Worthless

1. Your Major is Your Destiny: Choose Wisely.

To make sure you make one of the most important decisions in your life based in reality and not your feelings.

A life-altering decision. The choice of your college major is arguably the most significant decision you will make, impacting your income, standard of living, health, and how you spend the majority of your adult life. You will work eight hours a day for 30-40 years, and the enjoyment and reward of this time hinge on this single choice. This book delivers a cold, harsh belt of reality, not a "touchy-feel-good" message, because the truth is not optional.

Reality trumps feelings. Many young people receive little to no concrete guidance from parents, counselors, or teachers, leaving them to make this daunting decision alone. Worse, "adults" and entire industries profit by convincing you to pursue certain studies, often offering nothing in return. This book aims to equip you to navigate this minefield, understand the labor market, and choose a major based on reality, not fleeting interests or emotional appeals.

Learn from mistakes. The wisdom offered here comes from elders who have walked this path before, wanting you to learn from their mistakes to have a better, easier, and happier life. Ignoring reality leads to unimaginable consequences, while basing decisions in the real world reaps great benefits. This decision is too important to be left to naive idealism or the self-serving advice of others.

2. Economic Reality: Demand Dictates Worth.

They all have worthless degrees.

Worthless degrees abound. Many college graduates, despite high GPAs and multiple minors, struggle to find jobs, making $8.50 an hour or living with parents. Their common thread? Degrees like "International Studies," "Sociology," "English," "Psychology," "Elementary Education," "Art and Architectural History," and "Masters in Puppetry." These degrees are worthless because there is simply no demand for them in the labor market.

Supply and demand. Your paycheck is ultimately determined by the supply and demand for your skills. It doesn't matter if you "follow your heart" or if a subject is intellectually rewarding; if there's no demand, there's no economic worth. For example:

• Joe Mauer (professional baseball player) makes millions because his rare skill (limited supply) is in high demand (millions pay to watch).
• Elementary school teachers make far less because their skills are not unique, and the supply is nearly infinite.

The Village Analogy. Imagine a self-sustaining medieval village. Everyone has a vital job: butcher, farmer, blacksmith. There are no professional activists or starving artists because everyone must produce something of value that other people want. A country is just a really big village. Do you carry your own weight? Do you produce something of value that is in demand, or merely what you want to produce?

Christmas Wish List. Students often major in what they want to study, not what others demand. There's a huge mismatch:

• Everyone wants cars, phones, gas, TVs.
• Few study engineering, computer science, or petroleum engineering.
• Many study sociology, women's studies, or psychology, yet no one lists "social work" or "therapy" on their wish list.
  This explains high unemployment for liberal arts majors and trade deficits with countries whose students do major in fields that produce desired goods. Starting salaries are the clearest indicator of demand.

3. Embrace STEM and Practical Skills.

The math is your friend.

STEM is paramount. The most profitable fields of study fall under STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These majors consistently lead to the highest starting salaries and employment prospects. The common thread among all high-paying fields, including accounting, economics, and statistics, is math.

Math is non-negotiable. Saying "I don't like math" is like saying "I don't like gravity." Math is reality, and if you want a decent living, you must learn it. Mathematical ability is not an innate "aptitude" but a function of effort. Math is logical, follows precise rules, and has precise answers, making it conquerable for the average human brain if one dedicates the effort. Embrace math; it leads to financial stability and happiness.

Not all STEM is equal. While all STEM majors require math, their earning potential varies.

• Most profitable: Petroleum and Chemical Engineering (combine physics/math with chemistry).
• High demand: Electrical/Computer Engineering (combine engineering with electricity).
• Solid choices: Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering.
• Less lucrative/volatile: Nuclear Engineering, Aerospace Engineering (demand influenced by politics/economy).
• Worthless STEM: Architecture (over-supplied, requires doctorate for license, often for the rich), Environmental Engineering (politically motivated, jobs done by other engineers).

