Minor Majors (A Rant) and Calming Corgis

Today, we transition out of puppies and Starbucks and into the college scene.  (A change that one reader recently suggested that a certain subset of college students are familiar with in the opposite direction.)  We also transition into a little rant.  Based on a recent study by Georgetown University (the school currently pursuing the world record for largest doghouse built to resemble an on-campus building), Newsweek's The Daily Beast recently put out an attention-grabbing list of The 13 Most Useless Majors.  I promise that I will generally try to avoid both preachy-ness and profanity on the Report (especially given that my mother is among our readers), but what utter fucking bullshit.  Granted, I say this as an English Major (#7), so perhaps I'm a little knee-jerk defensive on this issue... But seriously?!  How are we defining "Uselessness," Newsweek?  (I suggest using the level of descriptiveness in your headline as a baseline.)  An algorithmic amalgam of average salary and unemployment rates?  No doubt these are the only factors that merit consideration, since no one ends up in jobs outside of what they majored in!  Speaking of which, what's with the ridiculous "Related occupation" postings?!  A history degree leads to a historian, English to writing... Though my favorite has to be the Political Science degree producing a great "Political scientis".  A+ editing, Newsweek.

Perhaps I'm going to come across as more of a starry-eyed dreamer than a Jimmy Stewart character in a Capra film, but readers, a challenge:  Find value in your major (whether a current student, a recent graduate, or a retiree) beyond the dollars and percents that Newsweek assigns.  Let it be something you explore.  Something that colors your worldview, if not your wallet.  When someone says, "What are you going to do with that?," ignore them, especially if they have as narrow and one-to-one a view as Newsweek regarding "Related occupations."  Because chances are your occupation may not be totally related.  And chances are neither your occupation nor your major will be the words you choose to define yourself in life.  (I am so many things before I am a technical editor.)  But when those people keep asking louder and louder what your plan is, don't worry.  One of the wisest people I have met (and I say this sincerely, not just because he is the most Buddha-esque member of our readership) told me that much of where we end up, particularly in occupation, is serendipity.  So go ahead and toss on that John Cusack film.  Wander.  Wonder.  But don't worry.  A college major is actually pretty minor.

Whew!  Apologies for the ranting and raving.  Goodness knows I need to calm down now... Here's some Corgi(f)s to turn the Arghs into Awws.  I promise that Reports like this will be few and far between, and that the rest of the week will be reserved for cool stuff, funny stories, and cute animals.  And just as we will return to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow, you may now return to your regularly scheduled morning.  I assume you were all celebrating the 73rd Anniversary of the first appearance of Batman in Detective Comics #27.