30 People Who Graduated With “Useless Degrees” Came Online To Reveal What They Are Doing Now
Interview With Author
We all reach a point in our lives when we have to choose a specific career path, and many of those paths start with getting a certain degree. Unfortunately, not all educational degrees are equally useful when looking for a job in our society.
But is a piece of paper you get early in your life and the public opinion of your education choice something that dictates how the rest of your life goes? Well, as people on this Reddit thread revealed by sharing what they do in life despite getting a ‘useless’ degree, it certainly isn’t. Scroll down to see what they said!
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
Not me, but a fair chunk of New Zealand were laughing at "those Idiots" that got "useless degrees in basket weaving" back in the late '80's, early 90's. They are now bringing lost art back to life. They got jobs in movies as master artists, creating those works for things like Lord of the Rings, etc. Our Maori history is being showcased to the world through their work, people pay not just for their amazing baskets but to see them work.
Was told as a naturally artistic child that there was no point in pursuing art, I needed to "go to college and get a real job." So, following this practical advice, I got a bachelors degree in botany.
And a minor in art, and then did a one year MA with a focus in metals.
I own over a hundred houseplants, thanks botany! ....and have been a jewelry designer and jeweler for about 25 years, and still paint and draw.
You can't stop the signal.
OP is like me! I’ve always loved architecture (since I was in primary school), always drawing up my own plans for houses and even making very detailed model houses. But because I went on to get top grades in school, my parents pushed me to do medicine saying “you can do architecture later in life”. (I did express an interest in medicine but not as much as for architecture.) I have now graduated with a MD degree but am still at a stage of doing exams and more exams (licensing exams and whatnot) with the end goal of being an actual working doctor still far far away. I have honestly lost most of the passion I had for medicine so it’s actually much harder for me to navigate this challenging field now (went from top student at school to struggling student). But I still absolutely love architecture! I never once lost my passion and love for it. But sadly I don’t think I’ll ever be able to be one cause by being a doctor I wouldn’t have time to go back to university for another degree. :(
I have an art degree in glass art. Have been a professional glass artist since 2000, just started on the 2nd largest commission of my career for a $60,000 suspended sculpture.
There are many career paths that people can choose from, and there are many different reasons why they choose them. It often depends on potential pay, demand, difficulty, and interest. But as many would probably agree, the most essential part is to follow your passion. After all, we spend most of our time working, so it makes sense to do something you like.
However, figuring out what you like and want to do in life is a lengthy process of its own, and unlike getting an education, there are few to no guidelines for it. Even if you find it out early on, there’s no guarantee that your wishes and opinions won’t change with time. But having some idea is better than none at all, and other people’s life experiences are definitely something that can help with that.
I didn't get [a] degree in it, but I did minor in women's studies since I already took a bunch of sociology classes and just needed a few more for the minor. I'm a doctor now, and it's actually been pretty helpful in helping me recognize my own biases and how they might influence my medical decision-making.
My dad barely graduated a 5+ year college run with an English degree. He wanted a business degree but was declined from the program numerous times. Couldn’t find a job after graduation. Saw a newspaper ad for a concrete gig. Learned how to do the stuff. After a few years on the job, he quit and started his own concrete empire, I don’t know the exact numbers, but from what I know, he pockets at least 2 mil a year. His best advice is: “All you need out of college is a piece of paper, to prove to an employer that you can put in time, effort, and hard work. It doesn’t really matter what’s on the paper.”
BFA in studio arts. I am a tattoo artist, co-own a studio, and intend to go back for my masters to teach when my body doesn’t want to tattoo anymore.
I specialized in graphic design and do all the branding/marketing/interior design needed for the studio.
I taught painting classes, worked in graphic design, and sometimes do commission artwork. I prefer to make stuff I enjoy.
I got a degree in photography in the early aughts, when the world was moving to digital. Saw the trend of cellphone photography and photoshop/filtering was going to boom, so switched to computer programming instead of making myself insane trying to do pro photography. Had a friend who went from a PhD in Biology program to photography to selling real estate.
As Bored Panda found out when we contacted the OP, PoisonousChicken, also known as Yusuf Amir, he had a similar idea when making this thread. He loved our interest in his post and was glad to answer a few questions.
Yusuf told us that he is at that stage of life where he will soon have to make that previously mentioned choice about what he wants to do next. In other words, he’s currently a high school student in his senior year.