Bio-sciences and Business.

• Worthwhile Bio-sciences: Pre-Med (MD/DDS), Nursing (especially specialized), Pharmacy, Pharmaceuticals (chemistry, biochemistry, virology, bio-engineering).
• Worthless Bio-sciences: Biology (too general, often leads to teaching unless advanced degree), Kinesiology (euphemism for "Advanced Gym Teacher" or "Overly-Educated Masseuse").
• Worthwhile Business: Accounting (CPA is valuable), Management of Information Systems (MIS), Statistics/Actuarial Science, Econometrics (math/stats applied to economics, often combined with computer programming).
• Worthless Business: Finance (Jack of All Trades, master of none; banking industry is corrupt, relies on connections), general "Business" or "Business Administration" (no specific skill, assumes management without experience), Entrepreneurship (oxymoron, self-taught skills are cheaper), Marketing/Advertising (simple concept stretched into degrees), HR (only if specialized in benefits/compensation, combined with accounting/finance), Economics (worthless without advanced degree or combination with statistics/programming).

4. Avoid Worthless Degrees and Degree Mills.

"Worthless" will help you navigate this minefield and choose the major that is right for you.

Degree mills are scams. These non-accredited, for-profit institutions prey on youth with promises of "exciting careers" and quick degrees with little effort. They are identified by:

• "Culinary" or "beauty" schools.
• Programs in radio, TV, film, or broadcasting.
• Cheesy commercials with bad graphics, often offering "graphic design" programs.
• Locations in strip malls or drab office buildings, not campuses.
  These schools charge more than accredited universities, offer non-transferable credits, and their degrees are not recognized by most employers. Avoid them at all costs.

Liberal Arts and Humanities: The biggest lie. These degrees, often denoted with a "B.A." and designed to avoid math, are the largest concentration of worthless degrees in accredited education. They offer a false sense of authenticity but do nothing to help you find a job.

• "Hyphenated-American Studies" (African-American, Women's, Gay/Bi/Lesbian/Transgender-American, etc.): Target minority groups, but study traits, not employable skills. You can't study to be "really Asian"; you can study to be a great engineer. Read books for free instead of paying tuition.
• "Foreign Culture Studies": Similar to hyphenated studies. Why pay to learn about China when you can use the tuition money to visit China?
• "Foreign Languages": Most likely leads to teaching a language students won't use. Learn more German from WWII video games for free.
• "Art/Music/Theater/Dance/Film/Art History": Like professional athletes, chances of success are dismal. True artists achieve mastery through practice and passion, not schooling.
• "English" and "Creative Writing": You already speak English. Practice writing for free; famous authors rarely have advanced degrees in these fields.
• "Literature": Paying someone to tell you to read.
• "Communications/Linguistics/Rhetoric": Basic human abilities stretched into degrees. Everyone can communicate; these degrees are pointless.
• "Anthropology": The study of "humanity" with no clear purpose or employment prospects outside academia.
• "Political Science/Public Administration": Lazy major for power-hungry individuals. Public office should not be a career; it requires real-world experience, not a degree in politics.
• "Philosophy": Interesting, but can be self-taught. Leads to "The Circle of Why Bother" (teaching philosophy to other philosophy majors).
• "Psychology": Worthless without a master's or doctorate. Often chosen by those avoiding math, with little genuine care for clients.
• "Journalism": Industry is dead, replaced by bloggers. Most majors are arrogant, inexperienced, and on political crusades. Start a blog instead.

"Frankenstein Degrees" and "New Age Crap." Interdisciplinary degrees are often worthless because if there was market demand for such a combination, universities would offer it officially. "New Age Crap" degrees (Puppetry, Holistic Medicine, Music Therapy, Environmental Studies, Peace Studies, Social Justice) capitalize on hobbies or political fads, not real demand. They are designed to avoid real work and rationalize taking other people's money.

