Quote Originally Posted by TinCow View Post
I agree with you that the best education a person gets in a History major are the classes which teach you how to interpret history. Those were not the most interesting classes I took, but they certainly had the longest-lasting impact on me. As for the rest being a "big waste of time," your education is exactly what you make of it. Majoring in history will not make you an expert in history, but frankly you won't be an expert in anything with just a BA or a BS. Yes, it's easier to get a job with a BS in math or engineering these days than a BA in a social science, but that has to do with the job market, not the nature of the education itself. You'll realize very soon after you start working that you know relatively little about the actual subject. Nearly all knowledge is gained by practical on-the-job experience, not undergrad schooling. Undergrad exists to sort out those who are most likely to excel in the workforce from those who are not. It's about learning the basics of adult life, responsibility, and the process of learning itself. The actual content of the courses themselves is of secondary importance to the lesson of learning themselves.

What exactly was your goal in majoring in History? What do you want to do in life? If your career objectives have nothing to do with the benefits accorded by a social sciences degree, you should seriously consider changing majors.


In the end, if you can't get a Historian job making money, it makes no difference.