How many of y'all are doing what you went to school for?

[DubaiSis]

Reading through these posts it becomes VERY clear why we are a bunch of grammar/spelling Nazis. A lot of us regulars were some flavor of communications or law majors. That is a lot of persnickety writers. HA!

[IrishLake]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Reading through these posts it becomes VERY clear why we are a bunch of grammar/spelling Nazis. A lot of us regulars were some flavor of communications or law majors. That is a lot of persnickety writers. HA!

And technical "scientific" writing!!!!

[MysticCat]

I have a Bachelor of Music, which I don't use to earn a living but which I rely on constantly for enjoyment and quality of life.

My JD gets used every day to earn a living.

[Leslie Anne]

I got my BA in English with a minor in Fine Arts. I didn't use my degree. For several years, I flipped houses. Then I went to graduate school and got my masters in Library and Information Science with a focus on archives and special collections. Along the way I realized that I didn't really like archives but I finished up with it anyway. I worked in the archives of a military library and I hated it. I'm now doing bookbinding repairs on a volunteer basis. On the side, I'm an eBay seller. Who knows what the future may bring?

I may not be using my formal education to earn a living but I use it in my day-to-day life all the time.

[PrettyBoy]

In my family, I was somewhat of the oddball, I guess. I have an older brother (also a Nupe ) who majored in biology (Central State University) and went on to study dentistry at Meharry. He's now a dentist. I have an older sister who was a math major (University of Chicago) and now works in Human Resources. My mom (education major, Prairie View A&M) retired as an adult education teacher. My dad was a business major, same college as my mom (retired business owner and director).

Me? I majored in art (the oddball of the family).

Long story short. I went to CSU as an art major. From there, I received my degree in art. After leaving CSU, I applied and submitted my portfolio to CCS in Detroit. I competed for Trans (Transportation Design) my second year, now Auto Design. At the time, only second year students could compete for Trans (You have to compete, because too many ID students want auto). After my review, I was one of 17 students who made it into Trans. After my second year there, I took a summer contract job at Chrysler. During that time, I just kept adding to my portfolio and building on it.

When I returned to school for my 3rd year, AIAS sponsored the student show that semester. A designer from the company I currently work for came out to look at the student work, and he liked my ideations and clay model. He gave me his card, and told me to give him a call. After that semester ended, I sent them my resume with my portfolio, and they soon offered me a permanent position as an auto designer. I accepted, and never went back to CCS (as a student) since I already had a bachelors. I didn't need a second one. However, two days out of the week I do teach Viscom, design theory, mini-trans, auto, and senior auto there, depending on the year.

I didn't have a Plan B. I majored in art, because I was either going to be an auto designer or be an unhappy man. I've been with the same company since 2008, and I enjoy every bit of what I do for a living.

[IrishLake]

I always forget you have Ohio ties, PB. I was in Xenia the last 2 weekends.

[IndianaSigKap]

Journalism degree and education degree

I teach journalism, photography and advise student publications. I do quite a bit of editing and design work for friends and family. I just finished the wedding program for one of my former editors.

[Mizeree I2K]

Originally Posted by PrettyBoy

In my family, I was somewhat of the oddball, I guess. I have an older brother (also a Nupe ) who majored in biology (Central State University) and went on to study dentistry at Meharry. He's now a dentist. I have an older sister who was a math major (University of Chicago) and now works in Human Resources. My mom (education major, Prairie View A&M) retired as an adult education teacher. My dad was a business major, same college as my mom (retired business owner and director).

Me? I majored in art (the oddball of the family).

Long story short. I went to CSU as an art major. From there, I received my degree in art. After leaving CSU, I applied and submitted my portfolio to CCS in Detroit. I competed for Trans (Transportation Design) my second year, now Auto Design. At the time, only second year students could compete for Trans (You have to compete, because too many ID students want auto). After my review, I was one of 17 students who made it into Trans. After my second year there, I took a summer contract job at Chrysler. During that time, I just kept adding to my portfolio and building on it.

When I returned to school for my 3rd year, AIAS sponsored the student show that semester. A designer from the company I currently work for came out to look at the student work, and he liked my ideations and clay model. He gave me his card, and told me to give him a call. After that semester ended, I sent them my resume with my portfolio, and they soon offered me a permanent position as an auto designer. I accepted, and never went back to CCS (as a student) since I already had a bachelors. I didn't need a second one. However, two days out of the week I do teach Viscom, design theory, mini-trans, auto, and senior auto there, depending on the year.

I didn't have a Plan B. I majored in art, because I was either going to be an auto designer or be an unhappy man. I've been with the same company since 2008, and I enjoy every bit of what I do for a living.

This is mad interesting, PrettyBoy. For real. I didn't know you went to Central, though. That's Alpha Mu for my frat. I know a lot of frat from there. They used to come up to my school to kick it with Beta Mu, and vice versa.

I knew you were a car designer from your previous posts, but you never went into this much detail on how you got hooked up with a career in it. I peeped that video in your siggy. That's the design school you went to? Folks on here got careers that most folks know about so that makes you the "oddball" on here too LOL.

[DoctorD]

I have three degrees, and now I teach people in my degree field. So, while I'm not doing what I trained for initially, I am still very much in touch with my degree.

[lovespink88]

BS (heh) in advertising. I'm a media planner/buyer, so yes.

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

And technical "scientific" writing!!!!

I was seeing a tie there but couldn't quite put my finger on it. But I think you nailed it!

[Smile_Awhile]

My degree is a BFA in Theatre Performance. While I haven't auditioned or performed since graduation- I lost my passion for it at the end of school- I am working for a theatre, just in administration. So... sort of? I use nothing except the interpersonal skills I learned from dealing with theatre people day in and day out, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[PersistentDST]

Wow! It's really nice to see so many people working in their fields or at least following their dreams! I've just been in a superfunk lately about this exact topic, but at least there is hope for me yet.

[LAblondeGPhi]

BA in English. Then I worked in politics. I think my English degree provided a nice framework for analytical and communication skills, whereas a Poli Sci degree may have been too narrow for me.

Working on an MBA right now, and plan to do related things with it, which seems to be the theme for professional degrees.

Can I get a little ranty for a moment? All of these comments just remind me how strongly I feel that more universities need to incorporate career guidance programming into their curriculum. I'm talking a semester-long program where students explore different job functions and understand the degree, skills, and networking requirements for each. I see too many young people graduate with degrees from great institutions, and then have no idea what to do with them.

Or, I see liberal arts majors graduate with a great foundation, but without specific employer-desired skill sets. Fields like computer science and engineering produce graduates with skills that allow them to command much higher salary upon graduation. I love my liberal arts degree, but I was a bit of a blank canvas coming out of school, employment-wise.

[NCSigma]

Majored in German and History, worked outside those fields for two years while I went to school part-time to get certified to teach. Taught German for 6 years, am now working for the US Government in a foreign affairs context. So, I'd say yes.