I can echo this sentiment. I know a few people with an MA in Psychology. One decided to get his doctorate and make real money. Another I know worked with my wife on a psych ward. She is a ward clerk (approximately an 8 week class) and was making as much as this guy did. Again, she is a ward clerk making about $18/hour doing basic nursing assistant stuff. She took an 8 week CNA class in high school and has been doing it for about 8 years on and off. He went to college for a minimum of 6 years, had been working the job for 2 years, and was making the same amount as her. He is in his 40s, she is in her 20s. Sad?
He ended up taking a project management job in the IT department. He sucks at that too, from what I understand.
Moral? Easy degrees (generally those starting with BA) are a dime a dozen and are now the equivalent to a high school diploma. Shouldn't have taken your friends advice and you should have gotten a real degree. Hell, even an associates in Computer Science could've landed you a decent job.
With the incipience of this latest war on terror psychologists are needed to 'fix' those of you that have PTSD.
I do recommend that you marry a woman/man that hasn't yet been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. You will then learn how to work with someone that you both love and despise.
For those of you that think that this major is 'worthless' just evaluate you own lives and ask yourself how many people you have helped in your life.
Rogo
At one point, when I was finding my replacement for a congressional job in DC as a "Constituent Communications Supervisor" (basically paid internship)... life would have been so much easier if someone said ATOT lifer.
JEDI
Lifer
- Sep 25, 2001
- 29,391
- 2,738
- 126
you answered your own question.
you need a specific degree to get a specific job. a bs in psych is useless. you need at least a masters in psych to be a counselor. and if you want to make $$$, get the phd to be a psycologist.
you didnt research what jobs your major gets you b4 choosing it?
StageLeft
No Lifer
- Sep 29, 2000
- 70,150
- 5
- 0
HAHA, you are kidding, right? Your degree is next to worthless. Of course, you do NEED a degree for certain jobs; although I have a bachelor of science in psychology, it's got zero applicable skills to anything, but I have IT skills now and work in that profession and all of my employers--ALL OF THEM--absolutely do not hire people without a degree, regardless of its focus of study.
Didn't it occur to you at some point that your BA in psych was worth toilet paper from an actual skills perspective? It's just being able to say you have a degree that will ensure doors are not shut down the line to you in jobs that _require_ a degree.
Degree in nursing sounds like a good plan. I knew in third year my degree was going to get me nothing employable so I already put things in motion for further schooling in IT, which is what got me where I am now. I don't understand why so many people get their crap degrees and do not figure before graduation that they will not be able to do anything beyond teach English in Japan, so then they do that or some other menial job until they can get their act in gear.
Those people are morons. What do they do for livings? But also since you have a four year degree you should be of the intelligence to know that your degree was worth little more than nicely-printed toilet paper. What did you think, you'd get hired at a law firm prosecuting criminals or designing bridges or inventing new medicines? Come on, this really was a surprise to you that your degree was pragmatically worthless?
You are correct, but he does not have a science degree. It is THE EASIEST of the science degrees, which is why I chose it. I went into psyc after starting a generic science degree and I knew I still wanted to say I had a science degree and not throw away the various science courses I had already done, so I got a BSc in psyc instead of a BA in psyc. Most of the people in psyc do the arts because it's even easier than the science, but it is the joke of the sciences, I won't try to pretend otherwise. It's not that I disrespect the field, I really don't at all and it is interesting, but from the perspective of the work required to get a bsc in psyc vs physics or chemistry, it is easier.
Most people either have a crappy degree (history, sociology, etc.) or a half-decent degree but lack the grades or desire to specialize in it (e.g. chemistry but don't want to or lack the access to work directly with that degree). What they end up doing after school is:
1) Teaching english in japan or working at the rental counter at hertz or stocking shelves at barnes & noble
2) Realzing that the last four years were a waste of time vocationally and go back and get another degree at more expense and cost and use this realistic degree (nursing, some business, medicine, law [though the last two probably requird the initial degree anyway]) to get work after
3) Manage to scrape themselves into some low-level position at a company that may promise more upward mobility than teaching english in japan or stocking shelves and so they start with their $30k and if they are decent in time can work themselves up, be it in business or the public sector or whatever
We do a diservice to our youth these days not stressing to them the importance of getting something that is worthwhile to an employer and letting them know that spending four years drinking, showing up at class at 10:00 and writing tests on 19th century American history isn't worthwhile. I suspect most of these kids know in the back of their head they're wasting time anyway, but those around them reinforce their malaise and let them get away with it, but reality cannot be shielded forever. I personally know several people now in Japan with their degrees teaching english and going drinking every night and burning up their future (should they desire one with a house, family, etc. which they probably will).
Cuda1447
Lifer
- Jul 26, 2002
- 11,757
- 0
- 71
Like someone above mentioned, psychology is a field in its infancy. Thats the beauty of it though. There is sooo much more to learn and to teach others. You hear people talking about physical health all the time. Eat healthy, exercise, yatta yatta. Not many people focus on mental health and IMO is much more important. In today's world there are a ton of people who simply are mentally fucked. As stress in the world rises due to economic troubles, world wars, busier lives or whatever, more people become mentally unstable. All these people need 'fixing' if you will. A lot of people just aren't healthy in their head. You could pursue a higher psych degree, like a lot of people mentioned.
So yes, a B.A. degree in psych may seem useless if you're getting a job unrelated to your field. If you actually put to use what you've learned in psychology though, you should be able to understand people better and have an easier time landing the job you want. Hell, self awareness alone should enable you to land a better job than if you hadn't taken psych. courses. The benefits of that degree don't necessarily have to be on paper, they can also be in what you learned.