“The reason I asked about ‘useless majors’ is because I want to study one soon. I personally want to pursue a postgrad degree, but I thought it’d be interesting to read about other people who’ve made similar choices as myself,” said the OP, adding that he plans to study either Political Science or International Relations.
Bachelor's degree in animation. I deliver mail now. **Edit:** Because this is strangely the most popular post I've ever had on Reddit, and I'm still getting blasted with replies, I'm going to clarify some things here rather than replying to so many comments individually. 1- I don't think animation is useless. I love animation. I don't think any degree in any field is useless. There is always use in education. However, I took the quotes around "useless" in the thread title to mean "what other people consider useless." As anyone who has pursued a degree in any kind of art knows, the world at large loves to tell you your degree is useless. 2. That being said, from my experience, *a degree* in animation vs *a diploma* in animation signifies only that you spent more money to receive a less focused education. 3. Please stop making assumptions about me or my career. It is not your business, but yes, I did get some jobs in the industry and no, I don't want to be in the industry anymore. I'm quite happy delivering mail. 4. I made the transition because my mental health was just taking too much of a hit.
Friends tell me both 3D (clips that go into games or movies) and 2D (cartoons) animation is not a good industry to be in. Long hours at a substandard pay, job uncertainty because studios pop up and close down at blistering pace often without paying in full, unsatisfactory job at the lower tiers where it's mostly menial and repetitive tasks. If you are a freelancer you have upfront yearly expenses for the software that are quite significant, the project deadlines are often very short alternating long spells of unpaid time and short burst of 100hs/wk and the value of the work is often underestimated by clients.
BA in medieval studies from an Ivy. I work in VFX. I've wanted to work in the film industry since I was in college, and I get to work on the coolest stuff. Love what I do.
I would have LOVED to take medieval studies! When I retire I'm going to go back to school and take the things I'm interested in.
History degree.
Went to law school and got my JD. Went to work for a private developer doing government and public relations stuff. Now working for a nonprofit as an advocate for indigenous peoples working on social and political issues like human trafficking and climate change policy.
I use the skills I learned my History degree all the time. The ability to consume large amounts of data and create a compelling argument is almost universal. Currently, I do quality assurance for the technical documentation used by a large call center in the medical field.
With people sharing stories of their self-discovery and self-improvement, this thread also became kind of a source of wisdom and courage for Yusuf, who enjoyed reading the answers. “As I also enter that stage of life where I determine what I want to pursue as an adult, it’s intriguing to read about others who’ve passed that stage.”
The author enjoyed reading through all of his thread’s responses and was happy to see so many people join in answering his question and sharing their stories. “I’m just glad to see how much discussion was generated out of something I asked.”
My liberal arts degree helped me understand how the world works a little better. Turns out that is very useful when applied to investing. I retired at 50.
Independent Researcher* (AKA, unemployed, or at least seriously under-employed, but I spend a few nights a week at the library pretending to be a post-doc, trying to write research papers on my degree subject because I miss doing my PhD.) I studied volcanology, which I -definitely- don't think is useless, but it is niche and hard to stay in. I'm all for people studying what sets their hearts on fire and not letting people devalue their degrees, and I love to see it when people shut the naysayers up and make it work.
Ultimately, choosing a career path at a time in your life when you’re just starting to really figure out who you are and what truly appeals to you can feel like it comes out of nowhere and completely catches you off guard. But we can’t really change that, can we? After all, the way life and our world work, most of us don’t have the luxury to simply sit around and wait until we know what we want for certain. And oftentimes, it’s the experiences that help us figure it out.
Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and Aristotle’s successor, once said, “Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” While, on one hand, this can put even more existential dread on this decision, it can also be viewed as an encouragement to follow your dreams. They might change, and it might feel like you wasted some time here and there, but it’s better to admit that to yourself and go in the direction you want to go than to stay in denial and commit to wasting the rest of your life.
Philosophy degree. I think about life a lot. *EDIT:* I was actually a double major in Philosophy (because I wanted to explore the Big Questions of Existence) and Economics (because I figured that many philosophers starve). But I didn’t end up directly using either body of knowledge in my work career. I was an editor for some technical publications, then I made an early-midlife swivel and became a middle school math teacher, which I did for decades. I really do still ponder those life questions a lot, though.
*What do you do / With a BA in English?*
Cloud application manager.
Tech editor, formerly proposal marketing for engineering firms. Not high paying, but I got to spent four years studying my favorite subject. No regrets.
I got a BA in sociology. Got accepted to law school but opted out because I was burned out and hated everything. I went to work at a hotel and randomly fell into accounting. It worked for me, and now I have a CPA. Life is a journey.
