An arts degree- What good is it??

teednab-el

Dudess wrote: »

I'd recommend you do a Microsoft Office/ECDL type course with word processing asap (Get on to Fás).

I'm doing a web design course at the moment. I wanted to learn new skills that might help me get a job in the future.

Dudess wrote: »

And they considered humanities more beneficial did they? :rolleyes:

Your right I made a mistake. They more or less made a complete fool out of me. Should have used my common sense but somehow I didnt. Paying for it now though.

Dudess

Just to clarify: that rolleyes symbol wasn't intended for you, it was intended for all those people who told you not to do computers.

It wasn't really your mistake - you were only going by those whom you thought gave good advice.

flag123

I think myself, being a current L.C student that Dudess has giving more advice on this page than my careers teacher!
Just before the break, my teacher asked us all in the class what we wanted to do after school, i was amazed at the amount that wanted to do Arts and at the end walk into a nice cushion job as a teacher.!..they clearly haven't a clue about the current down turn in the economy..

Teaching, for one, should be put out of the head of all prospective students especially hoping to teach the likes of Geography and English...

If they are so keen on teaching why not teach subjects that give you a chance of teaching like Maths Physics, engineering etc...

L.C Students wanting to pursue a career in teaching through Arts subjects with no practicality* are living in a bubble and need to wake up and look around them....there's a recession get practical, we have enough teachers.

Career guidance teachers shouldn't let there students go down these pits of unemployment..
I think we need more guidance teachers like Dudess:rolleyes::rolleyes::cool:


*Geography, Sociology, English, and Film studies...

Acacia

flag123 wrote: »

Career guidance teachers shouldn't let there students go down these pits of unemployment..
I think we need more guidance teachers like Dudess:rolleyes::rolleyes::cool:

I agree.
It seems that most career guidance people are more interested in rushing people to fill out their CAO than in actually helping them figuring out what they want to do with their life. They don't really seem to care what you put down so long as they can say, "That's another one off to college''. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are more helpful ones out there, but in my experience, they know more about the points race than what an arts degree (for example) would actually be useful for.

In other words, they seem to lack 'real world' knowledge, tbh.

L

Dudess

Thanks a lot guys

It is something that really interests me all right and I always thought I'd study career guidance at some point - but guess what you need to be to study that? A teacher...

Toto Wolfcastle

Dudess wrote: »

Thanks a lot guys

It is something that really interests me all right and I always thought I'd study career guidance at some point - but guess what you need to be to study that? A teacher...

And guess how often jobs as a career guidance teacher come up? Not very!

But yeah, you'd be a breath of fresh air tbh.

MIM-104

Acacia wrote: »

I take it you've never done an Arts degree so? The 8 hours a week thing is rubbish, my friend, I'm just about to finish an Arts degree and I'm doing more than 8 hours a week, I can tell you...

How many hours in total do you have a week (assignments and lectures incl.)?

because in ul 1st year arts lectures and time spent on asignments doesn't even compare to the hours of science and engineering courses in 1st year (29 hours not including various assignments).

so you can see why arts students are seen as wasters.

I dont have a problem with people who do specialised arts degrees, 2 of my friends do languages (both do irish, spanish and german) they have made themselves employable as they can become teachers in areas where there are skills shortages or translators

Basically if you dont know what you want to do (even in general) don't do arts its a waste of time and money,u basically need a masters to compete against someone who specialised from under grad level.

Just take a year out to decide what you want to do. my cousin almost did arts but had a change of heart took a year out and is now doing something he wants to do, training to be a pilot in the states.

M450

My sister spent 4 years doing Arts in Maynooth, she studied German and Spanish and did erasmus in Germany for a year. She's out of that 2 years now and working in a bank.

One of my mates failed Ordinary Level Maths in the LC. Repeated just to get maths and now he's working in a bank.

They're both doing the exact same thing at the cash desk or customer service.

I'm about to do my final year exams in Computer Engineering and I'm currently trying to get funding to do a PhD. But I'd like to think that I could get a job easily enough at the moment. We're getting plenty of offers from the industry looking for graduates so you can't say there's no jobs out there.

