What to study

[Nofriends]

I am stuck between studying history, political science or law.

Any idea what I would get from a degree in political science?

I am stuck between getting a double degree in history + political science, or pol sci/history + law or a single degree in history which I would turn into a masters or phd.

What do you think?

I think going for a single degree in history and upgrading that to masters or perhaps a phd would provide me with considerable flexibility, for example I could join the army and use my knowledge to become a strategist or something, and in my spare time I could write books.

Also, many sources show that history majors have the highest earning in the humanities, if that is not a myth that could be another reason to study history.

 

[Analyzer]

Political science especially taught in academics is mostly nonsense, just read Machiavelli's Prince and you'll have most of it covered. The whole field is basically explaining the State, its purpose, and why the individual is nothing. It takes for granted as a starting premise the Hobbesian myths of collective security and social contract.

Do history, it covers more ground.

 

[Ex-User (13503)]

I think Analyzer effectively killed Political Science. Have you considered getting a B.S. in History and then kicking ass on the LSAT?

 

[Ponderer]

All of academics is bullshit because they teach information for multiple years, which could be simply read from few books. It would be better if everyone could study at their own pace, read the necessary material and go for exams when they are ready. Most of studying is done at home anyway because lectures are too boring to focus attention on them all day. Maybe exception could be some practical lessons which are impossible to do by yourself or very hard.

 

[redbaron]

All of academics is bullshit because they teach information for multiple years, which could be simply read from few books. It would be better if everyone could study at their own pace, read the necessary material and go for exams when they are ready. Most of studying is done at home anyway because lectures are too boring to focus attention on them all day. Maybe exception could be some practical lessons which are impossible to do by yourself or very hard.

Ye fuk skool its dum rite on!!!

 

[Ponderer]

I participate in this weird system anyway because I want better future, but yeah it's dumb.

 

[redbaron]

If we just agree all humanities are basically shit, I want to know which few books you're able to just 'read' and be competent in say, chemical engineering.

 

[Tannhauser]

All of academics is bullshit because they teach information for multiple years, which could be simply read from few books. It would be better if everyone could study at their own pace, read the necessary material and go for exams when they are ready. Most of studying is done at home anyway because lectures are too boring to focus attention on them all day. Maybe exception could be some practical lessons which are impossible to do by yourself or very hard.

The thing to realize is that the stuff you learn in school/college/university is just a collection of little bits of information, to get you a little taste of things. It's not really meant to be an education the way people think of it.

So it's "bullshit" if you think of this education in the popular sense, but it's not really bullshit.

 

[Ponderer]

If we just agree all humanities are basically shit, I want to know which few books you're able to just 'read' and be competent in say, chemical engineering.

As I said there could be a few practical lessons a week, but I don't see a point of theoretical lectures.

 

[Kuu]

I think going for a single degree in history and upgrading that to masters or perhaps a phd would provide me with considerable flexibility, for example I could join the army and use my knowledge to become a strategist or something, and in my spare time I could write books.

Your expectations seem questionable. Regardless of what you pick from these the potential for unemployment is high. Law is one of the major professions that's next on the path of disruption by artificial intelligence. History I suppose you could manage if you pursue an academic career, seems pretty much dead end otherwise. And there's nothing left to say about "political science".

As I said there could be a few practical lessons a week, but I don't see a point of theoretical lectures.

How are you to resolve your doubts and misconceptions without a more experienced sensei? Don't tell me you never have any? If you don't then you're not challenging yourself.

School is not just about learning the subject matter, it's also about learning work ethic, socialization, having new experiences... Sure there's a lot one can self-learn by reading, but there's so much you'd be missing.

 

[Sinny91]

Well political science degrees tend to lead to either government, public or private analyst or correspondence positions.

The world of news and current and international affairs is a fast paced and diverse one.

How boring is law and history?
Unless you see yourself rewriting law or or history as we know it?
Or have a passion for an historical era?

 

[Nofriends]

What did Jason Richwine study?

I would not mind becoming similar to him, but actually gain the power to implement racist policies.

 

[Ex-User (13503)]

Oh. In that case, political science all the way.

 

[Reluctantly]

Do you want to be a politician or a lawyer?

I think going for a single degree in history and upgrading that to masters or perhaps a phd would provide me with considerable flexibility, for example I could join the army and use my knowledge to become a strategist or something, and in my spare time I could write books.

