As more and more students choose to major in liberal arts, or what some call “general studies”, they often times feel that their degree doesn’t really fit them. After all, most people who get bachelor’s degrees are professionals- doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc.
Liberal arts majors sometimes feel like they wasted their time on unhelpful courses. This is especially true for students who transferred into university after high school, where career guidance isn’t as strong.
The truth is that while there are professional opportunities available to individuals with non-business oriented BA degrees, it takes more than just being good at telling stories to make it in this field.
Postgraduate education typically includes training in areas such as business, journalism, communication, psychology, sociology, anthropology and other fields related to the human condition. Therefore, becoming well-trained in these subjects is an important part of succeeding in your career.
As such, many employers look unfavourably on Bachelors Degree holders that don’t take advantage of educational resources outside of pure academic study.
There are over 1,000 universities worldwide
Almost every major city in the world has at least one university that is well-known for its quality education. These institutions offer lots of different degrees or specializations, and most have their own student groups or forums where students can meet others who share their same interests.
In fact, many large cities now boast several popular universities which collectively serve as an important source of socialization for young people. This is particularly true for generations coming up during this period of time when almost everyone was online all the time, constantly communicating with friends across the globe.
Overall, competitive environments such as these play a significant role in fostering personal growth and development among young adults. They provide opportunities to challenge yourself, connect with other passionate individuals, and develop leadership skills. All of these things strengthen your self-confidence and sense of worth!
Furthermore, research shows that feeling socially supported and connected to others decreases stress and anxiety, making it a key factor in overall wellness. Given how much pressure some students feel from funding sources, parents, and career goals, creating supportive communities helps alleviate some of that tension. It also gives them someone they can go to if they need help along those lines.
Competitive settings don’t just benefit undergrads — even professionals find them helpful. A recent study found that business school faculty members perform better academically because they are challenged by the work they must do beyond teaching students.
Liberal arts colleges are very diverse
There is no clear definition of what makes an art school “liberal” or not, but most people agree that they teach you to think more broadly. This includes having wide-ranging academic departments like humanities, social sciences, and natural science courses.
Liberal arts schools also tend to value education as a means towards self-development rather than self-fulfillment only. Many have strong alumni networks and career services that help students find employment after college.
Some even place greater emphasis on community service than business service in their curriculum! Students at liberal arts universities often work together during class time to discuss ideas and concepts.
These types of classrooms foster collaboration and understanding which can be applied beyond the university setting. Some even offer credit for student groups doing productive things such as serving food to homeless individuals or working with charity organizations.
There are many different majors that you can choose
Choosing an academic major is not as simple as choosing between business or psychology. In fact, there are more than 100 colleges and universities that offer every degree under the sun! This includes liberal arts degrees like those in sociology or political science.
Many students gain valuable skills through experience in several areas. For example, some departments require students to take courses in marketing, communication, or leadership. These types of courses help prepare you for future career opportunities.
There are also many vocational programs at most higher education institutions. Students may be able to pick up job skills after graduation such as teaching English, working with technology, or serving as a manager.
Liberal arts degrees focus less on specific jobs and more on developing your reasoning, logic, and analytical capabilities. Many students find this helpful for later stages in their lives.
These days, though, it seems like everyone has a bachelor’s degree. It does not seem important anymore. Some even say that having a BA makes people feel entitled to good employment.
This is very wrong! Reaching educational attainment should be celebrated, not given credit for status. We need to promote talent acquisition over just getting a degree.
They are very competitive to get into
Almost every major college is at least moderately liberal arts oriented. This means they emphasize things like literature, history, philosophy, and religion as core courses. These so-called “humanist” studies add depth to your education by exploring how culture impacts our lives.
Liberal arts colleges also teach students how to think about ideas logically, apply reasoning skills to new topics, and learn from others. All of these help you become an informed adult who knows what to believe and why.
Most people associate liberal arts only with prestigious universities such as Harvard or Yale, but this isn’t always the case. Many smaller community colleges have strong liberal arts programs that can be just as valuable!
Furthermore, not all majors in liberal arts schools require prerequisites. Some degree paths may even be more practical than before! For example, someone studying business could earn a bachelor’s degree without taking a course in psychology.
They are very competitive to get into once you’re in
While most people associate higher education with getting a degree or certification, there is an increasingly popular option: An undergraduate degree in liberal arts or “general studies.” These programs do not focus on specific majors like business or art but rather explore different areas of knowledge and study various disciplines across time.
Many students find that this balance between learning more about the world and other subjects and being focused on something they care about helps them achieve their career goals. Others feel that it helped prepare them for life by teaching them how to think beyond academic concepts.
They are very expensive
The cost of attending an “arts” college like University of California, Berkeley is extremely high. A lot of students underestimate how much these schools can add to your wallet. Most have large tuition fees that increase every year!
Many people believe that UCB is more affordable because it was listed as free in online colleges by sites such as BestCollegesOnline.com. This is not always the case though and actually making it even harder to afford school-especially if you want to major in art or music.
Some popular majors at UCB include Art and Music, Communication Studies, Theater, Dance, and Journalism. Many of those departments offer degree programs with advanced courses beyond just studying painting, sculpting, or playing guitar. Students must pay additional fees for some of these classes due to their advanced nature.
Overall, the price of attending UCB is quite costly. Even before factoring in all of the student expenses, attending this university is still very expensive.
Based on attendance at least half of undergraduate students will be paying more than $20,000 per year which is a huge amount. For most students this is a long term investment so they should budget properly for it.
Most students try to balance spending money on things like food, rent, and transportation while also investing in education. It is important to spend wisely to enjoy yourself without sacrificing future opportunities.
They are very difficult to get into
Many people have strong opinions about whether or not an education in humanities is worth it. These debates usually revolve around one of two arguments. The first argument says that students will be educated more broadly if they take only courses in the hard sciences and mathematics, with some liberal arts thrown in.
The second argument says that studying the humanities provides valuable insights into how humans think and behave. By learning about literature, history, and philosophy, for example, you can understand why certain groups of people may feel excluded from society.
Both of these points seem reasonable, but there is one major problem: they aren’t necessarily true!
It is extremely tough to get into many universities as both a student and a recent graduate. This means that most people who argue against the importance of the humanities don’t actually know much about them.
They are very difficult to get into once you’re in
In fact, most universities consider competitive status to be overstated. This is because almost every school offers at least one degree that can be described as “competitive.” These include business degrees, education degrees, nursing degrees, medical-related degrees, and more.
Most of these degree programs require only moderate levels of academic achievement and/or financial resources for students to achieve them. Therefore, they do not feel highly competitively priced.
Furthermore, many schools have dropped the term “competitive” altogether when referring to their graduate program. For example, some use the terms “academic” or even “research focused” instead.
We also need to remember that educational prestige is heavily influenced by money. If a school is expensive, then it seems less prestigious than if it is affordable. Unfortunately, this applies to both liberal arts and professional programs.
Liberal arts programs are no exception to this rule. Many people argue that an undergraduate education should emphasize the importance of reading literary texts, engaging with other disciplines, and having strong moral foundations. All of these things are relatively inexpensive to teach.
Held against this argument is the belief that acquiring knowledge is what makes someone intelligent. It is not necessarily about how much you know, but rather how well you learn from experiences and sources.
This was the primary reason why experts believe university level courses exist – to expand your horizons and give you new skills.
