Stereotypes about your major?

I had prepped to come back as a returning student in Communications/Journalism, and found that I'm just not enjoying the journalism legwork. So now I'm settled as a Comm pre-major and somewhat considering switching to Philosophy for my other major. Funnily enough, my family are the least judgmental about this decision.

I think what people forget about Communication is how hard it is for so many people to be able to communicate effectively in a wide variety of situations. Some people are the life of the party but freeze up in front of a crowd, or handle a crowd quite well and can't quite be productive members of a small group. I spent the last ten years out working and realized, by looking at myself, my co-workers and my bosses, that a little communication skill could get me a LONG way. Doesn't have to be a big flashy career, but people who can communicate effectively will always have an edge.

As for Philosophy, the one complaint I have about people who can communicate is that often, no matter how knowledgable or well-spoken they are, they can't string an argument together to save their life. I should know, I'm one of them and have to listen to myself talk all the time. It's infuriating. There's an immense benefit to being able to formulate an effective argument, back it up with solid logical reasoning, and communicate it effectively. No, it doesn't give me a huge jump on any specific career; but it can give me a decent jump on many different careers.

Typical conversation:
"What's your major?"
"Communication. Thinking about doubling Philosophy."
"... Really? And be what?"
"Your boss."

Are you sure you're in college for the right reasons?  

I'm not here so I can sound smart.  I'm here to better myself 

Besides... just because it's obscure or foreign doesn't mean it is good.

I know plenty of great authors, all from right here in the U.S.A.  I bet you haven't heard of most of the stuff I've read.  My personal library consists of 2 book shelfs filled to the brim.  YEah... not the biggest, but I'm only 23, and I use the library a lot too, so I don't own most of what I've read.  

Again... get off your high horse.  No one cares what you read.

Now that I've changed my major (modified, more accurately) to Economics and Mathematics, the response I get is somewhat hilarious. A very insincere, "Wow...", followed by an obvious restraint to roll their eyes right in front of me. Just another reason why I hate it when people make small-talk. You're only asking questions to comply with "acceptable social conduct" when you don't give a crap about any of the responses or the person. Stop wasting both of our time. I'll take awkward silence over the sound of your voice any day.

just sayin'...

Major in Spanish, with a minor in French (almost double majored until they fucked up the schedule and put it at the same time as Russian this whole year!) and Russian.

"Oh, we've got a linguist here!!!"  No, as someone stated before Linguists do not necessarily speak foreign languages. And (I haven't studied it, so I'm not totally sure) but I think that Linguistics is the "science of language"... morphology, syntax, etc.

If you want to label me, call me a Philologist. (a studier of languages)... Or a philophile... A lover of languages.

#1 question: "So, you want to be a teacher?"   No. There is no way in hell I would ever teach a bunch of spoiled little shit American children who I can't even discipline without getting a lawsuit slapped in my face.

#2 question: "So, what are you going to DO with that."  Hmm, I don't know. How about we remove all the interpreters/translators from USA for 1 week and see how you function. Or how about just take them out of major companies like Boeing, Microsoft, technologies companies... I'm sorry, you can't read your camera manual in Japanese? Oh, that's right, I guess we ARE important.

But there is one advantage to speaking multiple languages (I also speak Danish), that people start to think you're smart, whereas if I just say I'm a Spanish major I get a lot of "oh"s, or sometimes anti-Mexican sentiments... (you DO realize that Mexico is not the only country in the world that speaks Spanish right?)  

Oh, and I love when people say: So, you speak MEXICAN!  Again, No, I don't speak Aztec, I speak SPANISH (like that thing they speak in Spain)...

But, like many other "unimportant" majors, I've constantly had to justify Why the HELL would you major in that? type of feelings. And then they find out my husband is an engineer and somehow it's all better because I'm allowed to be a trophy wife... *sigh*

Oh, and this is a complete sidenote, but has anyone noticed how the "unimportant" majors get the shittiest buildings at WWU? I'm mean, I've been stuck for the last 3 years in Humanities, Bond and Miller! You can't get shittier! And yet all the science/math people get these great new buildings, with real chairs (gasp!) and a real projector (no crappy overheads for you guys!)... Am I not paying the same tuition as them? And if anything, you could even argue that they will earn more later and therefore can pay for the chiropractor bills from their bad backs from those piece-of-shit chairs (with the desk attached to it), and a language major will never make any money anyways, so we should give them the good chairs so they don't have to go to the chiropractor....

:-)

Hummm... what about teaching at a college?

So, just answer, "Maybe I'll be a translater or a spokesperson for a cooperation, or a product consultant," or whatever. That chip on your shoulder seems quite deep.

So, you're pretty, AND unappreciated?

I'm a math major, and all of my math classes have been in Bond or Miller... Besides, those "real chairs" in the new buildings' lecture rooms (CF, mainly) suck. You have to scoot in for everyone walking through your row, and they squeak when you push back. What good is padding when everyone's squeak-squeak-squeakin'?

So with art it's always; "Oh that must be great not having to do any work!" Or, "Couldn't pass your [insert math or science]  classes?" (ie. couldn't get a real major) and, "Oh you're gonna be a starving/famous artist then?" Oh and I love the assumptions that I don't know how to do research or how to write a scholarly paper either.

My favorite is that when you say art, people assume that you can draw. "Oh you're an artist?! Can you draw this for me?" And unless you mention design they don't think that you can use a computer to save your soul.

With Fibers people are like, "what?" Then I tell them that it's weaving, crochet/knitting, paper making, dye work - tie dye, batik, etc - and they ask me what good that is [referring to money] or if I'm a hippie.