So yes, a B.A. degree in psych may seem useless if you're getting a job unrelated to your field. If you actually put to use what you've learned in psychology though, you should be able to understand people better and have an easier time landing the job you want. Hell, self awareness alone should enable you to land a better job than if you hadn't taken psych. courses. The benefits of that degree don't necessarily have to be on paper, they can also be in what you learned.
ArmchairAthlete
Diamond Member
- Dec 3, 2002
- 3,763
- 0
- 0
I believe getting higher education is important to develop as a person regardless of whether or not you really end up "using" your degree.
I think that software development in perhaps many places doesn't require a four year degree from a *good* school, except that of course the people doing the hiring have to see it.
You can also get say a co-op or internship without a degree... but you have to be working on the appropriate degree.
I think that software development in perhaps many places doesn't require a four year degree from a *good* school, except that of course the people doing the hiring have to see it.
You can also get say a co-op or internship without a degree... but you have to be working on the appropriate degree.
What jobs were you applying for?
A skill set is what gets you a job, a bachelors (in most majors) is just a piece of paper showing that you have the ability to learn new stuff, the patience to sit through the silly stuff and jump through the necessary hoops. Considering the number of people getting a bachelors, its becoming what having a high school diploma a generation ago was.
A skill set is what gets you a job, a bachelors (in most majors) is just a piece of paper showing that you have the ability to learn new stuff, the patience to sit through the silly stuff and jump through the necessary hoops. Considering the number of people getting a bachelors, its becoming what having a high school diploma a generation ago was.
*looks back*
Yup, easily a few thousand, and I'm not out of grad school yet.
Hell, I might even be able to say that I'm helping everyone on Earth, my project is probably going to unearth new physics that may lead to unprecedented technological breakthroughs.
I've at least helped a lot more people than a BA in Psych doing therapy ever would.
I'm still waiting for someone to chime in with a faulty application of statistics such as:
"My uncle has a psychology degree, and he is a billionaire. Therefore everyone who only has a psychology degree can become a billionaire."
"My uncle has a psychology degree, and he is a billionaire. Therefore everyone who only has a psychology degree can become a billionaire."
Jschmuck2
Diamond Member
- Jul 13, 2005
- 5,623
- 3
- 81
I'm a proud owner of a BA in Theatre.
I couldn't imagine having a degree in the things some of you have degrees in. Computer Science/Engineering blah blah blah. I mean, good on you but the idea of running the corporate race for 40 years in hopes of maybe making $250k annually, all the while hoping for that house in the suburbs where you can build your "home theatre" in the basement with a projector and that 96" screen you spent a weekend hiding from "the wife" to make.
If that's what makes you happy.
But in regards to the OP's post - I feel ya.
I couldn't imagine having a degree in the things some of you have degrees in. Computer Science/Engineering blah blah blah. I mean, good on you but the idea of running the corporate race for 40 years in hopes of maybe making $250k annually, all the while hoping for that house in the suburbs where you can build your "home theatre" in the basement with a projector and that 96" screen you spent a weekend hiding from "the wife" to make.
If that's what makes you happy.
But in regards to the OP's post - I feel ya.
TecHNooB
Diamond Member
- Sep 10, 2005
- 7,458
- 1
- 76
Heh, I'm taking PSY120 (intro to psychology) as a gen ed this semester. I like how the book tries to integrate as much science and math as possible. We've touched on a little bit of chemistry (neurons - potassium/chloride pump), statistics (mean, mode, std dev, etc), and even a little bit of differential equations (second order response anyone?). I find it amusing.
There are several topics that bring out the extreme idiocy of many on this forum. Education just happens to be one of them.
Where are you from OP? I'm betting that your location plays the biggest part in your employment woes. I live in the Chicagoland area, just earned my degrees in English and Political Science from one of the top 4 year universities out here, and had no trouble landing a job right out of school. You may need to move to where the market is, rather than waiting for the market to find you.
Where are you from OP? I'm betting that your location plays the biggest part in your employment woes. I live in the Chicagoland area, just earned my degrees in English and Political Science from one of the top 4 year universities out here, and had no trouble landing a job right out of school. You may need to move to where the market is, rather than waiting for the market to find you.
There are many more roads to take than the one you described if you have a technology related degree
The difference between having a degree which gives you a marketable skill and most liberal arts degrees is that you will have many options for work. In the OP's case, his best bet is probably an HR department unless he gets his masters or phd.
Jschmuck2
Diamond Member
- Jul 13, 2005
- 5,623
- 3
- 81
Originally posted by: Xavier434
There are many more roads to take than the one you described if you have a technology related degree
The difference between having a degree which gives you a marketable skill and most liberal arts degrees is that you will have many options for work. In the OP's case, his best bet is probably an HR department unless he gets his masters or phd.
Oh of course there are
That's just an extreme example, ya know? There are tons of other paths to take - I was just referencing an attitude that's certainly prevalent in technical circles, as well as these forums. I think you'll have to look verrrrry closely but you might find it someplace.And what does your BA in Theatre get you? What do you do that's so much better than what you described?
Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Oh of course there are
Ya, a lot of tech guys and programmers put in ridiculous hours to live the lifestyle you describe. I don't understand it either. I am a programmer too, but I refuse to do that and I still make good money and all that jazz.
nobody said bullshit degrees make it easier to get a job. Also I never recall anyone saying being lazy throughout college and refusing to take advantage of internships and other co-op type opportunities to gain valueable work experience and connections was a good idea.
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