What Will You Do With That Useless Major? | School Stories #59
TLDRThis video script features college graduates from traditionally undervalued majors sharing their career journeys. From political science to philosophy, they reveal how their degrees influenced their paths, with many finding success in diverse fields like sales, programming, and even bomb disposal. The narrative challenges the notion of 'useless' degrees, highlighting the adaptability and critical thinking skills these majors foster, and the wide range of opportunities they can lead to.
Takeaways
- 🎓 Many graduates with 'useless' majors found diverse and successful careers.
- 💼 Political science majors often end up in various fields such as sales, tech, and law.
- 🎨 Illustration majors can find rewarding jobs in toy design, medical illustration, and more.
- 🌏 Majors in niche fields like Buddhism can lead to versatile careers spanning multiple industries.
- 📚 English literature majors often become teachers, leveraging their critical thinking and communication skills.
- 🎭 Theater majors utilize their public speaking and presentation skills in roles like instructional design.
- 🎥 Film majors can thrive in the video production industry with opportunities in freelance and corporate work.
- 🎶 Jazz performance majors can enjoy fulfilling careers in teaching and performing music.
- 🧠 Psychology majors often find careers in counseling, nursing, or even fields unrelated to their degree.
- 🖌️ Fine arts and other creative majors can find unique and satisfying jobs in fields like engraving and stained glass restoration.
Q & A
What career path did a political science major end up taking in the sales department of a major brand?
-The political science major ended up working in the sales department of a major brand in the US, suggesting that their study of politics influenced their career choice, possibly in areas related to policy or market strategy.
How did a theater major's career evolve after losing interest in theater?
-The theater major transitioned to become an instructional designer for a large bank, designing and delivering training material and teaching people how to do their jobs, utilizing their communication and presentation skills.
What advice is given for someone starting out in video production?
-The advice includes not needing to move to New York to find work, making videos for free initially to build a portfolio, refusing to work for free once you have experience, getting everything in writing, being bold and confident, and investing in good equipment without going into debt.
What is the career outcome for someone who majored in English literature and philosophy?
-The individual became a high school teacher, finding the job less stressful, more enjoyable, and better paid than a professor track, with the added benefit of summers off.
How did a psychology major's career progress after various jobs?
-The psychology major eventually went through a second degree nursing program and got a BSN, working towards becoming a licensed therapist.
What career did an individual with a degree in jazz performance and arranging end up pursuing?
-They became a teacher for children, teaching them how to play drums, taking a middle school band once a week, and gigging regularly, enjoying a comfortable life and lucrative work.
What is the perspective of a philosophy major considering law school or writing/teaching as career paths?
-The philosophy major is leaning towards law school but is open to writing or teaching, valuing the critical thinking and reasoning skills gained from their degree.
How did an individual with a degree in international studies with a focus on global health find their career?
-They graduated and later in the year started working for a metropolitan public health agency, aligning their career with their academic focus.
What career path did an art history major take after a brief stint as a paralegal?
-The art history major transitioned to the tech industry in a non-technical role and is now training to be a locksmith.
How did a fine arts major's career evolve after working in the field for 10 years?
-The fine arts major returned to university to study animation and video, preferring to create movies for modest pay over working in an office environment.
What is the career outcome for someone who majored in English writing and aimed to become a teacher?
-The individual is now working as a teacher, achieving their goal and finding satisfaction in their chosen career.
Outlines
🎓 Diverse Careers Beyond 'Useless' Majors
This paragraph features college graduates from various majors traditionally considered to have limited job prospects, such as political science, ancient history, and theater, who have found success in diverse fields. Examples include a political science major who became a sales department head, an English literature graduate who is now a high school teacher, and a theater major turned instructional designer. The narrative emphasizes the adaptability of these individuals and the value of their education in critical thinking, communication, and creativity, which have contributed to their professional achievements.
🎬 Pursuing Passions and Overcoming Challenges
The second paragraph delves into the experiences of individuals who have pursued their passions despite the challenges of their chosen fields. It includes stories of a psychology major who became a nurse, a theater arts major who became a naval flight officer, and an English major who works in marketing and public relations. The paragraph highlights the importance of networking, continuous learning, and adapting to different opportunities. It also touches on the unpredictability of career paths and the resilience needed to navigate them.
📚 Leveraging Education for Unconventional Career Paths
This paragraph showcases how individuals with majors in history, international studies, and fine arts have leveraged their education to forge unconventional career paths. It discusses the journey of a history major who runs a museum, an international studies graduate working in public health, and a fine arts graduate who became a locksmith. The narrative underscores the importance of passion, skill development, and seizing opportunities, even when they diverge from traditional career expectations.
🛠 From Academic Pursuits to Practical Applications
The final paragraph focuses on graduates who have applied their academic knowledge in practical ways, often in fields unrelated to their majors. It includes stories of an English major who became a technical instructor, a psychology major who manages a bank, and an anthropology graduate who works in cultural resources management. The paragraph emphasizes the transferable skills gained from higher education, such as critical thinking and effective communication, and how these skills can be applied across various industries.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Political Science Major
💡Sales Department
💡Supreme Court Justice
💡Programmer
💡Instructional Designer
💡Video Production
💡Nursing
💡Cybersecurity
💡Marketing
💡Librarian
💡Accessibility Assessor
Highlights
A political science major found success in the sales department of a major brand in the US, attributing their drive to an interest in politics.
An ancient history major transitioned to bomb disposal, showcasing diverse career paths post-graduation.
A political science graduate managed a team of programmers, demonstrating the adaptability of liberal arts skills in tech roles.
An English major with a master's degree started as a programmer with a higher salary due to their academic background.
An illustration major works as a toy designer, and another as a medical illustrator, illustrating the practical applications of art degrees.
A major in Buddhism led to a diverse career path including English teaching, logistics, and Salesforce consulting.
An English literature and philosophy major became a high school teacher, valuing the critical thinking and communication skills gained.
A theater major became an instructional designer for a bank, utilizing their ability to communicate and improvise.
Tips for film majors include starting with freelance video work and building a portfolio to stand out in the corporate market.
A jazz performance major teaches drums and plays in bands, emphasizing the value of networking and practice in music careers.
A psychology major pursued nursing after realizing the need for higher education in psychology for better job prospects.
A fine arts graduate returned to university to study animation and video, preferring creative work over an office job.
A theater arts major became a naval flight officer and later worked in homeland security, showing non-traditional career paths.
An English major refutes the notion that their degree is useless, finding success in writing marketing content for businesses.
A history major runs a museum, highlighting that with dedication, one can achieve success even in less conventional fields.
An art history major found a career as a locksmith after a stint in the tech industry, demonstrating the unpredictability of career paths.
A fine arts graduate enjoys engraving designs onto granite monuments, discovering a niche skill outside of formal education.
An English writing major became a teacher, achieving their goal and emphasizing the value of education-focused career paths.
A psychology minor with a focus on gerontology is pursuing an occupational therapist career, highlighting the importance of minors and specializations.
Majors like English, history, and philosophy are deemed 'useless' by some, but can lead to diverse and fulfilling careers with the right approach.
A political science major's experience suggests that a college degree alone may not guarantee high-paying jobs without marketable skills.
An interdisciplinary social science degree led to a career in HR and aspirations for law school and public office.
A media studies degree found relevance in product management years after graduation, showing the evolving applicability of degrees.
A fine arts BFA led to a career in stained glass restoration, demonstrating how art skills can translate into various industries.
A general social sciences major works in HR and plans to attend law school, indicating the versatility of broad degree fields.
Transcripts
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