7 USELESS Degrees Universities STILL Promote
Short Summary:
This YouTube video critiques seven college degrees the creator deems "useless," arguing that universities oversell their job prospects. The video uses a "uselessness scale" (1-10) to rate each degree based on job market reality, skill-to-cost ratio, and promotional exaggeration. Degrees analyzed include Paranormal Psychology (rated a 10/10 for uselessness), Psychology (7/10), Contemplative Studies (9/10), Surf Science and Technology (9/10), Pop Culture Studies (8.5/10), General Studies (9.5/10), and Art History (9/10). The video advocates for exploring alternative, more affordable paths to career success, such as online courses, apprenticeships, and certifications. Specific examples of misleading university marketing tactics are highlighted throughout.
Detailed Summary:
The video begins by introducing the concept of "useless" college degrees and the criteria used for evaluation: job market demand, skill-to-cost ratio (comparing the cost of a degree to learning the same skills elsewhere), and the level of overselling by universities. The creator emphasizes that the goal isn't to discourage education but to expose misleading marketing.
Section 1: Paranormal Psychology (10/10): This degree, focusing on ghosts and psychic abilities, is deemed completely useless due to the nonexistent job market outside of entertainment. The creator criticizes universities for showcasing rare instances of success (like a professor appearing on TV) as representative of typical career outcomes. The statement "literally setting your money on fire would be a better investment" is used to describe this degree.
Section 2: Psychology (Bachelor's) (7/10): While acknowledging the importance of psychology, the creator argues that a bachelor's degree is insufficient for most meaningful careers in the field, requiring further education (master's or doctorate). The oversaturation of the job market with bachelor's degree holders in psychology is highlighted, emphasizing the poor skill-to-cost ratio. The creator points out the universities' failure to clearly state the necessity of further education for most psychology careers.
Section 3: Contemplative Studies (9/10): This degree, focused on meditation and mindfulness, is criticized for its lack of job prospects beyond teaching meditation (which doesn't require a degree) or academia. The creator humorously notes that AI chatbots can now offer "deep thinking" functionalities, rendering the degree's unique value questionable. The statement "If it wasn't about the money, they wouldn't be charging you money" is used to highlight the financial aspect of the issue.
Section 4: Surf Science and Technology (9/10): This niche degree is deemed too specialized, with the actual surf industry prioritizing practical surfing skills over academic credentials. The creator uses a hypothetical job interview scenario to illustrate the irrelevance of the degree in non-surfing contexts.
Section 5: Pop Culture Studies (8.5/10): This degree, analyzing media trends, is criticized for teaching skills readily available to anyone who consumes media. The creator points out that the skills gained are often already possessed by many media consumers, particularly younger generations active on social media. A slightly higher rating is given due to the importance of understanding social media and content creation.
Section 6: General Studies (9.5/10): This degree, lacking specialization, is considered almost entirely useless due to employers' preference for specialists. The creator compares it to a poorly-cooked sampling of various cuisines, lacking cohesion and practical skills. The creator notes the financial incentive for universities to offer this degree.
Section 7: Art History (9/10): This degree is criticized for its extremely competitive job market, with far more graduates than available positions. The creator highlights the unrealistic expectations set by universities regarding career prospects in museums and galleries. The video uses the common joke about art history majors to illustrate the bleak job prospects.
The video concludes by reiterating the importance of education but distinguishing it from degrees, advocating for alternative and more affordable paths to career success. The creator promotes their own coaching program and provides links to resources for alternative certifications and courses.