Film degree. Work in film production. Be careful what you wish for.
Did get the typically “useless” psychology B.A. but did go on to get my masters in marriage and family therapy, currently work as a therapist. So it has gotten its use!
I have a degree in accounting, that I used for six months 30 year ago.
My roomate was a flight attendant and was having a blast, I decided to apply got accepted and spent 10 years traveling the world, until I had kids. Once they were older, I got into property management. Getting my degree in accounting was easy for me, and I thought I would be good at it. However, I started hating numbers real quick.
What lots of people don't realize about accounting is that it is a highly repetitive grind
I have a theater degree. I teach theater. Even through several years of [freelancing], I haven't been without work for more than a week since 2011.
Make your way in the world. I have the very definition of a “useless degree“ (a BA from a disreputable public liberal arts college). But I found a career that worked for me. I’m self employed, own a house, have a partner, and I’m doing fine (with less than zero help from my parents).
So fellow English majors, fellow underwater basket weavers, fellow sociologists, take heart. Be professional, charming, and smart. Show up on time and do your f*****g best, even if you’re not 100% into it. Take jobs you’re overqualified for. Take jobs you’re underqualified for. Follow your instincts and seize your opportunities. It won’t work out for everyone (this being capitalism, after all), but it worked out for me. And it can for you, too!
I know this seems like a Boomer comment but I’m 43. I felt absolutely hopeless (economically), in my 20s, but it got better.
I got a Geography degree. I'm an electronics technician at a very large defense contractor.
I love geography. Not sure what a geography degree consists of beyond being able to know where everything is, but man I love learning where everything is, and I’d love to learn the other parts of a geography degree.
Got a psych degree, now im an electrician.
We now know the real answer to the riddle "how many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb?"
Bachelor’s: English/Creative Writing
Master’s: Liberal Studies/Peace Education/Educational Theory
Job: Kindergarten teacher
I teach full time on a sub license at a charter, and I’m living the dream.
Edit: I have a sub license, but I was hired in as a full time teacher.
Sales. I do brewery tours for fun and often make fun of my German degree, and then teach them related words.
Psychology degree -> real estate appraisal -> startup founder in gaming industry -> product manager at fintech company. It’s been a weird 20 years since college.
Fine arts degree. Worked my butt off for years. Now in sales, which comes so easy to me, and I make so much more money. Wish I studied business or marketing and figured this out many years ago.
BAs in English and Women’s Studies > f****d around as a copywriter, library clerk (to be a librarian one needs a Library Sciences MS,) managed a home healthcare office, other low-paying endeavors > decided at 30 to go to grad school > At forty, I’ve been a psychotherapist for 7ish years, and I’m now burnt out.
Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
So what I'm hearing is take risks, find your passions, give it your all, and don't be afraid to work a trade. The future is not as bleak as it seems
And don’t pigeon hole yourself. Sometimes you end up in something that’s loosely related to your original goal, and it ends up being amazing.
Load More Replies...
Master in Archeology with a minor in eastern studies. Had a job the minut I graduated. Got disgusted after a few years of the workfield and left, do something totally non relaxed now and I am happy
I want to go in to archeology so badly in my tweens, but started talking to people about the field. I ended up having visions of never-ending grant bids (money talk is bot a great thing for me), and academia. I think I prefer to read about it now.
Load More Replies...
My nursing degree had my work cut out for me, especially during the pandemic. Not all degrees are useless.
And what's nursing you have so many choices good for you lap cat and I hope you found a nursing career and a type of nursing that you love. I did home health for 30 plus years and I never looked back
Load More Replies... So what I'm hearing is take risks, find your passions, give it your all, and don't be afraid to work a trade. The future is not as bleak as it seems
And don’t pigeon hole yourself. Sometimes you end up in something that’s loosely related to your original goal, and it ends up being amazing.
Load More Replies... Master in Archeology with a minor in eastern studies. Had a job the minut I graduated. Got disgusted after a few years of the workfield and left, do something totally non relaxed now and I am happy
I want to go in to archeology so badly in my tweens, but started talking to people about the field. I ended up having visions of never-ending grant bids (money talk is bot a great thing for me), and academia. I think I prefer to read about it now.
Load More Replies... My nursing degree had my work cut out for me, especially during the pandemic. Not all degrees are useless.
And what's nursing you have so many choices good for you lap cat and I hope you found a nursing career and a type of nursing that you love. I did home health for 30 plus years and I never looked back
Load More Replies...