How useless is a liberal arts degree?

[dontspeakmuch]

I'm considering earning my degree in English, with a concentration in linguistics. I've been told many times how useless this degree is and others like it (political science, journalism, philosophy), what avenues aside from teaching does it open? So far, my plan is to gain by bachelors then go to Korea, hopefully, where I can teach ESL and save money as they typically provide room and board, have low taxes and offer more money than other countries with similar qualifications. I plan to stay four to five years and save up to $40k, at which point I will return to the US and pursue law school. I've also read that because law schools have been accepting too many applicants, the field is now over saturated, making it harder to get jobs, while allowing law schools to charge ridiculous tuition and offer loans with high interest rates. Because of this, I've decided that If get a scholarship I will pursue law a d if I do not get a scholarship, unless I'm accepted to a top law school, I will not study law and I will instead advance my English/Linguistics degree. Does this sound viable? Is the future bleak for anyone not gifted in math or science or is this myth?

 

[you're NOT "n!ggas"]

Steer clear of the liberal arts breh you don't want the drama it brings post-graduation. If you're struggling with math and science then buckle down and get some help, maybe go into business, just... think long and hard before you go through with that English degree

 

[bigDeeOT]

So knowing that law school has bad job prospects you're still going to attend it if you get a scholarship? You realize there's more to it than the monetary cost right? You're wasting three years of your life. And when employers see you have a law degree they are LESS apt to hire you because they know if you ever found a good lawyer job you'd be out in a jiffy. Don't go the law school route unless you go to a top 14 school. Really, only go if you get to a top 3.

 

[bigDeeOT]

As for the liberal arts degree, I think its fine if you want to pursue a phd eventually. If the job prospects for phd's are good then go for it bruh.

 

[dontspeakmuch]

So knowing that law school has bad job prospects you're still going to attend it if you get a scholarship? You realize there's more to it than the monetary cost right? You're wasting three years of your life. And when employers see you have a law degree they are LESS apt to hire you because they know if you ever found a good lawyer job you'd be out in a jiffy. Don't go the law school route unless you go to a top 14 school. Really, only go if you get to a top 3.

The only reason law is still on my radar is because the adults I've spoken with who are in the workforce all say that there are never enough lawyers, doctors, and mechanics. Is this because they are from the generation where law school was a ticket to middle class life? I've showed my dad the stats and he ignores them,of course, he also thinks TSU is still a good law school. I've also questioned the scamblogs, thinking they were just a haven for miserable lawyers or that there was a "silent majority" somewhere that actually found jobs and are satisfied. Is it really like that in law school? Are there really that many deadbeat lawyers running around aimlessly, working for $10 an hour in something vaguely related to law? Everyone I speak to seems to think the opposite, that when you get out of law school, job offers will be pouring in and your J.D. will be an asset in other fields. Is this just because they can't fathom law, the great career path of their time, being reduced to its current state? Lastly, how do you know this to be true, are you reading it as I am or are you in the field?

 

[dontspeakmuch]

Steer clear of the liberal arts breh you don't want the drama it brings post-graduation. If you're struggling with math and science then buckle down and get some help, maybe go into business, just... think long and hard before you go through with that English degree

What drama? I don't think math and science are an option for me, maybe science, but none requiring advanced math skill. When I learn formulas and ways to address different problems, they don't stick long enough, I can remember them for the test but not the final. Math is the most stressful subject I've encountered. Math and I have bad history. As of now, I have A's in everything, but I'm considering dropping college algebra because I made a 75, 93, and a 37 on my tests. If I stay, I can make a 90 at least on my next test but I have little confidence in my ability to make a sufficient grade on the final. If my prof won't drop the 37, I'm dropping the class. Anyway, I've read that a Business Bachelors is useless if you plan to get an MBA, which is necessary to progress in the field.

 

[The Real]

If you're going to get more than a BA, then it's not a bad idea and will put you ahead of other candidates, especially if you do philosophy.

Philosophy majors have better GRE (in ALL categories, including math) and LSAT scores than any other major, including all the STEM majors. You can then transition into business, finance, law, or something else for the masters or whatever other degree you want with a real advantage that the critical thinking skills provide.

If you're set on humanities or something, you can continue down that road, too, but unless you're a top student, prospects will be very poor. You can however leverage an English degree or a linguistics one into a proper career outside academia if you work on tailoring it that way now alongside your more academic interests. If you have the passion and the achievement, go for it, especially if you're not white or Asian, and you'll have race on your side for additional opportunities.

 

[Poitier]

Cost matters more than concentration. You go to university to become a functional adult first and foremost, not to pursue the most lucrative path.

 

[dontspeakmuch]

If you're going to get more than a BA, then it's not a bad idea and will put you ahead of other candidates, especially if you do philosophy.

Philosophy majors have better GRE (in ALL categories, including math) and LSAT scores than any other major, including all the STEM majors. You can then transition into business, finance, law, or something else for the masters or whatever other degree you want with a real advantage that the critical thinking skills provide.

If you're set on humanities or something, you can continue down that road, too, but unless you're a top student, prospects will be very poor. You can however leverage an English degree or a linguistics one into a proper career outside academia if you work on tailoring it that way now alongside your more academic interests. If you have the passion and the achievement, go for it, especially if you're not white or Asian, and you'll have race on your side for additional opportunities.

I've read that too about philosophy majors and I considered majoring in philosophy, but I think that I can reap those benefits by taking different logic courses, which are vital to the LSAT and maybe an ethics course for critical thinking. What's stopping me from majoring in philosophy is the Uni I will be attending, I'm under the impression that unless you are at a Uni where philosophy is big like a liberal arts college, then the philosophy dept is a joke. There are few liberal arts colleges in Texas. I've also heard that the reason philo majors do better is not because they learn something in the course that helps them, but because the type of person attracted to philosophy or who is competent in philosophy will do well in these tests. However, I don't think the major's assistance can be disputed in relation to the LSAT as it contains two logic based sections, an essay and a reading comprehension section, all of which are covered extensively in philosophy.
What do you mean when you say "top student", does this mean nationally recognized, of the best in my college? If I am not at a university renown for its English dept and I am a top student, does that count or am I royalty in a kingdom of dirt? How can I tailor it? I'm sorry if I seem clueless or lazy, but i'm not apart of the workforce and ignorant.

 

[dontspeakmuch]

Cost matters more than concentration. You go to university to become a functional and foremost, not to pursue the most lucrative path.

I'm confused by your post.

 

[Grams]

I truly do not understand how people can think EVERYBODY should go into math and science @ciroq drobama

Blows my mind

 

[Poitier]

I'm confused by your post.

see edit

 

[Type Username Here]

It's pretty useless by most metrics. I just feel the metrics might be unfair.

And this is from someone who supports Lib. Arts degrees, majors and the humanities as a whole.

It's because school is mainly geared towards providing labor to the workforce. I hope that we can change that in the future but it's mainly what it is.

Most of Liberal Arts degree material can be learned with enough reading time at the Library and it has a much wider base of people who can grasp the material through reading.

We do need people who study these fields as I feel they are very important to the progress and knowledge of human being, but if you're going to school as means to enhance your career opportunities and make money, you should reconsider.

 

[alybaba]

The teaching English abroad profile is pretty common. Make sure you that on top of 3.7+ GPA and 165-170 LSAT, add some other skills (Mandarin or Korean fluency at a minimum), academic research experience (assisting a prof or something), solid extra-curriculars and leadership experience to have a GOOD shot at a T-14 law school.

 

[IAmGettingAMailOrderBride]

Are you applying to be a stay at home mother or father?