Yes, join the army. Do it; you will love it.

 

[Architect]

The thing to realize is that the stuff you learn in school/college/university is just a collection of little bits of information, to get you a little taste of things. It's not really meant to be an education the way people think of it.

So it's "bullshit" if you think of this education in the popular sense, but it's not really bullshit.

Well said. An easy way to see this is to think of an education that you have already, say grade school. Think for a moment what you learned in grade school; how to read, basic arithmetic and a bit of geography. Now imagine if you hadn't gone to school and learned of those subjects, where would you be now? Would you be able to do basic math, and to read and write coherent sentences, or would you just have goofed off?

It's really easy to see after going to college or graduate school. It's not that the knowledge itself is particularly useful, but I'm definitely much more capable person for having gone to those schools.

 

[Nofriends]

Oh. In that case, political science all the way.

makes sense, thank you good sir

 

[Ponderer]

How are you to resolve your doubts and misconceptions without a more experienced sensei? Don't tell me you never have any? If you don't then you're not challenging yourself.

I thought about that, and now came to conclusion that I will always take a teacher if I want to learn a new skill. It also helps for motivation and finding out how good you really are at something.

 

[Ex-User (13503)]

School is not just about learning the subject matter, it's also about learning work ethic, socialization, having new experiences... Sure there's a lot one can self-learn by reading, but there's so much you'd be missing.

At what age did you personally reach this conclusion?

 

[Kuu]

At what age did you personally reach this conclusion?

I don't really know, high school I suppose?

Why?

 

[Ex-User (13503)]

I don't really know, high school I suppose?

Why?

Basically, it looks like an environmental-related developmental thing within INTPs, and you appear to have been ahead of the curve then. I have various friends/acquaintances who have yet to realize/accept it and I'm trying to apportion my effort efficaciously in helping them realize it.

 

[Happy]

You could get a BS in Turfgrass Science at Penn State. That seems more employable than your other choices.

 

[Nitroshogun]

Study blockchains. Ethereum being more developer friendly going forward if it succeeds.

 

[Aruni]

It would be better if everyone could study at their own pace, read the necessary material and go for exams when they are ready.

Do we underestimate the importance of interest as a necessary fuel for learning?

Is being force-fed a subject, before of one finds it interesting, effectively detrimental?

Perhaps encouraging students to follow personal "curiosity trails" is a superior method for learning. Arriving to physics when one is ready. Arriving to cooking when one is interested. Arriving to geometry when one finds relevancy.

 

[Not Anyone To Care For]

All of academics is bullshit because they teach information for multiple years, which could be simply read from few books. It would be better if everyone could study at their own pace, read the necessary material and go for exams when they are ready. Most of studying is done at home anyway because lectures are too boring to focus attention on them all day. Maybe exception could be some practical lessons which are impossible to do by yourself or very hard.

That should only really applies to Highschool and college courses that are pretty straight forward otherwise, goodluck passing.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

All of academics is bullshit because they teach information for multiple years, which could be simply read from few books. It would be better if everyone could study at their own pace, read the necessary material and go for exams when they are ready. Most of studying is done at home anyway because lectures are too boring to focus attention on them all day. Maybe exception could be some practical lessons which are impossible to do by yourself or very hard.

Academia is more of a test of how well you can make friends, how reliable is your work, being on time, networking, staying informed, scheduling and group problem solving.

Pretty much it's about knowing when it's best not to say something is "bullshit" and better to adjust to the requirements.

It's not about what you're studying, it's to see whether you're an adult and if you can do well on your own within a society.

You aren't expected to innovate and whatever material there's to study can be acquired by the average mortal, provided they function normally and meet the above criteria.

Many schools offer extramural courses where you can get a diploma after attending just exams and paying a hefty premium for the privilege. Or you can skip the examination part for a heftier premium, that's not the point anyway.

Being a graduate of X can be a boon or be looked down on sure, but nothing stops you from learning Y whilst studying X. Humanities diploma might look bland for the potential employer, but if you have the demanded skills and a way of presenting them, it is completely irrelevant what was the thing you were studying.


What studies are about is the few years of personal time to flourish and make use of the opportunities, while you are still sheltered from the most stressful aspects of human existence. Can you make use of this time? Entirely up to you.