Why do many individuals deem anthropology as an "unecessary" major, while its concepts of theories and techniques applies to all other fields of study?
I earned my BS in Anthropology in 1996. At the time (and probably more so now), you couldn’t get any kind of job in Anthropology without a graduate degree, and while I started on my MS in Anthropology, I was derailed by life (kids, family, etc…).While I was working on my undergrad and grad studies, I realized that even more than Anthropology, I had a passion for medicine, and in particular, working with women in medicine. With that as a note in the back of my head, I went looking for a way to make that happen, utilizing everything I learned about self-reflection, awareness of bias, participant-observation, etc., and bringing that to the conversation around medicine.Yep - I went into IT to pay off student loans and to help me build a nest egg to go into medicine. Life happened, I didn’t get to med school, but I did get into Healthcare IT.Along the way, the skills I learned in Anthropology became invaluable. Troubleshooting in IT? Not so different from looking at a system and understanding that a change in one area of a system may have unforseen and unexpected consequences in another area. Also, understanding cultural differences and how they intersect in global companies helped me understand not just how to communicate with my peers around the globe, but also how to help identify needs and requirements so that when tools and processes I developed needed to be rolled out, I could do so with the least stress possible.Most people don’t understand what Anthropology brings to the table, and as a result it’s usually the first question I’m asked in interviews - especially since I’m now highly specialized within the tech world. It may be considered “unnecessary” but I feel that it is a very large part of how I got to where I am today.Oh and now I’m working on my Masters of Engineering in Health Systems Engineering - guess what’s coming in handy? Yep - all those years studying Anthropology.
If I want to go to college I will have to take out loans. Is it still worth it?
Maybe.Thanks for the A2A.It depends on three factors:Will You Graduate?Around 40% don’t, and that is disastrous. With 119 credits you rate as a high school graduate to prospective employers. According to a Drexel University study, you are going to be stigmatized in the job market if you fail to graduate.Before you enroll in college, you really need to ask yourself, “Am I up for this?”Thomas B Walsh's answer to How can you tell if you are not academically qualified for college?What’s Your Major?I recently came across an economist at Temple University who is doing some interesting work on the pay off for college. His name is Dr. Douglas Webber.I’m going to paraphrase his advice:Your choice of college major is the biggest financial decision you are going to make in your life. The difference in life-time income varies in the range of about $1.5–2.0 million depending on major.You can Google this guy. He has data on average income by major.It also influences the likelihood you may end up under employed.Underemployment: The Long-Term Impact on CareersCan You Limit Your Debt?The short answer is limit yourself to Federal Direct loans—$31,000.Here’s the long answer.Thomas B Walsh's answer to What level should students aim to keep their student debt below?I’ve pretty much given up on this. Young people and their parents have absolutely no sense of the amount of risk they are taking on with educational debt. It’s either that or the students feel entitled to go to any school they choose.Parents need to learn to say,“You can’t afford that school.”I see a version of this question on Quora over and over and over.Everyone around told me to major in what I love. I choose a double major in women's and gender studies with a minor in ethnic studies from an out of state private college. Now I am in over $100 k debt. How do I recover and get a job in my field?If I answer what I’m thinking, I’ll get throw off Quora.NoteDid you notice what is missing from the equation? Teenagers spend hundreds of hours agonizing over which school is the magical “fit.” This is the stuff they and their parents should be thinking about.
Should I attend a graduate school even though I don't know what I plan on being yet?
Absolutely not. Do not go to graduate school until you know with absolute certainty what your career path will be and why graduate education is necessary for your career training. If you don’t know this, I can practically guarantee that you won’t be admitted for serious graduate work, because you must explain this in your application, and your indecisiveness will be immediately apparent.It is far better for you to work in a job where you can apply what you already know until you figure out why you want to do graduate training, and are absolutely ready to make the personal sacrifices necessary to make a success of it. Too many people get into graduate school with no idea what they are doing. Then they flail around trying to “discover themselves” and either quit or flunk out. It is sad, because many times these are intelligent and talented people who just don’t know why they are in school or what they are going to do with their training.Please don’t be one of these. Take all the time you need to reach a positive decision about your future and the commitment it takes to make a success of your graduate training.
Why do college students choose impractical majors?
I know that this is like beating a dead horse, but passion does matter. Also, it depends on a person's upbringing and values. Some people are taught that practicality is of the utmost importance and should override silly passions or "fantasies" because they simply aren't realistic and will threaten their chance at a prosperous life; on the other hand, others are taught to value happiness and the pursuit of said happiness because life is simply too short to just survive. This has a profound effect on a person's choices, especially one as important as a college degree. That being said, given the current economic state, people need to pursue their passions wisely. The girl in the article could have possibly avoided the situation by making the compromise of choosing a different, cheaper school. For something as broad as religious and women studies, finding a program with a smaller price tag shouldn't be that difficult (especially when compared to $50,000 a year). Oh, and for those who have said that these subjects could easily be read about, that may be true to some degree; however, an education on the subject helps to focus and draw conclusions about what you've learned, not to mention it gives you easier access to and knowledge of valid sources on the subject. There is a lot to be said for independent research and that is largely what graduate school is for, but an education can guide you through the process and make sure that your information is valid and your conclusions sound.
Should student debt be illegal?
Answer this:What do these 6 items have in common?1- Floppy disks: Buy them today! You need them!2- Pay phones: The best communication you can ever dream of…3- Pagers: These will transform your future…4- Video Cassette Recorders (VCR): the last device you ever need to access education…5- Film Cameras: The best camera in the market will guarantee you lifetime memories…6- Industrial Age College Education: Designed and perfected to train the best factory employees… it's the best mass production education model ever - guaranteed that a robot or computer can do it better and faster than you could ever imagine by the time you graduate.To answer your question:Would you buy ANY of these junk at inflated prices WITH DEBT?I personally think even the current broken educational system should be illegal.
Why do people think that community college is for losers? ?
There is nothing wrong with it. I've attended both, a major university and a community college. From my experience, I can tell you that I far and away prefer the community college. Here is just a list of what I have found at the Community College here that the university lacked: You are a name, not a number. You can actually talk to a live person EVERY time you call. You have a much much smaller class size and student/teacher ratio. You have most of your classes within easy walking distance, not strung out over 50 acres. To this end, the library is right where you need it. The tutoring labs are right where you need them. The restrooms are even closer :D :D There is not as much traffic and congestion just trying to get in/out. The people in your class have names like you do and you will know all of theirs and they, yours. The courses are much more structured and there is more "teaching" going on than just "meeting the requirements". They are tougher on you as far as CLEP tests, etc. They require higher scores for passing than does the university. You can get an associate degree in a very short period of time, if you apply yourself. This degree can be in a chosen field whereas the university requires four years, as they do not have an associate degree in a specialty, only a general studies degree with a listed major. The fees are so much less and the tuition substantially lower that your federal grant should cover all your tuition and expenses and books (if you shop around) and you will have money left over for transporation and other necessary items. This is, of course, based on my experiences here and the list could go on... but I'm sure you get the drift. There is absolutely nothing wrong with attending a community college and in fact, it could be a very wise decision for academics and economics. Good luck!
College advice: What would you have done differently?
What I am looking for is advice about College... If you had to start over what would you do differently? What would you do the same? What's one thing you wish someone would have told you before you began your college? What advice to you have for Seniors graduating high school this coming June (2010)?