This might sound quite negative, but I'm simply voicing a concern that I think a lot of people share.

There isn't really a nice way of putting it, so i'm just going to come out and say it; what am I doing at University, and for that matter, what are a lot of people doing here? I'm in 2nd year Sociology+Multimedia, I joined these 2 subjects because I have a passion for people and photoshop, which is all well and good, but as graduation comes closer and closer I have this looming suspicion which I'm sure a lot of other students have as well.

Have we been dooped? What kind of jobs are there really for a fresh graduate of sociology, or multimedia? This very question has bothered me enough that I started asking my professors. In multimedia, I was shocked to hear variations of "well you won't' really get hired without any college experience" or "well this isn't a practical program". My greatest fear is that I'll have spent 4 years of my life and nearly $25,000 to come out of University just as unprepared for the world as when I entered.

Am I simply being paranoid or pessimistic? Have other people had this concern? Was it unwarranted?

i ask myself again, why am i in eng. and why am i still taking it and doing terrible ==

Originally Posted by mattatmac

This might sound quite negative, but I'm simply voicing a concern that I think a lot of people share.
..
Am I simply being paranoid or pessimistic? Have other people had this concern? Was it unwarranted?

Probably; you don't really need secondary education to pick up a book and learn about the humanities...although there is something to be said about finding a space to discuss certain topics. Becoming good at media design largely is focused around at finding something you love to practice the hell out of to become awesome at it. Unless your program is somehow unique, accredited, is necessary to the employer to stay competitive, or impossible to learn online, you're better off somewhere else..

Although there is something to be said about directed learning (i.e. would you have learned these things if left to your own devices? but then again, if you wouldn't, what are you doing in area of study x, etc)

I'm in eng. Never asked this question before, because the answer is obvious and a lot more positive than the answer to your question.

So I don't feel dooped.

Originally Posted by RyanC

Probably; you don't really need secondary education to pick up a book and learn about the humanities...although there is something to be said about finding a space to discuss certain topics. Becoming good at media design largely is focused around at finding something you love to practice the hell out of to become awesome at it. Unless your program is somehow unique, accredited, is necessary to the employer to stay competitive, or impossible to learn online, you're better off somewhere else..

Although there is something to be said about directed learning (i.e. would you have learned these things if left to your own devices? but then again, if you wouldn't, what are you doing in area of study x, etc)

I think the most frustrating part about being in humanities/socsci is that simple expectations like being taught are not met, the word "self teach" is used in my faculty almost religiously, and while I understand the need to spend time on my own to learn certain concepts, the idea that I'm supposed to self-teach myself nearly everything forces me to ask why i'm even spending money on something i'm doing myself.

Originally Posted by mike_302

I'm in eng. Never asked this question before, because the answer is obvious and a lot more positive than the answer to your question.

So I don't feel dooped.

My hope entering university was that I was going to be taught one subject enough that I would be a 'specialist' at it, but considering the attitudes of a lot of people in my programs they are merely taking sociology because post-secondary was an expectation of their parents rather than their own ambition. This might also be why the importance of a Bachelor's Degree has become so diluted.

Again, I don't consider myself apathetic or callous with how I spend my money, but I had a general assumption that post-secondary education would be worth it. I'd be very interested in what other humanities and social science students have to say though.

I picked a useful degree with a lot job openings. Did my research ahead of time.

Originally Posted by thedog123123

I picked a useful degree with a lot job openings. Did my research ahead of time.

This. Your own fault for not doing the research when committing thousands of dollars and years of your life on what you're going to be studying.

There is a reason that for the most part, social science/humanity degrees are looked down upon. They have low entrance averages, they have low class time compared to other degrees, and they quite simply don't lead to jobs after graduation.

I just want to add,

Sometimes you have to compromise with what you enjoy learning and what certain degree provide as a career.

Physics was never my favorite subject but I enjoy it enough that I know I can make a good career out of it.

Originally Posted by mattatmac

My hope entering university was that I was going to be taught one subject enough that I would be a 'specialist' at it, but considering the attitudes of a lot of people in my programs they are merely taking sociology because post-secondary was an expectation of their parents rather than their own ambition. This might also be why the importance of a Bachelor's Degree has become so diluted.

Again, I don't consider myself apathetic or callous with how I spend my money, but I had a general assumption that post-secondary education would be worth it. I'd be very interested in what other humanities and social science students have to say though.

Who told you the importance of a Bachelor's Degree has become diluted? Social science/humanities degrees, perhaps. But then again, I'm not sure they were ever effective at landing jobs after graduation. People are still finding jobs with various Bachelor's Degrees in engineering, science, and commerce.

Granted, the humanities/social science courses are great complimentary courses to my Engineering studies, and in that manner, they'll be beneficial to me in the real world...

This is the age-old dilemma...do you choose an area of study that you're passionate and interested in, even though there may not be many job opportunities, or offers high wages...or do you choose a discipline based on job opportunities and salaries, even though you're not passionate/interested in it.

I ended up choosing the latter. I decided to go into Engineering due to many job opportunities and above-average salaries (not amazing salaries though). Although that sounds great, I'm slowly hating engineering now...and don't really have the passion or interest in it. That being said, after a few years of a career in engineering...I wonder if I'm going to find myself going back to school for a subject area that I am actually interested/passionate about.

Originally Posted by mattatmac

Have we been dooped? What kind of jobs are there really for a fresh graduate of sociology, or multimedia? This very question has bothered me enough that I started asking my professors. In multimedia, I was shocked to hear variations of "well you won't' really get hired without any college experience" or "well this isn't a practical program". My greatest fear is that I'll have spent 4 years of my life and nearly $25,000 to come out of University just as unprepared for the world as when I entered.

Am I simply being paranoid or pessimistic? Have other people had this concern? Was it unwarranted?

I kinda know a guy with a multimedia degree. I heard he used his talent to create and maintain a pretty successful student discussion forum. It's not his full-time job, but I assume he's made a decent chunk of money from it considering he'll occasionally rent out restaurants to host social events for its members.

Even in a professional program I'm concerned. Every decent social work job now requires an MSW, so unless I want to be stuck in group homes or CAS for the rest of my life I'll have to go back to school.

A piece of paper can only do so much for you; at the end of the day you have to make sure you have marketable skills and experience in your field.

For example, to be an actuary, they really don't care what your degree is; as long as you pass the actuarial exams and have relevant experience you're set.