5. Beware of Grad School Traps and Academic Pablum.

The truth is the MBA is simply an overpriced, over-hyped degree.

Grad school: A costly gamble. When a worthless degree leaves you jobless, grad school often seems like the logical next step. However, advanced degrees are infinitely more expensive and come with their own pitfalls, especially in a flooded market.

MBA: Overpriced and over-hyped. The market is glutted with MBAs, diminishing their value. Their reputation is tarnished by their involvement in major economic crises (Dotcom, Housing Bubble). Many MBA programs are just expensive versions of a Bachelor's in Business Administration, with "fad" specializations like "Corporate Social Responsibility." With tuition costs soaring to $100,000+, an MBA is a risky investment. A CPA certification is cheaper and often more valuable.

Law degrees: A refuge for the unemployable. Law school is a common destination for liberal arts majors who can't find jobs. Lawyers often have a bad reputation due to their lack of tangible skills, relying on frivolous lawsuits or political crusades. Law schools deceptively cite "mean" starting salaries, but the "median" salary for most law graduates is barely more than a worthless undergrad degree, after incurring $75,000+ in debt.

Doubling down on worthlessness. If a bachelor's in philosophy didn't get you a job, a master's or doctorate won't either. Don't compound a mistake that cost you four years and $40,000 with another two years and $60,000.

Litmus tests for worthless degrees:

• The Regurgitation of Classes: Programs with no real substance, repeating the same few themes (e.g., "Leadership in Education," "Educational Leadership").
• 800 Page Book Out of a Sentence: Simple concepts stretched into massive textbooks and full courses (e.g., "Porter's Five Forces Model," "Marketing").
• Forced to Buy the Textbook: Professors forcing students to buy their own expensive, often unreadable, books.
• DIY: Can you get the same education by buying a product or doing it yourself for free? (e.g., foreign languages, creative writing).
• Pablum: Nonsensical jargon and euphemisms (e.g., "epistemological shift," "paradigm," "rubric") used to mask a degree's utter worthlessness and secure funding.
• The Circle of Why Bother: If the primary employment for a major is to re-teach it to future students (e.g., Anthropology, Philosophy), it has no practical application outside academia and thus no value. These are hobbies, not careers, often subsidized by taxpayers.

6. Question Authority: Parents, Counselors, and "Big Education" Mislead.

Whether you believe it or not, there are nefarious forces in education actively conspiring against you.

Spineless parents. Many parents, particularly Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers, have adopted a "tough love" avoidance strategy, preferring positive reinforcement and wanting to be their children's "best friend." This creates a bubble, shielding youth from reality and inflating egos, making them ill-prepared for the harsh truths of the real world. After years of ass-kissing, they lack the courage to tell you your major is stupid.

Worthless guidance counselors. High school and college counselors are often spineless and ignorant. They belong to the same generations, often majored in worthless degrees themselves, and have never experienced job insecurity in their government-subsidized roles. They lack the economic knowledge to provide genuine, practical guidance, often believing their own worthless degrees are "great careers."

The nefarious side of education. Beyond innocent ignorance, there are active forces in education conspiring against you. The system's "sacred" reputation shields it from criticism, allowing charlatans to exploit it.

• The Perfect Storm:
  • Education's untouchable reputation.
  • Massive funding ($1 trillion+ annually in the US, more than oil/gas or military).
  • Low-quality employees (many educators majored in worthless degrees and are otherwise unemployable).
    This creates an environment where "Big Education" primarily serves as an employment vehicle for the unemployable, rather than genuinely educating students.

