I think one thing that’s missed here is that a degree is like a key that opens some number of doors. If you get a degree in material science you open a few doors. If you do a degree in mech engineering you open most of the same doors and then a whole bunch more, but a few are now locked. It’s important to pick a broad well known accredited degree so you can earn a key that opens the most doors. Don’t get bs degrees in shit like “robotics”
IMO, this is terrible advice. The core concept that school is passive and life is active is, at best, partially true. Very few people answer to no one and the rest get told what to do, all too often, throughout their lives. The rest is mostly based on the author's life in the academic bubble pretending they know what the 'outside' is all about. For example, the claim that college "is fond of seeing imaginary connections, like Arts and marketing, or Maths and computer programming" obviously doesn't understand any of those subjects.
Well-intentioned, I suppose, but this seems more of a scattershot blog post than a thoughtful answer to 'how to choose your college degree'.<p>I've heard a lot recently about 'picking the right college major'. It's normal to worry about such things. I remember.<p>But I think obsessing over picking the 'right' college degree is a waste of time. If you have particular interests, follow them in college, but waste no more time worrying if you've made the 'right' choice.<p>I'm in my 50s. I've heard hundreds of stories of the twists and turns of lives and the role of college in them--including my own. I was dead set on being an electrical engineer, and the first year and a half of college was in that subject. I was certain I was destined to invent the next power source and change the world with it.<p>I ended up with an undergrad in history, and (years later) a graduate degree in urban planning. I've been in the 'tech' business for 30-odd years as a technical writer, then usability engineer, then software developer, then analyst/product owner/whatever.<p>The best 'engineer' I know has an undergrad in fine arts. They own three software patents; they also make pottery.<p>My 'old guy' advice to those staring down college decisions:<p>The road doesn't matter very much. Taking steps matters. Just keep taking action and learning and adjusting and, for god's sake, enjoy your life. It's a dance, not a long march towards 'eventual' happiness: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4</a>
tl; dr: Intern, side projects, make stuff.<p>If you don't know what to get a degree in, choose accounting. You're going to be dealing with money and taxes the rest of your life, might as well get good at it. This is doubly true if you want to be a rock star or sports hero or famous actor, all jobs where a lot of money comes into the hands of people who aren't prepared for it.
There’s a better way:<p>1. If there is a subject you’re passionate about, go for it<p>2. Cost matters. If you select a degree that doesn’t earn a lot and you live in a country where higher education can be expensive, unless if you have the opportunity to study at a game changing institution, consider going for a low cost program<p>3. If you don’t know what you want to study, pick two or three relatively high earning degrees that you may enjoy, take introductory classes in all of them and build your study path around the one you find most enjoyable<p>4. Work experience and internships matter. Outside of some notable exceptions, you will likely have more success if you have a somewhat lower GPA and several internships on your resume
Can be summarized in one quote:<p>> As you start thinking about what to major in, start pondering this very scary question: what professional area do you want to get in?<p>That's probably one of the least inspiring posts I've read on the topic, I doubt many people would choose to study challenging and rewarding degrees like philosophy based on that thinking. Fortunately that's not the only way to rationalize a degree choice. Not everyone gets an education in order to found a VC-backed startup, the only thing that seems to really count as a worthwhile life goal to this person. Maybe apart from becoming a NASA engineer (preferably before starting a VC-backed tech startup).