10

Another thing I can suggest you is that you look at which areas your university has strong programs in (be it engineering, CS, art, etc) and then find out where those people are getting hired. The most important thing you can do while in college is making sure you get as many internships as possible. If you are going in to get that paper, internships will build your resume and get you contacts.

Similarly if you can go study abroad, do so. The thing about college is that it is also your last chance at fucking around. These experiences are sometimes frowned upon but they’ll just round you out as a person.

Lastly, make sure you take a technical writing class. If you they teach several, scout the teachers and make sure you find the biggest piece of shit nitpicky asshole and then take his class. The amount of polish you will get in that one semester will be invaluable.

11

Heh. Fellow history major with only 5 weeks left to go. Kind of regretting it myself, though most of it is being saddled with a heavy duty Thesis that I dislike immensely. It’s also not too much of a problem for me since I plan to be a teacher.

Really it depends on what and where you are applying to and how prestigious your degree is. Many jobs will barely even care about the degree besides you having it, and are more interested in things like previous internships, people skills, etc.

Lastly, a history degree can be more effective than you think. It’s a symbol of a varied intelligence, as opposed to a more “look how specialized my level of thinking is” like some other majors. A history degree shows your employer that you are able to think critically, that you are an effective writer, and you are able to entertain many different views and entertain problems from many angles. Sure that means nothing if you are going into dock working or something, but many jobs, even banking and especially law, appreciate such liberal arts degrees.

12

I’m actually kind of confused by this statement. Are you saying nobody can get a CS degree, or nobody switches majors into one on a whim? Because I agree, nobody should get into CS if you’re not already highly interested in it. It’s not easy, the washout rate is super high, and the job market can be pretty competitive. This coming from somebody with a good job and a CS degree

13

Not saying that NObody can. I just don’t think it’s something you just jump into without knowing what you’re getting yourself into. Pretty much just what you said. :tup:

14

I’ll assume you were joking.

I’m probably switching my major from English to X-Ray Tech.

15

If he is Asian, SRK’s opinion could net him solid income.

All he needs to do is spend that tuition on a sex change.

16

I understand this is a more tight knit community than most online forums but I seriously can’t fucking believe people come on SRK asking these big life altering questions here. Like really, you’re a student and the best resource you have to discuss what you want to do with your life is an online forum full of trolls, assholes, and fighting game nerds?

Keep in mind I’m not the best person to ask (I’m having a hard time finding a job in my field and I hate my current job but it’s better than flipping burgers) but most people spend the majority of their life post college working, so you might as well try your best to find something you enjoy doing.

Ideally we all want a job that we enjoy and pays well but life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to. It isn’t always this black and white but before doing anything else I suggest asking yourself and answering: Would I rather be doing what I love and struggle financially or not have to worry about money and not be satisfied?

17

I think it’s more an “eh, why the heck not?” I’m sure s/he is also going through channels like major and career advisors. Nonetheless its nice to see a topic like this in between all the complaining about SFxT, nice change of pace.

18

So, what thesis do they have you writing? I have to use the trial proceedings from the Popish Plot (1678-81) England to show that Anti-Catholic persecution in England had a lot more facets than just hating Catholics.

19

I’m only in my first semester of upper level history classes so they just got me doing some 10 page papers in my Sumerian, German, and African history classes in which I can choose a topic.

For German, I’m arguing the cause of the decline in power of the Habsburg Monarchy in Western Europe was mainly due to Ottoman and revolt in their Eastern domains

For Sumerian, I’m researching the role of infantry in Sumerian armies

For African, I’m researching on possible culprits for the destruction of the Library at Alexandria and their possible motives.

A lot of work for someone who doesn’t like to write or read outside of his own leisure

20

You should ask yourself what you’re good at.

21

This. I can’t quote on internships but I got that coming next summer (CS major by the way). The work is repetitive but I like it because I can make things work, and I’ll expand on that in a minute.

Or get a degree in philosophy.

It won’t be popular with family but if you work and get a feel for what you want to do with the rest of your life(i.e. the important parts) it will be well worth it imo.

[quote="Pertho, post: 6758278, member: 8113"His 2nd post[/quote]

Everything in here except the last bit about the nitpicky asshole writing prof only because I fucking hate writing. I dislike the openness of grading papers, it seems too subjective to me. I like being either right or wrong, all the papers I write take me hours longer than the CS projects that I do because I will rewrite a sentence or a paragraph dozens of times because I don’t like how it reads or something stupid and barely improve on the original piece. And that’s why I hate writing, probably just me but fuck dat shit…
Sounds like you’ll be aiight especially if you get a teaching job somewhere. Which I’m betting you’ve already started getting feedback for…Maybe

How competitive is getting a job out there? I know job searches are shitty (and I know this is a question better suited for our Programmer’s Thread) but how much importance is placed upon a degree?

Finally, this…

Also TheDamned…it

And then…

-Starhammer-
^i forget his posting sig but I quoted an entire thread so I feel it’s appropraite^

22

If you just want to make money, than there are numerous jobs you can get that don’t require a college degree. One of the greatest lie ever told to society is that you need a college degree to be successful. And the assumption that people with college degrees are smart.

23

To reply seriously, I was checking out a graph not too long ago and Petro-Engineers were at the top as far as average salary(85-90k iirc)

24

I’m aware that math, engineering and science have all the stuff I’m looking for in the future such as good salary, job security, etc.

Unfortunately, my brain is more inclined to learning other things much better than math thus, one reason I am a history major :sad:

25

Honestly, it sounds like you have a common problem.

My advice is if your passion is indeed History, find a way to make it work other than teaching. Could you somehow get involved in archeology? Museum corrator (sp)? Maybe work for an insurance company that handles antiques? Etc.

The other way you could go is make a list of things you like to do. Not because of money, but things you’d do for free on your downtime. Those are things you want to see whether or not you can make a career of. Most people will tell you that you don’t want to go do a job you hate everyday just because it pays well.

26

Accounting

people will think you are good at math, without doing any “math”

27

I know some like to believe in that childish BS about getting a job doing what you love, but thats often not a realistic expectation. Nor is it like a fighting game where you can pick a low-tier character and through hardwork & sheer willpower find ways to do well, conventional or otherwise. There are some majors that just plain S-U-C-K, and the chances of making a comfortable living off of them are sparse at best. History being one of them.

He might be able to find a longterm job in something like teaching, a museum or big library. However, there are not many of those going around, and those people that have those jobs are holding onto them for dear life. 'lest they be in the same boat.

For example i LOVE Psychology, but wheres the money in it? On top of that requirements to get a job/career worth a damn in it require no less than a PH.D. So i’d have to be in college for the next 12 years, only to leave out with something that i’d be hard pressed to find a position in. Thats a big gamble i’m not going to bother with.

You’re kinda going to extremes there. The trick is compromising in finding a career they don’t necessarily like, but don’t hate either. Something they can at least stand to do.

And if it makes them a good living…something they’ll eventually come to appreciate & take pride in.

28

There’s always the medical field… >_>

29

Archeology doesn’t exactly work that way. Unless he wanted to work in Europe, you’re going to need people’s skills.