The thing about an engineering degree is that you prove yourself to be a problem solver, you're good with numbers, a logical thinker, you may not do a whole lot of essay writing but there's still a lengthy thesis to be done at the end of it so that's enough to prove you have writing skills. We also do project management and entrepreneurship and communications. And basically you're proving that you can put in the effort and concentration 40 hours a week, showing you weren't dossing for the last 4 years!

When you talk about an ARTS degree giving loads of career options, I don't really see it that way. If you want a degree that opens up a wide range of career opportunities then an engineering degree is the way to go. Sure in a few weeks I'll have a BAI in Computer Engineering and a BA in Maths because we do so much of it!

M450 (Future BA, BAI)

Jonathan

M450 wrote: »

When you talk about an ARTS degree giving loads of career options, I don't really see it that way. If you want a degree that opens up a wide range of career opportunities then an engineering degree is the way to go. Sure in a few weeks I'll have a BAI in Computer Engineering and a BA in Maths because we do so much of it!

M450 (Future BA, BAI)

Be honest now.. tell the arts folk that you only get an ordinary degree in maths :pac:

M450

Jonathan wrote: »

Be honest now.. tell the arts folk that you only get an ordinary degree in maths :pac:

Haha! I never said it was a higher degree...

mental07

madnesspersues wrote: »

dont get me started on that maynooth train - its actually hurrendous. you'd wanna have a good breakfast before getting it cos it does me PACKED and it gets soo warm. i nearly fainted on it once!:eek:

Ah god love you. I just love the way you presume that everyone who studies in Maynooth lives in Dublin and will be taking that train.

xOxSinéadxOx wrote: »

what's everybody's problem with arts? I want to do economics and finance but I don't think I'll get enough points so I'm going to do arts, then do a masters

For god's sake, don't just decide to put Arts as your number 1 choice just because you don't think you'll get the points for what you really want to do! Big mistake.

djcervi wrote: »

I'm a prospective language student who is planning on doing Arts in order to study my favourite languages. I'm open to the idea of teaching but would also like the opportunity to work abroad using my multi-lingual abilities, hopeful not just in translation. Anyone has/is in this position?

Yes: PM me if you like.

Remmy wrote: »

This is a good thread.I have to say I'm am the token 18 year old who is thinking of doing an arts and doesn't know what to do afterwards.I was thinking of maybe joining the gardai or the cadets but that has to be stalled for a few years due to the current climate.The only thing I'm half decent at is biology.I got a b2 in it in the mocks and did mediocre in everything else:(

I don't think I want to be a teacher,I have no flair in languages do you think I should think about a general science degree instead?

Ps,Dudess,
You were more informative in this thread than my guidance counsellor or going to higher options:D

If 'the only thing you're half decent at' is biology, and you enjoy it, then consider applying for science/biology courses.

If you need time to really think about what it is you want to do, taking a year out is a good idea. No point diving into a course you're not sure you really want to do.

Acacia wrote: »

I agree.
It seems that most career guidance people are more interested in rushing people to fill out their CAO than in actually helping them figuring out what they want to do with their life. They don't really seem to care what you put down so long as they can say, "That's another one off to college''. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are more helpful ones out there, but in my experience, they know more about the points race than what an arts degree (for example) would actually be useful for.

In other words, they seem to lack 'real world' knowledge, tbh.

L

Glad I'm not the only one who's realised that most career guidance set-ups in school are generally a load of bollocks! In my experience it doesn't get much better in 3rd level either.


-So, what is it you want to do?
-Erm, I'm not sure...I was hoping you could help me look at what my options are.
-Do you have a plan?
- < ffs >

Aprilstar

This is one of the truest threads ever!Just dropped out of a Humanities degree!I would say definetly don't do it if you haven't a specific career in mind or you are screwed or maybe it will work out!For me,it was just too broad and there was just too much!if you need a focus I would say don't do this! I also agree with the career guidance system being a load of bollocks!!