Myths perpetuated by "Big Education":

• "More money equals better education": This is a lie. Data shows no correlation (even a slight negative one) between spending per pupil and test scores. This claim is used by unions and public schools to secure more funding, prioritizing their revenue over student outcomes.
• Prerequisites: These are classes unrelated to your major, designed to generate money for other departments, especially those with worthless majors. They create make-work jobs for grad students and force non-worthless degree students to subsidize "The Circle of Why Bother." They add thousands to your bill and delay graduation.
• Tuition Costs: Skyrocketing tuition is not due to lack of government funding, but to ballooning administrative salaries and an increasing number of employees. Deans and presidents earn exorbitant salaries while students protest tuition hikes, blaming taxpayers.
• Profitability of Worthless Degrees: Liberal arts and humanities programs are highly profitable for universities. They require minimal equipment (classroom, tables, chairs, unemployed professor) compared to STEM fields, attract high volumes of students, and can charge more for advanced degrees. Universities have a huge financial incentive to push these degrees, regardless of their value to students' futures.

7. Debunk Common College Myths for a Realistic Path.

It definitely does matter what your degree is in.

"You need to be well-rounded." This is condescending BS. You are already well-rounded with your own interests, hobbies, and friends. Expensive prerequisite classes are a scam to extract money, not to give you culture.

"It's not all about money!" Yes, it is. Unless you're rich, you're in college to increase employability. Spending $50,000 on tuition must be about the money. Those who claim otherwise often pursue worthless degrees that could be self-taught, secretly hoping for a financial return. The person telling you this is likely receiving your money.

"Congratulations, you made it to the Dean's List!" Grade inflation means a 3.0 GPA is no longer impressive; employers expect 3.5 or higher, especially in less rigorous fields. Extra-curricular activities for "honors" are often political indoctrination. Focus on actual grades, not official "honors" designations.

"A bachelor's degree is just to get in the door." This was true in the past, but today, with lowered standards and a flood of worthless degrees, it's a myth. Your major absolutely matters. If it didn't, all majors would have identical starting salaries and employment prospects.

"Employers value critical thinking and communication skills." These are basic human abilities, not high-end, cutting-edge skills. Professors who dedicate years to studying these simple concepts are often out of touch with the real world, like a dog proudly bringing home a decayed carcass. Employers expect you to be potty-trained and able to bathe; they also expect basic communication and critical thinking.

Median vs. Mean Income. College recruiters often cite the "mean" lifetime earnings of college graduates, which is skewed by a few high earners. The "median" salary, what most people actually make, is significantly lower. Many tradesmen earn more than the median college graduate for half the education.

"You should get an internship." Internships are often a way for companies to get cheap, free labor for secretarial tasks. Be strategic:

• Leave immediately if you're just filing/faxing.
• Keep trying until you find one that offers real experience (more common in STEM).
• Don't stay longer than six months unless offered full-time employment.
• One good internship is enough; additional ones add little marketability.

Women and the Wage Gap. The "wage gap" (women making 76% of men's pay) is a damaging lie. It's not caused by sexism but by a disproportionate percentage of women choosing worthless degrees.

• Nearly 70% of worthless degrees go to women.
• Only 1 in 5 engineering degrees go to women.
  This is liberating news: women are not oppressed; they have the same opportunities as men. "Big Education" perpetuates this myth to channel women into worthless fields. Do not listen to those who say "girls aren't good at math"; women can excel in STEM, and the male-to-female ratio in engineering offers social benefits.

"Women earn the majority of degrees." This is true, but irrelevant. The question is, in what? It's primarily in literature, music, and other non-productive fields. This statistic is a distraction from what truly matters: the value and demand of the degree.

"1 in 3 college women are sexually assaulted." This fabricated statistic, often from women's studies departments, is designed to maintain a "victim" status for women, secure funding for their programs, and create jobs for unemployable majors. It scares young women away from dating and developing healthy relationships. For real safety information, consult the police department, not ideologically driven campus groups.

8. Prioritize Self-Sufficiency and Societal Contribution.

You are merely a parasite and everybody knows it.

Moral responsibility to society. You have a responsibility to society: to carry your own weight, produce something of value, and contribute more than you consume. This means choosing a major that leads to employable skills and a self-sustaining career.

