Right now I am planning to major history, minor communications, and then go on to law school.My mom seems to think history is the absolute worst major possible and thinks all you can really do with it is teach.Looking on google it seems that there is a pretty diverse work(hopefully well paying) for people with history majors.I am curious what the board thinks of this particular major. Especially if you know someone who actually majored history and got a good job.It didn't really bother me for a while but, I guess the more I think about it the more worried I am it might be a waste of time and money getting the degree.Though in truth I think no matter what degree I get I will still have the same worries.I could major business.. but, then there are ALOT of people with that major. I'd excell in information technology but, again there are already alot of people in that feild so it wouldn't be easy to find work.right now there don't seem to be alot of history majors so I was thinking that would be as good a start as any for law. Since its all based on past cases, rulings and such. And even if I didn't go into law itself it should have ample opportunity at any job because, knowledge of history is a very valuable knowledge in general.To know history is to know cause and effect. So throw in some communications and marketing classes and I would be set to go into the world of business in general.So anyone out there major in history or know someone who majored history? Is my mom underestimating the usefullness of learning from the past? or am I just too eager to get into a subject I feel safe in taking?I personally feel history should be a great subject. Like I said its the knowledge of cause and effect. Its the knowledge of what has worked and what hasn't. However, theories don't always pan out.
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College
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Earning any degree basically tells employers that you're hard working, intelligent, and diciplined enough to earn a degree, and many people will employ on that and your attitude alone. This of course excludes specific jobs like nursing, etc.However, there are very, very few jobs that a history major will aid directly in obtaining that any other major could not get too.
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If this is a graduate law school and you need a degree first, surely history is at least as good as any other. It will teach you to weigh evidence and expose you to the way people make decisions. You will get a wider ideas of cultures and thinking patterns, and what is constant and what changes. You will learn to write in a way that is brief but comprehensive, distinguishing the facts and your conclusions. It sounds good to me.
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I agree.
I think if the goal is law school, then history and communications is a great set-up.
Good luck. -
Actually that isn't the best major for a pre-law student. Generally political science and/or philosphy are considered the best majors for applying to law school. Undoubtedly other areas combined with that wouldn't hurt.
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Normally you don't decide on a major really early in school-usually you decide after 3 or even 4 semesters. So I wouldn't worry about it that much yet. You may discover interests you're not aware of yet.I have to say, given my own experience, there can be a problem with a history major. Certainly there are many kinds of jobs you can appy to by virtue of having a BA degree in any major. But history won't be a selling point in any of them.I have some regrets that I majored in philosophy and did some, but not enough, graduate work in that field. I think if I had to do it over again, I would try to major in something with more employment and income potential. These days, with such massive numbers of people going to college, merely having a college degree per se is becoming less and less and less valuable as any kind of credential at all. I know a ton of people with BA degrees who are doing shit jobs for shit pay- myself included. It just doesn't mean what it once did.Just my opinion.
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Maybe I am just overly defensive. However, I think your statements seem to contradict themselvs or at least over lap in a way to suggest something different.WHat I am trying to say is it seems you target history however, I think the problem is that degrees in general are becoming worth less and less (as stated) and really I have been told from a number of people (after choosing law) that unless you plan on becoming a doctor or lawyer or some general study which requires a near life time of study. It won't really pay off as much as it should.
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That's exactly what I was trying to say Nny.
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Heh.. And my dad is proud of his degree of 4 years XD.God help me in law. Even once I get out I'm afraid thats where it seems everyone is heading. I hear the law feild isn't excately the largest out there.
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You want to be doing something you enjoy doing. It's no use to have a lot of money if nearly all your life is taken up doing something you hate; while if you are doing something you love you are blessed, even if you are not rich.
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I (right now) find myself wanting to go into law more then anythign else. Not so much because of the money but, because I'm pretty good with reading comprehension. I hate to say it because pride comes before the fall however, I definitely feel I have a higher then normal reading comprehension level. Seeing as on a large scale law is all about reading and understanding past cases, the laws and how they have been amended I think I would be pretty well suited.
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It is true that there are a lot of people in law, but one really good thing about law is that one can use a law degree to go into a lot of different kinds of fields that you might not even think of. Even if you don't "practice law" in the most conventionnal sense it can be a great thing to do.I'd recommend- given what you've said about liking law and your reading comprehension and the types of interests you've expressed- try a couple of philosophy courses if you can at some point. They're ideal as a pre-law item and you might really like it. And I'll guarantee this: if you can learn to read and understand Immanuel Kant, then you will be able to read absolutely anything you ever need to read in law. (one other thing. I typed this real late- tired and after a few drinks- so I hope it makes sense despite the poor writing under those conditions.)