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re: 13 most useless majors

Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:35 pm to
Posted by yellowfin
Coastal Bar
Member since May 2006
97709 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:35 pm to
I'm friends with a guy that shelled out 200k for his kids theatre degreee at an expensive private school for him to be a flight attendant
Posted by kfizzle85
Member since Dec 2005
22022 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:37 pm to
IDK, I just know that people that are talented at the various arts are usually identified as being so at an extremely early age. The kids my age that were really good at music in nola ended up at NOCCA, some of them didn't even finish high school. I think there's a institutional place for those things, its just not a 4 year college, and the lack of involvement or profitability of those majors at such schools, IMO, has no correlation to people's appreciation for such things either.
Posted by LSUisKING
Edgard
Member since Dec 2007
2936 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:43 pm to
I double majored in music education and music performance. I have a good job in my field...

So we should identify artistic folks who show promise at a young age? You all do realize that Mozart was one of a kind yes? So was Da Vinci.

I get what you all are saying, but... The colleges actually teach stuff that makes students better, just like in every other discipline.
Posted by kfizzle85
Member since Dec 2005
22022 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:44 pm to
I know someone who did that as well (it could be you for all I know).
Posted by LSUisKING
Edgard
Member since Dec 2007
2936 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:48 pm to
Initials? at LSU?
Posted by kfizzle85
Member since Dec 2005
22022 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:53 pm to
BC, yes LSU. Went to high school with him.
Posted by LSUisKING
Edgard
Member since Dec 2007
2936 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:54 pm to
What HS?

Sorry for the hijack everyone...
Posted by lsu711
Member since Sep 2003
13097 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:54 pm to
quote:

The colleges actually teach stuff that makes students better, just like in every other discipline.


There is also something to be said about the degree of subjectivity involved in those disciplines. The ability to make decisions with incomplete information is critical for managerial and executive roles. That is the greatest weaknesses I see in accounting and engineering majors who are trained to plug and play with equations.
Posted by kfizzle85
Member since Dec 2005
22022 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:56 pm to
A Catholic one in NOLA.
Posted by LSUisKING
Edgard
Member since Dec 2007
2936 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 1:59 pm to
K fizzle - Ain't me...

quote:

There is also something to be said about the degree of subjectivity involved in those disciplines. The ability to make decisions with incomplete information is critical for managerial and executive roles. That is the greatest weaknesses I see in accounting and engineering majors who are trained to plug and play with equations.


You got it. Very little objectivity, actually...
Posted by kfizzle85
Member since Dec 2005
22022 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 2:03 pm to
Well when you work in engineering and accounting as an entry level shtick that's what you do. Its not a weakness, they're preparing you for the job. The job itself prepares you to make management decisions, and it definitely does it 1000000000000000000000x better than a sterilized class environment at school can. I've only got 2 years of experience and I don't work in an accounting role anymore as its more finance-based, but I promise you that everything we do is fraught with subjectivity.

eta: and yes I'm totally slacking off today.
This post was edited on 4/25/12 at 2:04 pm
Posted by LSUisKING
Edgard
Member since Dec 2007
2936 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 2:06 pm to
I wasn't making the comparison - merely commenting on what the poster above said...
Posted by kfizzle85
Member since Dec 2005
22022 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 2:16 pm to
Meant to respond to him, sorry.
Posted by lsu711
Member since Sep 2003
13097 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 2:35 pm to
quote:

Well when you work in engineering and accounting as an entry level shtick that's what you do. Its not a weakness, they're preparing you for the job. The job itself prepares you to make management decisions

Many could learn in less than a year what LSU takes 4 years to teach an accounting undergrad. Dealing with ambiguity comes with experience. Art and design school grads have a 4 year jump on that development.

quote:

a sterilized class environment

That is where many of the art, architecture and design programs deviate from what you experienced as a b-school undergrad.

quote:

I don't work in an accounting role anymore as its more finance-based, but I promise you that everything we do is fraught with subjectivity.

In my limited experience with finance, even financial risk is dealt with in an equation.

The problem for most arts majors is their narrow view of their skill set leaving undergrad. For example, architecture majors think they are building designers. More broadly, they are hard workers, creative, have great attention to detail and can solve qualitative and quantitative problems. Any employer would covet that set of skills and teach you the technical nuances of their business.

ETA: I don't say any of that to disregard business and engineering majors, but rather to defend the value of art and design majors (if applied appropriately).
This post was edited on 4/25/12 at 2:45 pm
Posted by kfizzle85
Member since Dec 2005
22022 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 3:00 pm to
quote:

Many could learn in less than a year what LSU takes 4 years to teach an accounting undergrad.


Eh not really, are you an accounting major and have you worked in an accounting firm? I am and I have, and I can tell with certainty that that's not true at all.


quote:

That is where many of the art, architecture and design programs deviate from what you experienced as a b-school undergrad.



Seems that way yes.

quote:

In my limited experience with finance, even financial risk is dealt with in an equation.


An equation that you manipulate. The theory (equation) stays the same, how you apply it (the inputs) do not.

quote:

ETA: I don't say any of that to disregard business and engineering majors, but rather to defend the value of art and design majors (if applied appropriately).


Well I don't agree with your approach, but you don't have to defend their existence to me, see above posts.
Posted by TheHiddenFlask
The Welsh red light district
Member since Jul 2008
18384 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 3:22 pm to
quote:

In my limited experience with finance, even financial risk is dealt with in an equation.


So you are saying mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc. all shouldn't be 4 year degree subjects?
Posted by mspill2
Louisiana
Member since Sep 2011
235 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 4:22 pm to
well let me change mine real quick
Posted by CoolHand
Member since Dec 2011
2084 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 9:48 pm to
quote:

There is also something to be said about the degree of subjectivity involved in those disciplines. The ability to make decisions with incomplete information is critical for managerial and executive roles. That is the greatest weaknesses I see in accounting and engineering majors who are trained to plug and play with equations.


The subjectivity is one of the main reasons that I changed my major. I was tired of my grade being a result of opinion.

Having said that, I disagree with the "plug and play" assessment of an engineering degree. I think that's quite a simplistic view of the major. Those who aren't creative don't do well in engineering in my experience. A good engineering school will help develop that creativity.
Posted by LSUtoOmaha
Nashville
Member since Apr 2004
26583 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 9:57 pm to
quote:

Good for people you know. Most college graduates I know didn't have it go as smooth. There's a process that goes with the search, and right now, it generally takes a bit of luck.

College fairs are BS currently. For engineers it consists of HR people who don't know a lick about engineering telling you to go their website. Few are hiring, and most are there just to go through the motions. There's also internships and co/ops, but if they don't have a position to fill (which most don't), it doesn't matter.

This isn't some dream problem. There's little work for recent graduates regardless of major. Engineers have it better than most. But that doesn't mean there aren't a lot out there struggling to get positions.


Part, if not most, of "handling your business" is learning to effectively network. Getting good grades and just sitting there waiting is not going to get you anywhere, no matter what your GPA or concentration is.
Posted by RedStickBR
Member since Sep 2009
14577 posts
Posted on 4/25/12 at 10:13 pm to
The moral of this story is basically to get an engineering degree.

Nearly everything else can be self-taught.

As with most things in life ...
This post was edited on 4/25/12 at 10:14 pm
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