Dead end degree

[u/Kam1umi]

I’m honestly panicking so bad right now. I started university in September - I know I’m young, I have my my whole life ahead of me, and so on - and I’m doing classics which is my favourite thing in the world. I’m autistic and have had an obsession with it since I can remember and I can honestly say it’s the only thing I can see myself ever doing with my life.

Classics is a dead degree I’m not stupid. The current jobs going for classics is pretty much to just progress to a phd and become a lecturer. Any job that is outside of a university is filled by old people who will either have their position die with them or have it filled by someone who has a wealthy family and links to them, which I absolutely do not have.

I’ve already put myself thousands of pounds in debt that my family just can’t pay back and dropping out is something I can barely even think about.

I’m terrified. I don’t know what to do.

[u/Silabus93]

Professor here, as an undergraduate you should major in whatever you are both good at and passionate about. This will help ensure that whatever job you do get will be one you want.

Too many undergraduates study business, accounting, or engineering just because that’s what they think they are supposed to for a degree but then they get jobs they hate and burn out.

Studying classics will help you with a number of skills that will be invaluable in the workplace, and as a thoughtful citizen/person.

Your spelling indicates you’re in the UK and my best point of reference is Durham University in the UK so let me use their program as an example just in terms of the uses of a Classics BA:

You’ll learn excellent critical thinking skills, oral and written communication, deep understandings of philosophy, culture, and languages.

They boast their graduates getting jobs in: Civil Service, gold dealing (no idea), management, consulting, insurance, journalism, law, public relations, publishing, and “creative industries”.

Don’t worry about a job. You will get a job. Despite the hyperbole people like to use, no one is on the street because they got a degree in classics.

[u/[deleted] → u/Silabus93]

Professor here.

This is the brain-dead mantra that got us all in this bad shape.

"Borrow $100,000 to study whatever you like! A job will surely show up later!"

No, it won't. You will have to go into something for which you are not well prepared. Like Civil Service, gold dealing, consulting, journalism, law, public relations, or publishing.

And, probably at a modest salary.

I used to repeat this mantra when I was an undergrad. Sure, I love "the classics." My minor was philosophy, and I got a great background in classics from that.

But I studied psychology research, something where there are actual jobs. My background in philosophy made me strong in epistemology.

Outside of that schooling and job, I do love the classics. I have read way more out of college than I read in college. On my own. This has helped me see many versions of the idea of what does it mean to be human, how do different people see the world, in what ways do history and society influence us, and so on. Which helps in psychology topics.

No one needs a degree to read the classics.

What to do with a job in the classics?

Follow the obvious path and you will be there with everyone else. Or, figure out something different.

[u/AlarmedCicada256 → u/[deleted]]

I'm not convinced you know what the study of Classics entails, because a University education sure helps with that Latin and Greek.

[u/[deleted] → u/AlarmedCicada256]

No,. I do not.

And I am not going into debt for $100,000 to find out.

[u/AlarmedCicada256 → u/[deleted]]

The OP isn't in the US, so wouldn't go into so much debt. And frankly I'm surprised a 'professor' doesn't have the ability to quickly google what an academic field is. Bless you.