Chuchoter

I think by and large arts degrees are pretty useless unless you take a smart combination, like Spanish,French and Business. Then with that you have several options: teaching, marketing, business etc etc. Taking a combination like...I don't know, Philosophy and geography...I mean you aren't going to be doing much with that other than explaining the meaning of life in terms of rivers and rocks :P

And yes, I can also vouch for career guidance being utter ****e, especically their stupid aptitude tests.

musicloverx

thanks for bringing this thread to the top, i wouldn't of seen it...being considering doing arts myself cause I'm thinking of second level teaching career wise..but i'm really not sure, some really good advice in this thread, nice to hear it from studnets themselves for a change:).

UrbanSea

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

If you're looking for a decent career, don't bother with an Arts degree. It won't help you there. Teaching is the only thing you can really specifically do with it.

Currently repeating my leaving having dropped out of first arts in order to go to Pat's next year,hopefully.

Acacia

I know this is quite an old thread and I've already posted on it about a year ago, but just some advice for an Leaving Cert students contemplating Arts now I've graduated (with an M.A.)... don't do it! Unless you want to be a teacher 'cause that's about your only option with it. In pre-recessionary times it was probably easy enough to get a civil service job with an Arts degree but I'm finding it incredibly hard to get into any kind of a job above retail/ customer service at the moment.

People also say you can use an Arts degree to get into other areas... true, but it's a very long process, for example, I only know what I really want to do now and instead of doing a B.A. in this subject and actually being qualified for it, I now have wasted 4 years in a completely useless subject... in fact, the only use my primary degree has is getting me onto another MA course which will qualify me to do what I want ( which will also cost another 5 grand or thereabouts.)

When the job market is what is it is at the moment, I'd stay away from Arts ( as enjoyable as it was to study.) Even without the recession, if I could go back now I wouldn't pick Arts.

wolfpawnat

My sons father did Arts, he worked for 3 years as an Archaeologist. He is now paying €10,000 a year to return to education.

Advice here OP.

- What do you want to do?
- Is it Arts you want or something specific in it?
- Will what you want need more that the BA?

Look at what you want to do, not the course. It is seen as the dossers area of college. But not everything in it is as simple as you think!!!

Look at everything OP!

unknown13

I think it is a good thing because College is completely different to secondary school. Arts is a very useful degree to have. I know loads of people doing it and I am doing a few Arts subjects because they are part of my degree ( a BSocC). The one thing Arts gives is the flexibility that not many other degrees give. The only real flexible degrees in UCD are the Arts, Social Science and General Science degrees. You will not end up in a very specific career with Arts and in turn be actually restricted to a specific career which you may end up not liking.

I have a friend doing two subjects because he doesn't know whether to be a teacher or do something finance. He is doing Economics and another subject (it is either Geography or History). After he finishes the degree he will decide what he wants to do, which gives him alot more time to think about what he truly wants his career to be.

A Changer

Must everything be so career-focused? Can't people choose to do a general Arts degree to study things they like, rather than something they'd find monotonous but gets you a weekly pay-packet?

I don't do general Arts myself, a specialised English degree instead, and I chose it not for "security", but because I love literature and wanted to study it. I've really been enjoying it so far, working 13 hours of lectures a week, and also juggling about 15 hours of research, assignment-writing and reading on top of that. It's by no means easy. In fact, it's very hard, challenging, satisfying work. I'm doing what I love to do, and whatever degree I get at the end can lead me onto doing more of that, just like any other degree.

An Arts degree restricts you in the same way as any other - not at all. I know Arts graduates who work in banking, accountants who can't find a job, and architects who work in journalism. The myth that an Arts degree gets you nothing and that Business and Science degrees mean steady work and big bucks is beginning to get long in the tooth. There is no certainty in our economy at the moment or in the near future, and there is no certainty you'll get a job no matter what your qualifications.

