this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2024
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Hi, I am a young student and am going on to university soon. I am interested in helping causes and organisations like unions and such for a profession. I thought of doing political science, but that's not very agreeable to my parents. So I thought of doing economics however I'm not sure how employable a pure economics degree is and whether or not I can stomache the neoliberal economics. If anyone could provide some of your own experiences and help me I would appreciate it.

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[–] multitotal@lemmygrad.ml 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Engineering, and if you can't, then a trade in construction or metal/wood work (you can probably get an engineering degree later).

Edit:

When I said engineering, I didn't mean just the big ones (mechanical/aerospace/electrical), but any engineering or applied science. It will teach you many valuable things and transferable skills that it'd be hard to acquire elsewhere. If anything, it will teach you how to learn and figure out things for yourself.

Why trade/engineering? If you want to help people, learn how to fix things: cars, plumbing, walls, roofs, electronics; how to build things: houses, furniture, labour-saving machinery.

I might be biased because I didn't follow that advice, but I should have. I have degrees in physics, history and philosophy. None of those helped me where I want to be.

I am currently studying for a teaching degree and I am considering going to a 3-5yr engineering university next year, because 5 years will pass no matter what, the difference is that after 5 years I can have an engineering degree or not have an engineering degree.

If you take away one thing from my post let it be this: your decision is not final, you can change your mind, switch universities/degrees, etc. So don't be nervous about your decision or think that what you choose now is something you have to do for the rest of your life. Go to different departments, talk to professors/students (the course description on the uni website rarely gives you all the info).

[–] ksynwa@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

If you can explain why it would help clear the fog a little bit for the OP

[–] multitotal@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 3 months ago

Good point. Edited.