When people hear that I'm getting an ed endorsement they say, "Oh that makes sense, only reason to have an art degree is if you're gonna teach." People also freak out when I say I want to teach middle school, "Why would you do that to yourself?"

With my art history minor people realize that I can do research and write papers but they don't know what it's good for (museum/gallery work). Here's a personal opinion; if you're just going to be an artist and do shows, you don't need a degree, you just need to make art and market yourself. As for teaching middle school. The way people react to it is the exact reason I want to teach at it. If Middle school was horrible for everyone we need teachers who want to teach there and help students get through the "worst years" of school.

Also there's a lot of stereotypinig between the various studio majors too. If you draw and it looks anything like anime/manga it's not "real art," infact they'll say this about most drawings. If you're a design major you can't draw without a computer. If you're a photographer you couldn't make art without a camera to save your life. etc.

My favorite negative art stereotype - which I did not see but was told to me by a student of the class - was part of an upper level Geology class' final. It went something like this:

You and your friend are flying over a Basalt upthrust. Your friend asks you to explain what it is and how it occurred, but reminds you that they are an artist, so use simple terms and explain clearly.

Ya know, because I didn't have to take any GURs, especially not Geo. HaHaHa...../head desk.

 ^^^ When I tell people that, the typical response is,

"What's that for?"

Really? It isn't self-explanatory? Anything that requires social-cooperation between multiple persons with specialized skillsets pretty much requires this. Bridge-building, software development, factory optimization, movie production, you name it.

I’m not particularly fond of being stuffed in a small stereotypical cardboard box by people once I tell them my major. There are different reasons why people pick their majors and there is more to a person that just their major.
Dentist..."Eww your going to have your hands in peoples mouths all day?" Yep all day long...
Apparently some people think dentistry is gross and/or extremely painful and to do it you have to be a masochist.
Really that’s not the case.

Mine isn't so bad (International Business Management), then again it's awefully self-explanitory. I want to manage business... internationaly. :)

I think that beyond the insular world of Western, most people respect anyone with a college degree. Having a degree is so much beyond a major, it shows a high level of dedication, work, problem-solving, analysis, personal growth, etc (the list continues) that having a degree in anything is a leg up in the job market. Personally I try to keep judgement about majors to a minimum...actually I usually assume that my anth 201 class freshman year probably doesn't illustrate the amount of work it takes to be an anthropology major. I'm not well-versed in job prospects in fields outside of my own, so why should I assume that the only career for academic majors is teaching? I do ask people what they expect to do with their degree, but that's more out of interest than judgement. I'm not trying to put my nose in the air by saying that I don't judge people...everyone does, I just wouldn't say most of these things out loud.

Also, English major here. Lots of stereotypes, though most of them have already been covered. Someone mentioned the humanities/social sciences being unfairly stuck with all the crappy buildings, and I agree! I'm tired of the hot, stale Humanities building, can the English dept. please be moved to, hmmm, the AIC? Or can we switch with communications?

In my undergrad, I majored in Marketing. I usually got a "good for you" or a "wow, you're gonna be rich" sort of response. I would also find the occasional person who would ask if I felt bad about destroying the world or making a quick buck off of an unpredicting sucker... For the record, that's not really the fundamental goal of marketing, it's just a widely abused professional area.

The funny thing was that I never intended to actually go into the field of marketing after I graduated. It's a "good to know" subject that has lots of great applications. It helped me get my position here at Western. Plus, it is all theory, so it depend on the person doing the learning and how "to heart" they take the sustainability and ethics classes that go along with it.

Now I'm earning my M.Ed. in Continuing and College Education, which most people think is like General Studies for grad students (which isn't a bad thing, just not technically accurate)... It's really just adult education (learning to educate adults from various leaning levels and backgrounds).

The point I want to make with all of this is that a person's degree does not equate to his or her capacity in the work force. In fact, colleges were founded from a liberal arts perspective and academia was traditionally available only to those who were willing and able to expand their minds beyond one specific trade. AKA: The wealthy.

The value of colleges and universities now, beyond being slightly more inclusive and accessible, is that you can do both. You can learn the hows and whys of a specific field while also learning about important and valuable topics that, while it might not directly relate to your desired occupation, will help you gain a better, more holistic understanding of the world around you.

"That's a major?"
Hell yeah it is, and I'll be able to do graduate work pretty much anywhere I want because hardly anyone is in the field.
Also, the is plenty of room for me to improve mathematics education in the american public education system.

"your going to be a teacher? So you going to teach in highschool or something?"
Elementary is where all the action is.

I am a male liberationist. Deal with it. :)

When I tell people this they typically just look at me like I'm absolutely bonkers or absolutely brilliant.

I'm curious if anyone could tell me about some stereotypes about my major.

I've gotten something like "Oh, there's not much of a future in plastics, is there? Do you still have time to switch majors?"

Damn, I guess I'm stuck making keg cups and seran wrap for the rest of my life...

Lol, If all you get to be stuck with is keg cups and seran wrap, then the rest of your life should be quite exciting. 

Like the rest of all the English majors who have replied:

"So do you want to teach?"

NO I DON'T WANT TO TEACH. I would never even consider it. I would rather live under a bridge. I don't want to be paid too little to try to get a room full of crazy little children or TEENAGERS to learn grammar.

I don't even bother to mention the creative writing focus. What am I going to do with a degree in creative writing? Whatever the hell I feel like doing with it, asshole.

Don't be a dick for no reason. People don't appreciate being told how to feel and what to say. Bitching is America's favorite activity, so stop trying to ruin it.