College Majors

[silencewaits]

How exactly did you educated wizards go about choosing a college major? What should someone look for in what they choose? Does it matter at all?

 

[theil]

I've never considered formal education and the pursuit of magical studies together.

My primary reason for pursuing a major was influenced by my father. So in my case, higher education is a family affair, which might be a perspective from a bygone era.

 

[beardedeldridge]

Major in something practical that you can make money with.

Minor in something that appeals to you (philosophy, history, or whatever). Or better yet just spend your time becoming well read.

Don’t go into tons of debt doing it.

Study magick on your own.

 

[Faria]

I planned to become a high school English teacher so I could get stability and a month or two off every year. After college, I changed plans and took a trade apprenticeship. I am very happy to have made that switch. At this point I work a couple of short days a week at my very small retail store. If I had to do the whole thing over again, I would probably have gone into a scientific field like petroleum geology.

My children wanted to go into the arts, and so far I've been able to convince them to get degrees in other fields where the income has more guarantees. I know a few very successful artists who have been at it for 40+ years and none of them have art degrees, and the few people I know who do have art degrees work as cashiers for big box retailers.

College degrees prove that you are obedient and can complete assigned tasks, and not much else. If you want to make the most of it, take advantage of the fact that you are close to respected people in your chosen field. Make career contacts that you can call in the future, especially those already attached to your chosen field.

 

[beardedeldridge]

If you’re looking for a career, keep your eyes/ears/mind open to the possibilities and use magic to your advantage.

I have four younger friends/family members all about the same age. Each completed a double major at similar schools in international business and then the language/culture they wanted to focus on.

Where are they now:

1. Does ok baking cupcakes.
2. Does very well working in a casino.
3. Does ok in retail.
4. Does very well doing what I do.

The degree is just the start. I work with engineering, business schools, history, ag, and every major in between. And we all do the same thing.

 

[Xenophon]

I knew one lass, a business owner now, whose "college" was a subscription to National Geographic her dad got her. If she was interested in aught, he told her to go read up on it. She wound up very well informed and with her own opinions. (Sadly in recent years Nat Geo seems to have gone down the woke globalist loo pipe). Math and languages were predictably weak. On the other hand, she entered her mid-twenties not staggering under a load of Sisyphean dept.

If go to college you must, do not "follow your passion." You'll drop out and change majors a half dozen times. Passion rarely perdures. Probably you should pick a major that aggravates you a bit. That is a valuable skill later. (That's why West Point, at one time anyway, had all its cadets take electrical engineering every year: it was time intensive and stressful. Useful for future officers.) Paying the bills is not a bad consideration. If you're a mage, you are already comfortable with living a double life. Your REAL interest is not probably what you do in public. You know, too, that a lot of learning can be accrued simply by not wasting time away from ones duties.

Finally, like ol' Goethe said, I only tender advice if you promise not to take it.

 

[HoldAll]

I always wanted to go to uni after school because I'd hated to get some boring job as a bank or insurance clerk or whatever so I chose the same course of studies as a friend of mine who was full of excitement about it - she never graduated btw but I did. No idea what she is doing now, we've long lost contact.

 

[rice candy]

The government chose for me by throwing me money. Hard to say no when they offer to pay your tuition...

I suppose my advice would be to ask yourself: what working goals do you have? At the end of the day, the goal of university is to obtain a certificate for a future job. For me, I went in looking for my passion and couldn't find it. So if I was going to remain miserable at a job - I might as well work at a high paying one. May or may not be bad advice. Just my two cents.

 

[Xenophon]

I always wanted to go to uni after school because I'd hated to get some boring job as a bank or insurance clerk or whatever so I chose the same course of studies as a friend of mine who was full of excitement about it - she never graduated btw but I did. No idea what she is doing now, we've long lost contact.

So what did you wind up doing? Did you graduate in it? Was it worthwhile?