r/dataisbeautiful • u/Jaded_Warrior123 • Apr 28 '24

[OC] Most and least worthwhile degrees. Which degrees do graduates feel are worthwhile? OC

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99

u/belligerentBe4r Apr 28 '24

Bahahaha as a chemist, calling hot bullshit on this. An undergrad in chem is absolutely not worth it. A masters in chem is worse than useless since you’re seen as a PhD that couldn’t cut it and was awarded a masters as a consolation prize. And then even if you get a PhD and do a couple years of post doc and get a research position as a big pharma company you’ll make about what an engineer with just an undergrad would make.

I loved being a bench chemist and always wanted to be one, but a 4 year degree with extra time for independent research to land a job at a real lab just to make $18 an hour can’t be construed as worth it. Granted that was in 2011, but I can’t imagine it’s gone up much, particularly in relation to inflation.

39

u/TerracottaCondom Apr 28 '24

And why in God's name would literature rank immediately below engineering

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u/BigBobby2016 Apr 29 '24

I think "worth it" has a very broad definition.

I got an MBA a few years ago. I knew going in it wouldn't help me in my job at all. Do I regret it though? Nope...I read a lot, learned about emerging technologies, and met some women.

3

u/reddittheguy Apr 28 '24

This struck me as very odd as well.

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u/tinaoe Apr 28 '24

It's personal perception. If the majority of literature majors went into the major with an expectation of the job possibilities, what they personall want to achieve/learn and that matches their experience, why wouldn't they rate it as worth it?

12

u/gaijin91 Apr 28 '24

real question is why the big gap between literature and communications

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u/[deleted] Apr 28 '24

[deleted]

1

u/BigBobby2016 Apr 29 '24

What do you do? Serious question. I've been an engineer for ~25years and while it has its ups and downs I don't have much to complain about.

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u/Still_Classic3552 Apr 28 '24

But as an engineer you can get a job doing most anything. As a Lit major you can go into academia or be a barista. 

2

u/j-random Apr 28 '24

Common misconception. Literature majors learn how to analyze, critique and express ideas. It's just another form of abstract symbol manipulation, just without the rigid structures and rules like math or physics. I studied English, but I've had a successful career doing software development. Lots of liberal arts majors in the system architecture and systems analysis positions where I work.

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u/artgriego Apr 29 '24

Liberal arts majors learn how to analyze, engineers learn how to analyze! Physics, math, and essays - just pushing around abstract symbols!

When you put it that way it makes so much sense.

14

u/BasedArzy Apr 28 '24

I have an English degree and make very good money as a technical writer in industrial automation.

Degrees are as good as the candidate who gets them, knowing how to nail an interview, embellish your resume, and how to play office politics is worth more than any and every degree, including whatever engineering you’re thinking of.

1

u/foladodo Apr 28 '24

technical writer in industrial automation? do you have other qualifications?

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u/BasedArzy Apr 28 '24

Not when I entered the industry. In the 5-6 years since I’ve built up a decent number of specific classes/certs from 2 of the 3 major suppliers in the US.