you suggest on the best degrees to get for the future? Granted we can't predict what will change in the future, but I'm sure some of the degrees will have a long time lasting value.

Look at salaries for new petroleum engineers, and then try and tell me accounting is the best bang for the buck.

[LizaSymonenko]

Really?  

I know a couple of nurses, who always complain about the low pay, long hours, etc.

Most of the nurses I know make $70,000 - $80,000 with an associates degree and work three to four 12 hour shifts a week. When the work a fourth shift it's because they chose to take on an overtime shift. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Wow.  That does sound like a good deal.  I had no idea.  Good money, plus the opportunity to help people who are scared and in need. 

Something to think about, for sure.

[celticfan1888]

Pittsburgh Steelers QB.

[Cyrillic]

Nursing - great pay, great benefits

Nurses are payed pretty badly, AFAIK. Perhaps it's different on your side of the big pond.

[Papist]

Nursing - great pay, great benefits

Nurses are payed pretty badly, AFAIK. Perhaps it's different on your side of the big pond.

I'm sure it varies, but here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, nursing pays very well. It's my understanding that in countries with socialized medicine, medical professional are paid less. Not a political statement, just my understanding.

[Achronos]

Funny how we say, "this career will work for you," or, "that career has great benefits". Yet we know nothing about Achronos except what he posts of himself here. We know nothing about what he loves most to do. We know nothing of his personal skills and aptitudes. So in the end, all we're doing is listing a bunch of careers that need filled by someone without any idea that Achronos may totally hate every one of them. They may sound attractive to us, but what about him?

So I come back to the advice I gave earlier. Find work you love to do, then go back to school to learn how to do that work better.

I appreciate that Peter, and honestly to list all my skills would invoke some sort of pride that I do not want to indulge in. Frankly I may even have skills I don't know about myself.

I seriously considered a career in medicine for about 2 years and then realized it wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong, yes that's the kind of industry with great benefits and compensation but it's not something that can keep me interested in the longterm. Lord forgive me but I hesitate to care for sickly people, so nursing is out of the question. I wanted to be a pharmacist at one point, but looking at the future, I bet there will be less pharmacists in the future.

How well does that old adage "Do what you love and the money will follow" hold up? I've been cynical about it since I've seen very few successful where that seems to be true.

It also seems to me that where the money is, all those professions would bore me to death. I don't care about money unless I have a family, so that is something that needs serious consideration as well because that changes everything to me. I'd gladly work some boring gig that pays great just to support my family.

I'm what 24 right now, about to hit 25 next month. It just seems scary because I feel that gap on getting a career going is slowly closing in.

[orthonorm]

Pittsburgh Steelers QB.

With his build, any football career is going to be lived out on a table.


(Achronos shop your face to a foosball guy, so I can mock you better. Thanks.)

[Achronos]

Pittsburgh Steelers QB.

With his build, any football career is going to be lived out on a table.


(Achronos shop your face to a foosball guy, so I can mock you better. Thanks.)

I think shopping my face to a ballerina may be better. In a jewel box.

[orthonorm]

"Do what you love and the money will follow"

What I've ignored and seen most helpful is more something along the lines of:

Do what you find reasonably interesting and could find yourself not loathing to do at someone else's behest for 40 or so hours a week.

Sometimes doing what you love under those circumstances is the worst thing.

If I could do it all over again, I would have made a single different decision. One that surprises people who don't really know me.

A note to help you with your anxiety. With $10k in the hole you are ahead of a lot of people and that amount of debt, especially under the new restructuring of student loans, won't feel that bad at all, if you end up making a decent salary.

You are a multi-talented and bright guy. But don't let that blind you to the practical aspects on the horizon within the next 15 years.

EDIT: Also, you could start the nearly impossible task of removing the singularly American notion of almost completely identifying with what you do to earn money. Ask an American what they do and you will always get their occupation. Other folks, not so much.

[WPM]

Depends on your motivations and aspirations pertaining to what kind of degree you want.

[christian7777]

I hear computer science is a good major. Sometimes it depends on what you want to do later. Like if you want to go into the medical field, a degree such as biology would be useful, especially because it will help with fulfilling your major courses.

[HabteSelassie]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Really? 

I know a couple of nurses, who always complain about the low pay, long hours, etc.

Those are probably CVNs, RNs do indeed make GREAT money but they do have a pretty heavy workload.

So much like the rest of America, no body seems interested in the machinist and manufacturing tech jobs? They really do pay well, are good jobs, and have literally too many openings! I guess I can see why since nobody here dug em either



stay blessed,
habte selassie

[JamesR]

Pharmaceuticals for me

[Rufus]

Pharmaceuticals for me

Not an easy job! Why do you want to do it?

[Asteriktos]

I've been thinking about switching to something that has both job security and high wages. At first I was thinking landscape architecture, but then I thought... no, the real money is in the fine arts. Thus I'm going for a degree in music now. 

[Kerdy]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Really? 

I know a couple of nurses, who always complain about the low pay, long hours, etc.

Those are probably CVNs, RNs do indeed make GREAT money but they do have a pretty heavy workload.

So much like the rest of America, no body seems interested in the machinist and manufacturing tech jobs? They really do pay well, are good jobs, and have literally too many openings! I guess I can see why since nobody here dug em either



stay blessed,
habte selassie

I'm actually thinking of something along these lines as my second career.  I know can't do what I do now much longer.  It's turned me into a bitter pessimist.  I need something less stressful and standardized, if that makes sense. 

[HabteSelassie]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I've been thinking about switching to something that has both job security and high wages. At first I was thinking landscape architecture, but then I thought... no, the real money is in the fine arts. Thus I'm going for a degree in music now. 

The government have constructed, at great expense, an experimental reorientation facility—to find a way, perhaps, to retrain these useless old classical musicians ... to give them a trade, a reason to exist in a modern world, a happier, more productive life. Some will enter the military, some will learn shorthand, and some will disappear in the middle of the night, on a special train theyre sending in. Its the only way, really, to bring about the final solution to the Orchestra Question.

200 Motels

Really?  

I know couple of nurses, who always complain about the low pay, long hours, etc.

Those are probably CVNs, RNs do indeed make GREAT money but they do have a pretty heavy workload.

So much like the rest of America, no body seems interested in the machinist and manufacturing tech jobs? They really do pay well, are good jobs, and have literally too many openings! I guess I can see why since nobody here dug em either



stay blessed,
habte selassie

I'm actually thinking of something along these lines as my second career.  I know can't do what I do now much longer.  It's turned me into a bitter pessimist.  I need something less stressful and standardized, if that makes sense.  

I've noticed the bitter pessimism lately, so I will pray for you. I'm at the least glad to finally understand the context

Machinst are great jobs, when I was at University I worked odd jobs at factories, lithographics plants, warehouses, and the like, and I can tell you, the machinst and tech guys had great jobs in those places and they surely looked happier than the rest of us minimum (and even less  ) wage slaves


stay blessed,
habte selassie

[Tallitot]

suggested reading:

48 Days to the Work You Love: Preparing for the New Normal
http://www.amazon.com/Days-The-Work-You-Love/dp/0805431888/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1348976691&sr=8-2&keywords=40+days+to+the+work+you+love


Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_7?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=quitter+by+jon+acuff&sprefix=Quitter%2Cstripbooks%2C506

[Kerdy]

Years ago I was an over the road truck driver and loved it, but there is no degree required for that, unless you are starting your own business.

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