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Majors; Why did you choose it?
Topic Started: Sep 23 2009, 03:50 AM (426 Views)
NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

Paradise
Sep 23 2009, 08:11 PM
I don't know in the US, but here in Quebec a political science degree is almost worthless to find a job.
I believe it is about the same Paradise. The way I've seen it, Poli Sci is a degree you get to compliment a history degree as well as the other way around. At least that's what it seems people do here, for example:

I am a history major with a minor in international relations. I'm going to teach with this, most likely high school for now as I've decided I have no desire to spend anymore time in college than I already have. I picked it because it was interesting and really my only other option was English as I hate Math, Science, business, foreign Languages, etc. etc.

I really like history though so it works for me, even if I don't make a lot from it. Then again I never went to college in the first place to get a career that paid the big $$$ I went to college to get a career I would enjoy waking up to for the next 40 or so years.
Edited by NRE, Sep 23 2009, 10:41 PM.
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Al Araam
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Demigod of Death & Inactivity

Paradise
Sep 23 2009, 08:11 PM
I don't know in the US, but here in Quebec a political science degree is almost worthless to find a job.
It's like just about any other social science degree. By having it, you put yourself in a position to get jobs generally reserved for people with bachelors degrees. You've proved that you can learn and that you're a passably intelligent individual. That's about it. One of the main pulls of a degree in political science, however, is the fact that it is one of the handful of degrees that is believed to prepare students to take the LSAT so that they can go to law school. I wouldn't mind being a lawyer, but I think I'd quite enjoy being a judge. I'd probably enjoy it more if they still got to wear powdered wigs, but I guess I'll just have to make do without.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Kiev-Volhynia
Sep 23 2009, 10:57 PM
Paradise
Sep 23 2009, 08:11 PM
I don't know in the US, but here in Quebec a political science degree is almost worthless to find a job.
It's like just about any other social science degree. By having it, you put yourself in a position to get jobs generally reserved for people with bachelors degrees. You've proved that you can learn and that you're a passably intelligent individual. That's about it. One of the main pulls of a degree in political science, however, is the fact that it is one of the handful of degrees that is believed to prepare students to take the LSAT so that they can go to law school. I wouldn't mind being a lawyer, but I think I'd quite enjoy being a judge. I'd probably enjoy it more if they still got to wear powdered wigs, but I guess I'll just have to make do without.
Well, you could always wear the powdered wig in private!

I like liberal arts and sciences degrees. I like people with liberal arts and sciences degrees. They know how to think, and aren't obcessed with one topic. When hiring I look for people with liberal arts and sciences degrees. They can learn anything!
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Ulgania
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A better Zarathustra has never rode a horse
New Harumf
Sep 24 2009, 11:06 AM
Kiev-Volhynia
Sep 23 2009, 10:57 PM
Paradise
Sep 23 2009, 08:11 PM
I don't know in the US, but here in Quebec a political science degree is almost worthless to find a job.
It's like just about any other social science degree. By having it, you put yourself in a position to get jobs generally reserved for people with bachelors degrees. You've proved that you can learn and that you're a passably intelligent individual. That's about it. One of the main pulls of a degree in political science, however, is the fact that it is one of the handful of degrees that is believed to prepare students to take the LSAT so that they can go to law school. I wouldn't mind being a lawyer, but I think I'd quite enjoy being a judge. I'd probably enjoy it more if they still got to wear powdered wigs, but I guess I'll just have to make do without.
Well, you could always wear the powdered wig in private!

I like liberal arts and sciences degrees. I like people with liberal arts and sciences degrees. They know how to think, and aren't obcessed with one topic. When hiring I look for people with liberal arts and sciences degrees. They can learn anything!
You should hire me to do your...
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Ulgania
Sep 24 2009, 11:36 AM
New Harumf
Sep 24 2009, 11:06 AM
Kiev-Volhynia
Sep 23 2009, 10:57 PM
Paradise
Sep 23 2009, 08:11 PM
I don't know in the US, but here in Quebec a political science degree is almost worthless to find a job.
It's like just about any other social science degree. By having it, you put yourself in a position to get jobs generally reserved for people with bachelors degrees. You've proved that you can learn and that you're a passably intelligent individual. That's about it. One of the main pulls of a degree in political science, however, is the fact that it is one of the handful of degrees that is believed to prepare students to take the LSAT so that they can go to law school. I wouldn't mind being a lawyer, but I think I'd quite enjoy being a judge. I'd probably enjoy it more if they still got to wear powdered wigs, but I guess I'll just have to make do without.
Well, you could always wear the powdered wig in private!

