Useless University degree : numismatic

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, Jul 11, 2019.

  1. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Same could be said for every degree on the list.

    I'm going to go out on a limb here, but being unemployed with a Master's in Stand Up Comedy is sort of on the degree, perhaps?

    You can always make the argument that it's always the individual's fault for choosing the degree they did, but sometimes the degree has something to do with it.
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. THCoins

    THCoins Well-Known Member

  4. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    But I’m sure you could be making significantly more money if you wanted to, and having a MA would help get your foot in the door. It might mean working as a corporate whipping boy for a few years.
     
  5. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    After a year and a half of applying literally everywhere, the best option at this point is the military. At least they really don't care what degree you have (for the most part).
    Plus having a graduate degree is a requirement to get promoted to major anyways, so that much less work for me
     
  6. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    @hotwheelsearl I know there are many Federal jobs out there that only require a degree, your actual work would be unrelated. Check USAjobs.gov.
     
  7. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    I spent a few months like a year ago applying to every open position I could find.... I still get rejection emails every now and then.
    It’s alright though, I have so much free time at the ymca Im working on a CAPM which should be at least somewhat useful :)
     
  8. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

  9. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    Rough day...I just prevented a child from being kidnapped and flown to Europe. College degree didn't teach me how to do that. And a college degree didn't teach me how to arrange an emergency hearing with less than 10 minutes notice, and get orders and warrants issued.

    College don't teach you a lot of things, some things you just have to have a good head and common sense, and the willingness to teach and challenge yourself. I've seen a lot of people with college degrees that couldn't put two and two together if you put it right in front of them. And I've seen plenty of people with only a basic degree or no college degree, but a mind and determination that could get just about anything done.

    Now if you excuse me, I've got a bottle of genuine Cuban Bacardi rum to open to celebrate doing something for once that actually meant something.
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2019
  10. lrbguy

    lrbguy Well-Known Member

    Evidently not. Didn't you sign off of this thread a couple of pages ago?
     
    TIF and Orfew like this.
  11. John Skelton

    John Skelton Morgan man!

    Simple. To many, the idea that you should be pursuing a career in your field of study means you are expected to leave once you find such a job, which they will assume you are pursuing. Which you should be, but in the meantime there are bills to pay and that's more important.
     
  12. John Skelton

    John Skelton Morgan man!

    So what did you learn in college? Maybe persistence? To forge ahead when the odds are stacked against you? No, of course what you did wasn't taught specifically in college, but you gained some skills and improved your chances of success in whatever you tried.
     
    Orfew likes this.
  13. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    No one is saying a college degree teaches you everything you need to know. I think most comments are just defending liberal arts from your characterization of them as useless and a waste of money, which isn’t true.
     
  14. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    That is true, but objectively, don't hard science, engineering, and medical degrees generally lead to better jobs than liberal arts degrees - and therefore are more valuable in the sense of return on investment?

    Not to say that liberal arts degrees are useless, but in terms of earning potential they seem to lag behind STEM.

    I don't know of many people with medical degrees who are unemployed or working minimum wage!
     
  15. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    You can have an undergraduate major in one of the liberal arts and move on to med school, law school, etc. Personally, I think STEM fields are way overhyped (especially for undergrads).
     
    hotwheelsearl and Orfew like this.
  16. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I agree. You can always specialize in grad school. You just have to concentrate on getting a good score on the GMAT, LSAT, GRE, or MCAT plus a good g.p.a. in college.
     
    Nicholas Molinari likes this.
  17. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Probably. I got a BS in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science and the only thing I got was a rekt GPA.
     
    Nicholas Molinari likes this.
  18. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    While my degree (B.A. Economics) was not a cash cow, it did help me get
    a couple of jobs. So I can't complain.
     
    Nicholas Molinari likes this.
  19. SeptimusT

    SeptimusT Well-Known Member

    As someone graduating with one of these 'worthless' degrees (history, with a minor in archaeology) in December, I don't feel like it's worthless. I'm still undecided as to whether or not I will pursue graduate school immediately and try to make it into a career, or whether I will try to do something else, but I am grateful for what I have learned. Ultimately, how we apply the skills we learn, as well as learning to learn, are more important than what you learn.

    I might not remember every historical fact I've absorbed in my classes (I sure can't remember all of the 19th century German states any more), but I do remember learning how to research and to compile disparate scraps of information into a coherent narrative. I also remember how to learn new things. I could use those skills to pursue graduate school and try to teach myself, or I could become something else, like a legal researcher.

    I am also grateful for the personal growth my education has allowed me. I wouldn't be here on CoinTalk if not for that. I don't think that buying or borrowing books could ever replace the hands on experience and the relationships with experts in my fields that I have had access to in college. Even if I don't end up choosing this path as a career, I will still find a way to be involved and contribute because it is my passion. I'd rather follow my passion to some degree and make less money than make lots of money and be miserable doing it.

    And yes, I've taken a few classes that dealt heavily with ancient coins, and will be doing so again next semester. There is no useless knowledge.
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2019
  20. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    But that book learnin' helps to prepare you for real life experience. The 'old man' told me, when I graduated from High School......now you start the true experience of life. Even though I was 'green' I had some expectancy of what lay out there for me. Nothing is better than 'hands on experience. But you got to start somewhere. An education prepares you for what lies out there in life. You persevered in school.....you'll persevere in life......
     
    Nicholas Molinari likes this.
  21. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    I was a bloody 'History Major' in school. How'd that relate to my life as a truck driver? I was once tempted to leave school, but my bride convinced me to marshall on and get the degree. And though that degree had nothing to do with the career I chose, it served me as an example of what it is to stick to something and be successful at it. The hard labor that I endured made me rethink my job selection...I was pretty good with languages at the time. But the opportunity never materialized. I don't regret my decision, as it's provided me with a comfortable retirement. I'll always remember a plaque that hung in my fathers wood shop...

    "Stop, think. There must be a harder way to do this job".

    I chose a harder way to achieve success.....perhaps, in the next life I'll choose a more gentile approach. Probably not as I like getting my hands dirty......:)
     
    Ajax, CoinCorgi, Jwt708 and 1 other person like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page