The most useless degrees…
TLDRIn the video, Shane discusses the most 'useless' college degrees based on job prospects and satisfaction. He cautions against majoring in fields like psychology, drama, language studies, and communications due to their poor employment statistics and the availability of free or low-cost alternatives for learning. Shane emphasizes following one's passion but advises against incurring significant debt for degrees with limited market value, suggesting that practical experience and a strong portfolio are more valuable in many fields.
Takeaways
- 🎓 The video discusses the concept of 'useless' degrees and aims to help viewers avoid those with poor job prospects.
- 🌟 Passion should guide one's choice of degree, but financial practicality is also important, especially when considering high levels of student debt.
- 💡 Top universities offer free classes online, so one can study a passion without incurring debt for a formal degree.
- 🔍 Psychology, despite being a popular major, is flagged due to its poor job market statistics and should be approached with caution.
- 🎭 Drama and theater arts are challenging to learn from books and may require hands-on experience or professional guidance.
- 🗣️ Language studies are often unnecessary as one can learn languages through immersion or language programs without incurring university debt.
- 📢 Communications is a broad major that lacks specificity, leading to uncertainty in job prospects and marketability.
- 📷 Photography is a saturated field where practical experience and a strong portfolio matter more than a formal degree.
- 🏺 Fine arts can be self-taught through books, videos, and practice, making a formal degree less valuable.
- 🏛️ Anthropology/Archaeology and Art History have poor job market statistics, and creative alternatives to formal education should be considered.
- 🙏 Religious studies offer limited job prospects and are better approached as a personal interest rather than a career path.
- 🚫 Gender studies is considered the most 'useless' degree in the list, with limited job opportunities and societal contributions.
Q & A
What was the main topic of the video posted by Shane?
-The main topic of the video was about choosing the best college degree for oneself and avoiding degrees that may not provide significant career benefits.
What was Shane's stance on people getting triggered by the idea of 'useless degrees'?
-Shane acknowledged that people tend to get extremely triggered when told they're getting a useless degree, but he aimed to provide valuable insights to help viewers make informed decisions about their education.
What was the disclaimer Shane put out before discussing the degrees to avoid?
-Shane's disclaimer was that one should always follow their passion, even if it's in a field he mentions as potentially less viable. He emphasized that if someone is passionate about a field he discusses, they should still pursue it, but be aware of the potential financial risks.
Why did Shane include Psychology in his list of degrees to avoid?
-Shane included Psychology because, despite being a popular major and leading to viable jobs like social work, it has poor statistics in job openings, job satisfaction, and future growth potential, which can lead to debt and difficulty finding a job post-graduation.
What made Drama and Theater Arts rank high on Shane's list of degrees to avoid?
-Drama and Theater Arts were ranked high because it's difficult to learn acting skills from books or online materials, and the job market for this field is challenging, often requiring hands-on experience and professional guidance.
According to Shane, what is a more effective way to learn a language than getting a degree in it?
-Shane suggests that learning a language is more effectively done through immersion by living in a country where the language is spoken, using language programs, or taking lessons from professionals, rather than incurring significant debt for a university degree.
Why did Communications make it to Shane's list of degrees to avoid?
-Communications was included because it is a very broad major that lacks specificity, making it less marketable and potentially leading to a lack of clear career paths post-graduation.
What is Shane's opinion on the value of a Photography degree?
-Shane believes a Photography degree is not necessary as the skills can be self-taught through online resources and practice. He argues that a strong portfolio is more important than formal education in this field.
Which degree did Shane consider the most worthless on his list, and why?
-Shane considered a degree in Gender Studies as the most worthless because he believes it offers limited job prospects and does not provide marketable skills. He also points out that even politicians who discuss gender issues do not typically have degrees in this field.
What general rule does Shane suggest for choosing a major based on the words that often follow it?
-Shane suggests that one should avoid majors that have the word 'studies' after them, as he believes these fields often do not lead to clear career paths or job opportunities.
What advice does Shane give for those passionate about a field he might discourage as a major?
-Shane advises individuals to be creative and find ways to learn about their passion without incurring significant debt. He suggests utilizing free resources, online courses, and实践经验 to gain knowledge and skills in their area of interest.
Outlines
🎓 Debunking the 'Useless Degree' Myth
The speaker, Shane, addresses the controversy surrounding the concept of 'useless degrees' and introduces his video's purpose: to discuss degrees that may not provide significant financial benefits. He emphasizes the importance of following one's passion but warns against incurring substantial debt for degrees with poor job prospects. Shane also highlights the availability of free educational resources from top universities, advocating for cost-effective learning.
📉 Top 10 Degrees to Avoid
Shane lists the top 10 degrees he believes are not worth the investment due to poor job prospects and high levels of debt. He covers degrees like psychology, drama and theater arts, language studies, communications, and photography, explaining the reasons behind each choice. He argues that many skills can be self-taught or learned through online resources, and that the job market for these fields is often oversaturated or requires creativity to find employment.
🎨 The Bottom Five 'Worthless' Degrees
Continuing from the previous list, Shane discusses the bottom five degrees he considers to be the least valuable. These include fine arts, anthropology/archaeology, art history, religious studies, and gender studies. He provides specific reasons for each, such as the lack of job openings, the ability to learn the subjects independently, and the impracticality of certain fields. Shane emphasizes the importance of marketable skills and creative ways to enter desired fields without incurring significant educational debt.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Useless Degrees
💡Following Passion
💡Job Market
💡Student Loans
💡Free Online Resources
💡Practical Skills
💡Degree Saturation
💡Marketable Skills
💡Educational Debt
💡Career Prospects
Highlights
The video discusses the best college degrees to avoid, based on job prospects and debt.
The creator emphasizes the importance of following one's passion, even if it's in a field considered less practical.
The video addresses the issue of accumulating significant debt for a degree that may not lead to a beneficial career.
Psychology is noted as a popular major with poor job statistics despite being an interesting field.
Drama and theater arts are considered difficult to learn from books, suggesting that the degree might not be as useful.
Language studies are criticized for being easily accessible through immersion and other cost-effective methods.
Communications is labeled as a broad and somewhat useless major due to its vague nature.
Photography is a saturated field where practical experience and a strong portfolio matter more than a degree.
Fine arts can be learned through books, videos, and practice, making a degree in this field less valuable.
Anthropology/Archaeology has poor job statistics and limited job openings, making it a risky choice.
Art history is considered not marketable and an impractical choice for a degree.
Religious studies are deemed unnecessary as a major, with more cost-effective ways to learn about religion.
The term 'studies' in a degree title is warned against, as it often leads to less practical career paths.
Gender studies is highly criticized for its lack of clear job prospects and societal value.
The video encourages viewers to seek free or low-cost education alternatives from top universities.
The creator shares personal experiences and anecdotes to support their points about the usefulness of degrees.
Transcripts
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