I like liberal arts and sciences degrees. I like people with liberal arts and sciences degrees. They know how to think, and aren't obcessed with one topic. When hiring I look for people with liberal arts and sciences degrees. They can learn anything!
You should hire me to do your...
Boy, open statements like that can get you in trouble. Any interest in oil/gas/energy finance, production, transportation or trading??
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
If I get to the point I dream, meaning I have a successful business growing fast; I'm definitely taking the Google route in the sense of who I hire. That means hiring almost exclusively brilliant engineers. The key from there is hiring a few people other then myself to figure out how to make ridiculous amounts of money off these genius' crazy inventions that some people see as useless... Hehe, now I just gotta get the capital to hire the brilliant people...
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
flumes
Sep 24 2009, 03:33 PM
If I get to the point I dream, meaning I have a successful business growing fast; I'm definitely taking the Google route in the sense of who I hire. That means hiring almost exclusively brilliant engineers. The key from there is hiring a few people other then myself to figure out how to make ridiculous amounts of money off these genius' crazy inventions that some people see as useless... Hehe, now I just gotta get the capital to hire the brilliant people...
You pay them in magic beans, profit sharing, and stock!!
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Sedulius
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Field Marshal
Paradise
Sep 23 2009, 08:11 PM
Sedulius
Sep 23 2009, 03:50 AM
I think I understand why I chose Political Science as my major now. I want to be able to argue my position based on my own knowledge rather than based on someone else's. As a PhD in Poly Sci, I would be an expert in whatever concentration(s) I chose. That'd be sweet! ^^

But on that same note, I'd also want to be a History, Psychology, and Theology expert. I have a lot of learning to do.

BUT that's another point of being Poly Sci. If I do somehow get into a position of power, I can just have others back up my position for me! :evil:
I don't know in the US, but here in Quebec a political science degree is almost worthless to find a job.
No guys, it's not the same in the US. There are a ridiculous amount of jobs for Poly Sci. Your average starting salary for a Bachelors in Poli Sci is $60,000 a year.

If you want money, be a lobbyist. Some earn $100,000 a year starting off, but get a damn good starting salary regardless.

There's plenty of government jobs, particularly if you know more than one language. The military, the Department of State, the FBI, and CIA all have jobs for such skills. I'm sure there are others I'm not listing.

And, of course, you can be an instructor, which isn't as bad as it sounds.

In any case, my mind has actually changed a little since I started this thread. I don't really want to be a politician. Making, enforcing, and justifying the laws and policies that oppress the masses just doesn't appeal to me. However, the nation needs leaders, and it's better that it gets honorable leaders than corrupt ones. I'm good at leading people, so that's what I should do.

You might say I should join the military, but if I do that, I'll just be an executor of the corrupt orders of others. On the other hand, I would save some lives.

It's a matter of debate of what I should do with myself. Not for here, though.
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Al Araam
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Demigod of Death & Inactivity

$60,000 is really very optimistic. According to the NACE national salary survey, taken in July 2009, the average salary for someone with a Baccalaureate in Political Science is $38,096. I wouldn't be surprised if your figure takes people who go on to get law degrees into account. Although it's possible to become a lobbyist straight out of college, I think the more likely path involves doing something else first, likely working for a senator or congressman or something of that sort. That kind of thing doesn't pay particularly well.

Source:
http://www.ncsu.edu/majors-careers/do_with_major_in/showmajor.php?id=69
Edited by Al Araam, Sep 24 2009, 04:56 PM.
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Sedulius
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Field Marshal
Kiev-Volhynia
Sep 24 2009, 04:55 PM
$60,000 is really very optimistic. According to the NACE national salary survey, taken in July 2009, the average salary for someone with a Baccalaureate in Political Science is $38,096. I wouldn't be surprised if your figure takes people who go on to get law degrees into account. Although it's possible to become a lobbyist straight out of college, I think the more likely path involves doing something else first, likely working for a senator or congressman or something of that sort. That kind of thing doesn't pay particularly well.

Source:
http://www.ncsu.edu/majors-careers/do_with_major_in/showmajor.php?id=69
Hmm. I must have been thinking about average lobbyist salary or something or other.

As for myself, I'm always thinking about jobs utilizing both the degree and the linguist skill. Maybe the average had to do with one of those jobs.
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
Sedulius
Sep 24 2009, 05:05 PM
Kiev-Volhynia
Sep 24 2009, 04:55 PM
$60,000 is really very optimistic. According to the NACE national salary survey, taken in July 2009, the average salary for someone with a Baccalaureate in Political Science is $38,096. I wouldn't be surprised if your figure takes people who go on to get law degrees into account. Although it's possible to become a lobbyist straight out of college, I think the more likely path involves doing something else first, likely working for a senator or congressman or something of that sort. That kind of thing doesn't pay particularly well.

Source:
http://www.ncsu.edu/majors-careers/do_with_major_in/showmajor.php?id=69
Hmm. I must have been thinking about average lobbyist salary or something or other.

As for myself, I'm always thinking about jobs utilizing both the degree and the linguist skill. Maybe the average had to do with one of those jobs.
What do you speak other then English?
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Telosan
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The Foremost Intellectual Badass
I've taken mandatory Spanish classes and can hold a decent conversation. Don't like to though, especially to the Mexicans who can't speak English living in America.

