Anybody regret the college degree concentration they received?

[Orchidflower]

I could kick my fanny for getting a degree in psychology, but have to admit that it DID help in sales and, of course, on a personal level when it came to understanding why someone was the way they were. BUT what a waste of 4 years! I mean, really...what use is it ?
Granted, with the psych degree, it enabled me to study the Myers-Briggs, so I know it like the back of my hand--and what a wade thru that one was, by the way.
And the psych degree helped me probably study the Enneagram--another personality test that is over 2,500 years old.
Put the two tests together and you can pretty much spend a few hours with someone and usually get a good read on their mental health and basic personality. Big whoops.
If I had it to do all over again, I would get a finance and economics degree.
This really is starting to bother me, so I ask:

Does anyone else feel they wasted 4 years of their time on a degree that they now feel is...well, useless? Or am I the only one on here?
.

 

[Letj]

I got a B.S. in Public Administration. Completely waste of time because to earn decent money, I had to go to grad school to get business degrees.

 

[growing_older]

Don't think I wasted the 4 years, but sure could have used it more effectively. As for the specific degree, I have never used mine professionally in any way and in the high tech computer jobs I have had, for folks in my age range, that is very common. The younger folks are more likely to have applicable degrees, but us older crew are more likely to have degrees in music, biology, archeology or some other unrelated science.

 

[Lazarus]

No, don't regret it since I don't have a degree.

 

[TromboneAl]

I got a degree in one field, then ended up doing something completely different, but don't feel that much was wasted. Learned think, and all that.

 

[Martha]

My undergrad is in psychology and philosophy. Initially, my plans were to get an advanced degree in one or the other and teach. I had no interest in clinical work. But . . . worries about ending up with a good job (how many philosophy professor jobs are there?) and the desire for money, as well as some other considerations, led me to law school.

Not sure that I would have done it the same all over again, but I don't regret the undergrad work.

 

[Moemg]

I can not say I regret it but I wish my education had been more rounded than just Nursing .

 

[Walt34]

How about a B.S. in Criminal Justice? I came on the department with an AA, did the B.S. part time over the next 13 years with a 5-year break after divorce. I was 46 by the time I got it, I just kept going because I was close to finishing and it seemed foolish to write off the previous work. A sense of accomplishment from it I suppose, but wife & family were more excited about it than I was.

I suppose it might open some doors if a B.S. is needed, especially in govt. often they don't care what the degree is in, they just want a degree. Law enforcement is that way, they want the wide range of expertise. I had a cattle rustling case one time, the "go-to guy" had a degree in Animal Husbandry.

Started on a M.S. in Information Systems intending to work after retirement from law enforcement & make big bux. Then my mother died, six months later my wife's mother died, and I thought "I am spending WAY too much time in front of a computer screen. I'm going to spend that time with family."

So that's what we've been doing. Wife is much more relaxed than when she was working & loves the relaxed pace.

 

[Pavo]

Interesting. I started off college as a history & philosophy major. My high school advisor asked me:

"How will you make money? Go into business; make the other things your hobby."

Took a few business courses, then switched colleges; left with economics & finance majors and accounting minor.

 

[Purron]

I got a BS in Accounting which has been useful both personally and professionally. My favorite classes in college, however, were not business related at all such as music, biology and english.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Was a history major when I started university right out of high school, got married and had kids. Went back to school and changed to double major finance/accounting (which is to say I completed the hours for an accounting major, then discovered I liked finance way more), b-law minor.

My only regret was taking a bunch of biology/geology courses during my first couple of years...following my interest at the time...young and dumb.

 

[ChemEng]

I got a BS in Chemical Engineering with Math minor. Thankfully its been good to me so far (although Im getting close to wanting a career change I think). I got an MBA that Im not sure of the value right now--Im hoping that it will pay for itself later in my career.

 

[DangerMouse]

My major was in accounting, which I don't regret in the sense that I have always been able to get decent well paying jobs.

However I do wish I had of done something that spoke to my heart rather than to my strongly logical side. I don't find my field that fulfilling, but being close to FIRE I have no desire to try and change and requalify for something else.

 

[Zoocat]

Yes, actually, I do regret my BA and MA in English. What was I THINKING? What I really wanted to do was be a journalist and I wish I had gone to journalism school. Instead I became a college teacher because I could have summers off to be with my kids. Didn't work out that way at all. Oh well.

 

[Reelax]

No regrets. Rec'd Pharmacy degree in '77, worked in hospitals the majority of my career, loved the people I worked with, never had to hunt for employment, and most of all, enjoyed helping the patients. Just retired at 58.

 

[toofrugalformycat]

B.S. Fisheries Science. I had to switch to computers to make a living, so I was lucky I took lots of computer science classes along the way. They were easier than biology.
It was not the best major, but I'm glad I went through and completed a science degree. Otherwise I'd probably still be doing low-paid menial work and not ERed. Just having a B.S. on the resume helped me get hired.
I did get out on the ocean some professionally, my real interest at the time.

 

[UncleHoney]

Associates degree in mechanical engineering, associates degree in electrical engineering. I worked in the field of research and development for 35 years designing automated manufacturing equipment, consumer products and medical instrumentation. Enjoyed it and earned a good living too.

Probably wouldn't do anything different a second time around.

 

[megacorp-firee]

BS in Finance (how appropriate ). No regrets, it helped me in my career (at least 5 different jobs) at megacorp.
I advised my son, who started out in engineering at college, to continue with it even though he KNEW he did not want to be an engineer after graduating. I told him that it would train him in critical thinking skills, which it did.
I toyed with the idea of getting a JD, because I found my business law classes so interesting, but never got around to it... a slight tinge of regret there, but not much . I am not one prone to past regrets... life is a series of 'forks in the road'... take one and see where it goes, I always say.

