> Study "Theoretical Physics" if you are inclined to. Everybody will be happy if you acknowledge:
I realize you are posting an analogy. I would still like to point out I am yet to meet someone who studies theoretical physics and doesn't realize how it's going to play out. There is no sense of entitlement, they are aware they will be going for PHD while their classmates get jobs right after their undergrad, and ever after PHD, things are uncertain and they might end up lecturing 1st years.
All I am pointing out is study what you want - it's your life and no one gives a damn - but don't build false perceptions about the way it works, or worse, feel that the world owes you something for you followed your passion.
> This condescending arrogance is a simple example of the Dunning-Kruger effect.
No, it's not. Saying that your English Major won't help you get a job which doesn't need an English Major, doesn't say you are dumb to major in English, or I am smarter to not major in it.
> Education has a deeper purpose than you think. The mechanism by which educated people get ahead in society is far more complex and subtle than the "learn useful work skills => better at work => more promotions" caricature.
I don't know which part of my post you are responding to.
Education has a purpose, all sorts of educations has, and there is a common subset. That common subset doesn't make you eligible for unrelated jobs.
Whatever it is, it's fundamentally flawed. People studying to be theoretical physicists know it's a long and hard path. Also, they are eligible for a number of quant jobs.
> No education makes you "eligible" for a "related" job (unless the job is "college professor").
So, those doctors, lawyers, nuclear physicists, rocket scientists, architects, civil engineers, mechanical engineers... should have just got an English major, since their education didn't do shit.
That's outright ridiculous, and wrong. Pretty much anything in hard sciences and technology(programming being a notable exception) requires a related formal education. And it's not bureaucratic - the job needs the background. Your well roundedness and critical thinking and whatever doesn't make you a doctor.
I realize you are posting an analogy. I would still like to point out I am yet to meet someone who studies theoretical physics and doesn't realize how it's going to play out. There is no sense of entitlement, they are aware they will be going for PHD while their classmates get jobs right after their undergrad, and ever after PHD, things are uncertain and they might end up lecturing 1st years.
All I am pointing out is study what you want - it's your life and no one gives a damn - but don't build false perceptions about the way it works, or worse, feel that the world owes you something for you followed your passion.
> This condescending arrogance is a simple example of the Dunning-Kruger effect.
No, it's not. Saying that your English Major won't help you get a job which doesn't need an English Major, doesn't say you are dumb to major in English, or I am smarter to not major in it.
> Education has a deeper purpose than you think. The mechanism by which educated people get ahead in society is far more complex and subtle than the "learn useful work skills => better at work => more promotions" caricature.
I don't know which part of my post you are responding to.
Education has a purpose, all sorts of educations has, and there is a common subset. That common subset doesn't make you eligible for unrelated jobs.