I've taken 2 years in French. I took a year of German and plan to return to it soon. I'm on my second year of Italian, by far my favorite thus far.

I'm itching to learn Chinese. Maybe I can understand what those people at CTY were saying... I had to find a translator at one point. My translator got incredibly insult by what the guy was saying and she started yelling at him in Chinese. I had to find another translator, who then told me that the guy had said my 1st translator and I would make a good couple. Then my 1st translator and the guy started arguing over who would make a good girlfriend for me. At which point my second translator was mentioned and she got pissed. Yay.
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Rhadamanthus
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Legitimist

When I was in CTY everyone spoke English, but that was like a decade ago :lol:
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Telosan
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The Foremost Intellectual Badass
They were speaking everything there. Most people knew multiple languages. However, only the Asians knew their own languages and there was only one kid who knew more than one of the Asian languages. I couldn't tell you the difference between Chinese or Japanese to save my life. Korean, however, sounded like it flowed together better.

I did get to impress people with my knowledge of curses in many different languages.
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Quaon
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A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
Telosan
Sep 24 2009, 08:54 PM
I've taken mandatory Spanish classes and can hold a decent conversation. Don't like to though, especially to the Mexicans who can't speak English living in America.

I've taken 2 years in French. I took a year of German and plan to return to it soon. I'm on my second year of Italian, by far my favorite thus far.

I'm itching to learn Chinese. Maybe I can understand what those people at CTY were saying... I had to find a translator at one point. My translator got incredibly insult by what the guy was saying and she started yelling at him in Chinese. I had to find another translator, who then told me that the guy had said my 1st translator and I would make a good couple. Then my 1st translator and the guy started arguing over who would make a good girlfriend for me. At which point my second translator was mentioned and she got pissed. Yay.
...

I suppose the Alcove does close one off to the whole Chinese language thing...
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Al Araam
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Demigod of Death & Inactivity

I'm continuing with my Turkish here. I can get by in Istanbul with what I have now, so hopefully in three years or so I'll have some semblance of fluency. I've also got two years of Spanish, and then six years of French in grade school, but that doesn't really count. I can still understand French a bit, but I certainly can't speak it anymore.
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
I had 2 years of both Spanish and German (high school). It wouldn't do me much good... Becoming fluent is something I'd always thought would be cool, but actually doing it is a different matter..
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Deleted User
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Telosan
Sep 24 2009, 08:54 PM
I've taken mandatory Spanish classes and can hold a decent conversation. Don't like to though, especially to the Mexicans who can't speak English living in America.

I've taken 2 years in French. I took a year of German and plan to return to it soon. I'm on my second year of Italian, by far my favorite thus far.

I'm itching to learn Chinese. Maybe I can understand what those people at CTY were saying... I had to find a translator at one point. My translator got incredibly insult by what the guy was saying and she started yelling at him in Chinese. I had to find another translator, who then told me that the guy had said my 1st translator and I would make a good couple. Then my 1st translator and the guy started arguing over who would make a good girlfriend for me. At which point my second translator was mentioned and she got pissed. Yay.
that is awesome :lol:
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Tristan da Cunha
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Science and Industry
Telosan
Sep 24 2009, 09:01 PM
They were speaking everything there. Most people knew multiple languages. However, only the Asians knew their own languages and there was only one kid who knew more than one of the Asian languages. I couldn't tell you the difference between Chinese or Japanese to save my life. Korean, however, sounded like it flowed together better.

I did get to impress people with my knowledge of curses in many different languages.
Korean sounds like a series of grunts and huffs.

Chinese sounds like a cross between yodeling and nagging.

Japanese sounds like gibberish.

Hope that helps.
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Sedulius
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Field Marshal
flumes
Sep 24 2009, 08:48 PM
Sedulius
Sep 24 2009, 05:05 PM
Kiev-Volhynia
Sep 24 2009, 04:55 PM
$60,000 is really very optimistic. According to the NACE national salary survey, taken in July 2009, the average salary for someone with a Baccalaureate in Political Science is $38,096. I wouldn't be surprised if your figure takes people who go on to get law degrees into account. Although it's possible to become a lobbyist straight out of college, I think the more likely path involves doing something else first, likely working for a senator or congressman or something of that sort. That kind of thing doesn't pay particularly well.

Source:
http://www.ncsu.edu/majors-careers/do_with_major_in/showmajor.php?id=69
Hmm. I must have been thinking about average lobbyist salary or something or other.

As for myself, I'm always thinking about jobs utilizing both the degree and the linguist skill. Maybe the average had to do with one of those jobs.
What do you speak other then English?
Not fluent, but I'm best with Russian, and I intend to be fluent by the time I'm out of college. Got me a Rosetta Stone. :D

I'm also pretty handy with German, and I took a couple classes in Arabic. Have the Rosetta for those too.

I can tell the difference between the Asian languages well enough, since I've had plenty of exposure. I'd like to learn Mandarin.
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