 

[Sue J]

When I was a senior in high school (1973) and making college plans my priorities were-

Go to a college with my boyfriend.
Go to a college far enough away from my parents.

So we ended up going to a state university together. I got a degree in Early Childhood Education because I really did like kids, wanted to be a teacher and it was EASY. And it was far enough away from the parents.

I graduated with a bachelors and never taught. There was a surplus of teachers in 1977 and I had one job offer that was 3 time zones away (Idaho). I worked while looking for a teaching job and eventually ended up as a Store Accounting Supervisor for a national company. Got a few promotions and ended up as a Staff Accountant, without having an accounting degree.

My regret would be that I wish I would have known how much I loved accounting. I really felt like that was my niche. I've wondered how far I could have gone with an accounting degree.

The high school boyfriend that was so important in 1973 is the same guy that has been my husband since 1976, so there are no regrets there. The me that made him a priority at age 18 got that one right even though I could have made a better choice in college majors.

 

[Caroline]

I worked as an office manager for an actuarial firm when I was 25. They offered me a promotion to assistant actuary -- for the same salary I was making. Because I did payroll I knew that the other assistants were making many thousands more.

"Well, THEY have college degrees," I was told.

Because I kept the personnel files I went back to see what these degrees were all about. English literature, social welfare, and american history are the ones I remember.

I'm not the brightest bulb in the chandelier but they didn't have to tell me twice. A degree may not have helped me make more, but it could sure be used as an excuse to pay me less. I turned down the assistant's job, took my 2 yrs of Jr. college and applied to "the big kid's school." Got a BA in Philosophy.

Now, that in itself didn't get me big bucks, but it did pave the way for the MBA (which I hadn't considered prior to the BA and couldn't have qualified for without), and for my career thereafter.

Oh, by the way, I also learned to reason logically, which is an easy thing to undervalue until you meet a few people who can't or won't do likewise.

For me, a degree isn't JUST about what I studied during the time it took to earn it, it was also about opening doors and training my mind to successfully navigate my choices as they appeared.

I'm wiling to bet (though there's no way to prove it), that I'd be a very different person without it.

 

[whitestick]

Went to college right out of high school, majoring in Psychology. Found an avocation at the student union for 9 ball and canasta. In spite of the best efforts of the professors, I devoted most of my class time to those pursuits, and subsequently flunked out. Few years later, and more mature, realized that my personality wouldn't allow me to continue with that blemish of starting something and not finishing it. Went back through a forgiveness program that they had for returning students, and taking a full load while working, and switching majors the last year, due to lack of available classes needed for first major, got a BS in business. Reason was to finish something started, and really didn't believe that the specific field mattered, was working in technical area anyway at that time.
Value of graduating was a one time bump in salary, which of course became the springboard by which the rest of career was based on, so it helped from that standpoint. The value of the classes was in finance, economics, and marketing - critical thinking, analyzing for the big picture, and setting goals and objectives.
Couldn't have predicted it at the beginning, often didn't realize it till the end.

 

[chinaco]

No, never regretted it and would probably take the same course of action today.

My undergrad degree is in Engineering, but I work in software (a little different) but applicable. My grad degree in Business (applicable).

However, my undergrad decision happened at 21 after some exposure to the field and a little life experience. As opposed to just going to college and grasping for something about which I knew nothing. I think this is the major reason most young people wind up with a degree in something that is a total mismatch. Plus, some people often target a degree because they perceive it as easy. Others targeted (undergrad) something for which one requires a PHD and a desire to be an educator. Once these people graduate, they find the practical matter of getting a job is not so easy and they are not willing to get advanced degrees and pursue a career that will likely result in mid-level wages. It is my belief that most people should consult a career specialist and target a degree in an area that is in demand. Tee problem is that those skills usually take more work (e.g., Engineering, Law, Medical, Advanced degrees for education, etc.)

 

[Ronstar]

Started in engineering and dropped out after 2 years. 20 years later went back to school and got BA in business. Thought about MBA, but due to my age and work situation, I didnt see a return on investment. I dont regret the business degree, but I wish I would have stayed in school the first time and got the engineering degree.

 

[donheff]

I think there are two ends to the the student self awareness spectrum. Those who know what they want to do (or think they do) who end up in engineering, pre-law/med, architecture and the like. And those like me who don't have a clue who end up in psychology, English or some other liberal arts curriculum. I think for us clueless types the degree and the college experience are still worth while. For one thing, the degree is a credential that gets you past the front door for most white collar jobs. It isn't that you can't make it on your own without a degree but you are imposing a handicap that can make all the difference. Lets face it, the stats show the value of a degree is pretty significant. And set all that aside -- the college years are a blast.

 

[HFWR]

No regrets. Rec'd Pharmacy degree in '77, worked in hospitals the majority of my career, loved the people I worked with, never had to hunt for employment, and most of all, enjoyed helping the patients. Just retired at 58.

Had I not been too busy partying, I might have followed this course. Was studying pre-pharmacy right out of high school.

Associates degree in mechanical engineering, associates degree in electrical engineering. I worked in the field of research and development for 35 years designing automated manufacturing equipment, consumer products and medical instrumentation. Enjoyed it and earned a good living too.

Probably wouldn't do anything different a second time around.

Associate of applied science in electrical engineering here.

Worked in semiconductor R&D for 24 years. Beat digging holes for a living.

Also received a BS in bidness administration, but it turned out that, for me at least, the associate degree was more valuable...