As much as I'd really like to do a degree concerning a foreign language or culture, I really worry about what'd get out of it for the effort I'd put in to achieve it. While I want a degree that is obviously of personal interest to me, I also want a degree which is going to be a significant boost in getting a decent paying job that's going to give me a good standard of living. No offence to anyone doing these degrees, but I've heard of so many language graduates that can't find a job and end up in jobs they could have got without the degree. I admit, achieving any degree is impressive from an employers perspective, but a lot of occupations requier specific degrees.
It seems the only occupations directly related to linguistic/cultural degrees are teaching and museum curator. Obviously, a degree concerning poorer parts of the world is likely to increase your chance of getting a decent role in an charity, or some sort of government aid agency, but we all know that those types of roles are few and far between, and that there's far more candidates than openings.
As well as studying something I genuinely have a passion for, I also want a degree that's going to offer me a reasonable amount of security when it comes to job searching.
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Yes, it is pointless in my opinion and won't offer similar prospects to degrees such as engineering/economics/maths. This is a fact and arguing against it would be stupid.
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Personally cultural or linguistics degrees are brilliant. Most degrees give you the general benefits of having to meet deadlines, be organised, self study among many others, so you would gain all those qualities, as well as the ability to understand and interpret other cultures and societies. If you enjoy it, go for it!
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by IITian
Yes, it is pointless in my opinion and won't offer similar prospects to degrees such as engineering/economics/maths. This is a fact and arguing against it would be stupid.
Oh give over What with globalisation (and increasing apathy amongst today's young people with regard to foreign languages) the ability to speak another language or two is very valuable.
Still juicy enough job prospects scores and quite consistant across the unis too (I know this is just French)
But I think the average German grad earns 21k (this is above average) and other language grads aren't far behind.
Anyway, no degree is a waste of time if they are what you want to do. Yes, "cultural" degrees or degrees that are directly related to the hiertage industry may not offer the greatest propsects but these degrees are often designed for those wishing to go into the heritage sector (in quite professional jobs, just not particualrly well paid). Opportunities still exist outside the heritage sector though (they offer enough in the way of transferable skills) it's just the sort of students who are attracted to these degrees in the first place are more likely to stay in the heritage or education sectors.
But back to languages they are certainly valued by employers and langauge grads can go into some quite presitigious careers (diplomatic service/government, business and finance and law)
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by IITian
Yes, it is pointless in my opinion and won't offer similar prospects to degrees such as engineering/economics/maths. This is a fact and arguing against it would be stupid.
You seem to talk a lot of trash on this forum. Kindly return to your cage.
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by jonboyyork
You seem to talk a lot of trash on this forum. Kindly return to your cage.
No my friend, I am speaking from an employers point of view. I don't know why some of you people think studying a degree (how can you even call it a degree?) in cultural languages or whatever is perfectly ok, especially if you want to enhance career prospects.
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Also, as I moved around schools a lot, I was never able to do a GCSE language course as it was deemed that I would be too far behind and it would be difficult to catch up, which I guess is fair really. However, this obviously makes me unable to do a language at A Level. So, without a GCSE or A Level in a foreign language am I at a significant disadvantage when applying for a language degree? How much do universities look for it, do they view it as an extra, or is it a make or break thing?
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by IITian
No my friend, I am speaking from an employers point of view. I don't know why some of you people think studying a degree (how can you even call it a degree?) in cultural languages or whatever is perfectly ok, especially if you want to enhance career prospects.
Have you ever heard of international business? Seriously...
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by IITian
No my friend, I am speaking from an employers point of view. I don't know why some of you people think studying a degree (how can you even call it a degree?) in cultural languages or whatever is perfectly ok, especially if you want to enhance career prospects.
I've never even heard of wherever you're planning to study, at least my chosen institution is a little more reknowned than IIT (?). Think business, think journalism, diplomacy and not to mention the satisfaction of being able to communicate in languages wildly different to one's mother tongue and thus the ability to work abroad. There's no reasoning behind saying learning a language at degree level is nonsense other than perhaps you have very odd and backward ideas drilled into you by your parents. You're not taking into account either, that language degrees incorporate literature, history and philosophy too. Knowledge is power.
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by IITian
No my friend, I am speaking from an employers point of view. I don't know why some of you people think studying a degree (how can you even call it a degree?) in cultural languages or whatever is perfectly ok, especially if you want to enhance career prospects.
Are you an employer? I doubt it. If not, then how can you speak from an employer's point of view?
Is your post clear? No. Just think what a languages degree might do to fix this problem for you.
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by IITian
Yes, it is pointless in my opinion and won't offer similar prospects to degrees such as engineering/economics/maths. This is a fact and arguing against it would be stupid.
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by GHOSH-5
Personally cultural or linguistics degrees are brilliant. Most degrees give you the general benefits of having to meet deadlines, be organised, self study among many others, so you would gain all those qualities, as well as the ability to understand and interpret other cultures and societies. If you enjoy it, go for it!
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by IITian
Yes, it is pointless in my opinion and won't offer similar prospects to degrees such as engineering/economics/maths. This is a fact and arguing against it would be stupid.
Re: Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
Originally Posted by jonboyyork
I've never even heard of wherever you're planning to study, at least my chosen institution is a little more reknowned than IIT (?). Think business, think journalism, diplomacy and not to mention the satisfaction of being able to communicate in languages wildly different to one's mother tongue and thus the ability to work abroad. There's no reasoning behind saying learning a language at degree level is nonsense other than perhaps you have very odd and backward ideas drilled into you by your parents. You're not taking into account either, that language degrees incorporate literature, history and philosophy too. Knowledge is power.
Well, I know for a fact that a lot of students from IIT are now world leaders and CEO's (CEO of Pepsi/Vodafone, MD of Mckinsey to name a few). This is because employers like students who study very rigorous subjects, and not wishy washy ones like english and languages.
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Are cultural/linguistics degrees a waste of time?
What with globalisation (and increasing apathy amongst today's young people with regard to foreign languages) the ability to speak another language or two is very valuable.
