What are the most useless college degrees?

Hey, so I'm curious and a little bit nervous about choosing my major. Can anyone share their opinion on which degrees they view as being not particularly useful in today's job market or otherwise?

Hello! First of all, remember that defining what is "useful" or "useless" largely depends on what you personally value and what your career goals are. However, it's fair to say some majors may not lead directly to specific jobs or could potentially offer lower financial returns, especially early in your career.

Liberal arts degrees such as Anthropology, Philosophy, and Art History are sometimes singled out, mainly because these degrees do not have a clear job trajectory right after graduation compared to, say, Engineering or Nursing. That being said, the key skills obtained from these majors - critical thinking, analysis, writing - can very much be desired by employers, making these graduates valuable in a range of fields.

A major in a very specialized or narrow field can also present challenges. Because the area of expertise is so specific, there might be limited job opportunities. Think of Puppetry Arts or Bagpiping (yes, these are real degrees). While these are great for those specific industries, they can potentially limit your options if you decide to pivot your career.

However, keep in mind that there is no such thing as a "useless" degree. Each major provides a unique skill set and perspective. Even degrees that may not seem directly related to the job market can offer valuable transferrable skills and enriching knowledge. Furthermore, many employers care more about the skills you can offer and less about what you majored in, especially in fields that aren't highly specialized or technical.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to study what you are passionate about while being aware of the potential career paths and job market related to your chosen field. A degree's usefulness isn't solely determined by the subject matter, but how you apply what you've learned and rounded it out with experience, networking and additional skills.