Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Is Getting a Degree in Philosophy a Waste of Time?

Is getting a degree in philosophy a waste of time? I'll answer this question with another question, is getting any degree a waste of time? Although many consider the art of philosophy to be a useless practice, it is not a waste of time and a major in philosophy can open many roads in life and in general help keep you out of trouble.

So what are the benefits of getting a degree in philosophy?

Well for starters you'll learn to argue concisely and effectively which is great skill to have anywhere in life. You'll be able to better negotiate monetary offers and logically think things through especially when it comes to contracts of any sort. Most contracts have very small print which most people don't bother reading over which is a mistake. Through logically going through the different word placement and sentence structures you can see the full picture instead of having someone confuse you and mislead you with tricky wording which in the end, can result in loss profit or other things. So you'll learn very important life skills while taking philosophy courses.

Next, philosophy degrees are not a dead end job. Yes, you are limited in the education field to basic salaries with not too much chance of an increase. However, with a philosophy degree you are better prepared to get into any type of legal careers, especially lawyering. Lawyers have to analyze thousands of pages of text and evidence at any given time. They have to be able to logically and articulately defend or prosecute a client and be able to quickly think on their feet and clearly argue a point. These are all characteristics of a simple philosophy degree, which is not so simple now is it? If you're not good at philosophy, you won't be a good lawyer. A good lawyer often has a degree in philosophy to prepare him before law school and additionally makes above average salaries. Philosophy is a great practice for law school and should not be looked down upon.

Yes, in economic times of hardship like today the philosophy degree is not the best looking or fastest job seeking route to take. It will take a while to attain lawyer or professor status to make above average wages, however it's still a viable option for many students young or old. If you love arguing or actively participating in debates then this is the degree for you!

So next time you look down upon a philosophy degree, think of these points first before you criticize it.

Should you get your masters if you have a degree in English?

The question many potential and current English Majors face today is whether or not to get their masters or not. Well in short, it depends on a variety of things including what you want to do with your life.

The most appealing aspect of an English degree is it's versatility. Many people believe an English degree is a dead end career path unless you're becoming a teacher. However, this is far from the truth. It's not just limited to one specific field such as teaching so very little doors are being closed. Although there are not a plethora of jobs available once coming out of University with a BA in English, It's career diversity includes many positions including journalism, editing, screen writing, local and national newspaper writing, reception, secretary's, etc. English majors strengths lie in being able to clearly and effectively express idea's and arguments through the written word, including research on a subject as well.

If you plan on getting into education and teach at all you will require a Masters degree. The common theme most English majors run today is to become a teacher after receiving their BA. Teaching offers fantastic benefits, great hours and holidays including summers off as well as room for advancement and pay increases every few years. If you enjoy teaching the material and don't mind kids then this is a great career path!

Other options besides getting a Masters include heading to law or med school. Recently there's been an increase in students from humanities degrees such as English applying and graduating these schools. Reason being, is that as an English major you're already prepared for extreme writing and reading especially arguing points as far as lawyers go, additionally for med school you'll be well prepared for deep analysis of material such as when writing the many research papers within an English degree. In medical school, you'll learn all you need to know there. My personal doctor graduated with a degree in physical education and instead of becoming a professor, he went to medical school and became a doctor. He learned everything he needed to know there. So there's always these options open after finishing your degree.

If you decide not to continue with further education after getting your English degree there won't be too many jobs lined up for you. However, this could be just the freedom you need to become a professional writer, start your own book or novel, screen writing, write for a publishing company or freelance writing. Even full time blogging online is a viable option. Granted, Rome wasn't built in a day, it's going to take some time to establish yourself and earn a self supporting income.

Attaining your Masters all depends on what you want to do with your life. If you love kids, and love the material you teach, you'll love the job and a Masters would get you there. On the other hand, if you want to have a little more freedom and work your own hours, etc. professional writing or freelancing or editing would be the best bet there. Regardless, a Masters is always nice to have as a backup in case you're writing career doesn't work out as well as you thought!

How to Gain Employment With a BA in English

The question many potential and current English Majors face today is whether or not to get their masters or not. Well in short, it depends on a variety of things including what you want to do with your life.

The most appealing aspect of an English degree is its versatility. Many people believe an English degree is a dead end career path unless you're becoming a teacher. However, this is far from the truth. It's not just limited to one specific field such as teaching so very little doors are being closed. Although there are not a plethora of jobs available once coming out of University with a BA in English, It's career diversity includes many positions including journalism, editing, screen writing, local and national newspaper writing, reception, secretary's, etc. English majors strengths lie in being able to clearly and effectively express idea's and arguments through the written word, including research on a subject as well.

If you plan on getting into education and teach at all you will require a Masters degree. The common theme most English majors run today is to become a teacher after receiving their BA. Teaching offers fantastic benefits, great hours and holidays including summers off as well as room for advancement and pay increases every few years. If you enjoy teaching the material and don't mind kids then this is a great career path!

Other options besides getting a Masters include heading to law or med school. Recently there's been an increase in students from humanities degrees such as English applying and graduating these schools. Reason being, is that as an English major you're already prepared for extreme writing and reading especially arguing points as far as lawyers go, additionally for med school you'll be well prepared for deep analysis of material such as when writing the many research papers within an English degree. In medical school, you'll learn all you need to know there. My personal doctor graduated with a degree in physical education and instead of becoming a professor, he went to medical school and became a doctor. He learned everything he needed to know there. So there's always these options open after finishing your degree.

If you decide not to continue with further education after getting your English degree there won't be too many jobs lined up for you. However, this could be just the freedom you need to become a professional writer, start your own book or novel, screen writing, write for a publishing company or freelance writing. Even full time blogging on line is a viable option. Granted, Rome wasn't built in a day, it's going to take some time to establish yourself and earn a self supporting income.

So whether you want to become a writer, teacher or doctor don't be discouraged from getting an English degree. It's one of the most diverse and opportune degrees out there and can lead to a variety of different career paths!

Top 5 Things to Bring to College

Here's a list of the top 10 things to bring to college!

1) Domes

Wrap it up before you slap it up applies here. Always practice safe sex especially in a college environment to keep you and everyone else safe.

2) Fake ID

You'll want a Fake ID to get into the bars if you're underage for sure. Also comes in handy when you need to stock up on some beer.


3) Shower Flip flops

Shower flops as I refer to them as will save your life. Imagine the dirtiest place in the world and imagine you have to walk through it barefoot, you would want a pair of flip flops to keep you from getting aids right? Well same rule applies here in University. Shower floors can be disgusting so pack a pair of flip flops or shower shoes to weather the storm.

4) Bed Protector

Ever see those miscellaneous stains on your 1990's dorm bed? Well, fear no more. By having a bed protector which you can buy at your local store it'll keep you safe from any unknown stains. It's basically just a sheet of vinyl that keeps you 1 up from the bed.

5) A Sense of Humor

University's a time of experimenting and enjoyment so get out there and party it up. If things always don't go according to plan it's best to keep a sense of humor about you because things can get pretty crazy sometimes.


If your sure to bring all these items with you, University can be that much more enjoyable! If you need to travel any great distances to your chosen University, be sure to also check out travel tips at GuruTraveler!