Productionless jobs. Many jobs produce nothing of value and drain resources from productive sectors.

• "The Circle of Why Bother": Degrees whose only practical application is to be re-taught to future students (e.g., philosophy, women's studies). These are worthless hobbies, often subsidized by taxpayers at public universities.
• Non-profit/Charity Industries: Organizations like the UN, despite trillions spent, fail to achieve their stated goals (e.g., eradicating hunger). Their primary purpose is often to provide employment for thousands with worthless degrees.
• Political Activism: These jobs champion noble crusades (e.g., environmentalism) but often cost other people real jobs and hold back society (e.g., delaying the Keystone XL pipeline or St. Croix bridge). Activists often have worthless degrees and prioritize their egos over economic well-being.
• Politicians: Many politicians, especially those with worthless degrees from well-to-do families, are not statesmen but individuals who couldn't find real jobs and run for office out of laziness and self-interest.

The parasite accusation. Declaring a worthless major is an admission of laziness, a demand for society to pay for your hobby while you produce nothing of value. You want others to slave away making MP3 players and hybrid cars, while you demand a make-work job to soothe your ego. This is economic parasitism. Grow up, become a real adult, and carry your own weight.

Economic consequences of worthless degrees.

• Unemployment/Underemployment: Generations pursuing worthless degrees have contributed to the worst long-term unemployment since the Great Depression. Underemployment (working below your potential) is even higher, especially for young adults.
• Economic Stagnation: The US economy's growth rate has halved since the 1960s because we produce more poets and activists than engineers and entrepreneurs.
• Trade Deficit: We import everything because Americans are "too arrogant to dirty our hands" making things, preferring English or education majors over computer or petroleum engineers. This leads to hundreds of billions in trade deficits and lost jobs.
• Debt: To afford consumption without production, we rely on debt. Federal debt is at WWII levels, and household debt is 90% of GDP. This fiscal crisis is partly due to 70% of people majoring in non-productive fields.

9. Strategic Life Choices: Military, Trades, and Entrepreneurship.

Quit right now.

"You really can't make any money until you're 40." Your generation's reputation means most people won't take you seriously until you're around 30-40. You can either goof off and enjoy your youth, or commit to a doctorate in a valuable field, taking your time to complete an 8-year degree in 12 years, allowing for a social life.

If I were to do it all over: The Military. The military offers a compelling alternative:

• Lifelong Pension: 20 years of service (from 18 to 38) earns a lifelong pension.
• Incredible Benefits: Free food, clothing, shelter, medical/dental care, and education.
• Real Responsibility: More interesting and responsible work than typical entry-level civilian jobs (e.g., setting up computer networks, repairing tanks).
  The rewards often outweigh the risks.

Enjoy College. Don't rush your college experience. Graduating early with a worthless degree and no debt, but miserable, is foolish. Take your time, enjoy the social aspects, party, and travel. Your career won't start without you, and rushing can make college a hellish nightmare.

Quit Right Now If You Are Majoring in a Worthless Degree. It's that simple. You've already wasted time and money; don't waste more. The first two years of college often cover prerequisites applicable to any degree. Take a break, work, and figure out a worthwhile major. Two years in the real world can provide invaluable clarity.

Take Time Off to Work. Avoid debt if possible. It's worthwhile to take time off to earn money, then return to school. Just ensure you do return.

Good Debt. Debt for a worthwhile degree is an investment, not frivolous spending. Don't fret over it if your degree title starts with a "B.S."

Two-Year Degrees (Trades). If you're eager to work and avoid prerequisites, consider a local tech college. Trades offer precise, valuable skills that lead to immediate employment. You can be working at 20, debt-free, and earning more than friends with "Bachelor's in Creative Writing."

Start Your Own Business on the Side. Never rely solely on an employer. Companies can lay you off, fire you, or go bankrupt. Develop your own side business; it's the only person you can truly trust in this world.

Last updated: November 22, 2025