All you can do is follow what interests you. Consider forgetting money or availability of work - think of your happiness instead. If the thought of checking other people's accounts sends shivers of excitement through you, then go for that. If the study of human nature thrills you instead, then jump into that. One guy I know wanted nothing more than to be a postman. That's what he now does, and he loves it - he has a skip in his step going from house to house regardless of the weather, and I have only respect for that.

I've seen so many friends going into courses they have no interest in due to family or peer pressures of going for a "stable" degree that I've really become averse to this notion. Picking your CAO choices is a major undertaking, but make sure you're doing it for you, and not to please someone else. Following your interests will get you what you desire, if not from a career, than from life. Our lives are far too long to be spending your days doing something you may only tolerate or hate for the sake of job security and a stable income. What is money without self-satisfaction?

This has turned out to be far more of a rant than I intended, and may run contrary to a lot of feelings here, but I feel it's a point of view that needs to be aired and considered, since it seems to have received little attention in this thread as a whole.

storm2811

I really wanted to do an arts degree to go on and become a teacher but after reading this thread (and hearing that nearly everyone else in my class wants to teach aswell) I'm completely torn.

I really don't know whether to go with what I want to do or do something that will get me a job..decisions, decisions..

Chuchoter

storm2811 wrote: »

I really wanted to an arts degree to go on and become a teacher but after reading this thread (and hearing that nearly everyone else in my class wants to teach aswell) I'm completely torn.

I really don't know whether to go with what I want to do or do something that will get me a job..decisions, decisions..

If you really want to teach then do it, just be aware its a very difficult job with low salary and very few permanent jobs. If you work part time, you still have to stay in school all day because one class might be at 12 and the next at 1.30, but you don't get paid for the intervening hour and a half.

storm2811

crayolastereo wrote: »

If you really want to teach then do it, just be aware its a very difficult job with low salary and very few permanent jobs. If you work part time, you still have to stay in school all day because one class might be at 12 and the next at 1.30, but you don't get paid for the intervening hour and a half.

I know, especially at the moment like but I won't be out of college until 2015/2016 so who knows what could happen in the meantime.

Yeah, so you only get paid for the classes you do..I'm still not sure, there's really not much else you can do with an arts degree though if everything goes tits up.

unknown13

storm2811 wrote: »

I really wanted to do an arts degree to go on and become a teacher but after reading this thread (and hearing that nearly everyone else in my class wants to teach aswell) I'm completely torn.

I really don't know whether to go with what I want to do or do something that will get me a job..decisions, decisions..

First off this thread is too negative. I would recommend going to this forum: Teaching and Lecturing Forum because you will get much better advice there.

randylonghorn

One to read.

dex409

the whole point of the thread is to point out that a degree in a speciality like medicine/science is a safer bet, i hear where ur coming from though , i did my degree in law, its an arts degree and im in stable well paid employ. I am going to disagree with you on accounts as to the value of a GENERAL arts degree, where as busness, law and languages are professions, your career is impeaded if your looking for acedemic progression because u NEED SIGNIFIGANT relevant knowledge on a topic, doing a module and doing the entire degree its based on are verry differnt things. my wife studied general sciences and cant get a job because a specialist exsists in every feild now, (phis, bio, chem, tech, labs.......etc), its the same principal , specialisation is preferable over someone with a 'well rounded' understanding as you quaintly put it from an employers view point.

chave wrote: »

ive read all the crap posted on this thread so far. makes me laugh that all the people talking here dont even do the BA. im doing a BA in economics in ucd, first choice and think its a great course. i chose it over commerce because i think the subjects give you a well rounded knowledge of mathematics, economics and a good understanding how people think and make decisions. i feel like id be in as good a position if not better than anyone coming out of commerce to work in investment banking stockbroking etc my plan is to do the hdip in actuary at ucd then become an actuary. But to say you cant get a job point blank is totally false. my friend did philosophy/english and works for JP morgan london in banking. most good firms want to see a good degree score and a good person. unless its medicine/architecture/pharmacy etc most of the time the degree subject matter has little relevance to sucess at the job. fact.

randylonghorn

/kills zombie