Should I choose my degree based on passion or job prospects?

Question

I love the art history field and aspire to be a curator, but I've seen many a friend choose a degree in the art field and end up unemployed after graduation. I was thinking instead that maybe I should go into a more broad arena like IT, the passion isn't necessarily there... but have the technology experience could give me the upper hand when employment is concerned, especially after grad school (MLS).

I'm confused do I choose my passion, or do I choose reality?

Answer 1

If you really want it, it's worth working for it. (you will have to work for it.) don't live your life unahappy doing something you don't want to do.  life's not all about money.  

Answer 2

if i were you, i'd say passion. if you really like the work, you really would'nt mind getting paid a little less. whereas if you choose a c**p degree but have to sit on a computer a whole day with your boss shunting around, but finally getting paid well. come on, can you take the stress everyday even if you are paid well??? think about it. if you chose a job of your passion you'll come home smiling, and well for some more pocket money, you can always work somewhere else part-time  

Answer 3

You gotta do what you love, but sometimes you just gotta go with reality at first in order to help get a job and live and support a family. after grad school and when you settle down then maybe go back and stick with passion and waht you love

Answer 4

I think you should choose based on your passion. You won't help yourself by doing something you're not passionate about. So what if you don't find a job. In the end God will work it all out for you. He wants you to be happy so you should at least want that for yourself.

Answer 5

See if you can somehow combine the two.  You are wise to see the difference between passion and employability.  Curating is a difficult job to break into, and only a few people reach the top.  If you are going for MLS, you can do an art history or related BA with a minor or electives in the IT area (or mass communications).  Check out majors in the colleges in which you have an interest, and see if there is flexibility to get what you want and what you feel you need.  

Answer 6

Make a list of the jobs you would be interested in based on your passion ... top of the list is those you are most passionate about ... bottom is the least passionate. Then go down the list from the top and consider income, jobs .. etc. When you get to a happy medium then go that route. You obviously want to have a job ... and make enough .. but ultimately your happiness with your chosen profession is most important. When you love what you do you never work a day in your life :)

Answer 7

I'm sorry. Do you have an MLS, or are you hoping to get one? How does that relate to art history/curation or to IT? And why would you plan an MLS if you don't plan to work in a library? To me, that seems to have nothing to do with being a curator or working in IT.

If I had a better idea of how this MLS comes into play, I might be able to help you. The MLS threw me. So I'll take it off the table.

Ideally, you'd chose your passion, and then find ways to make yourself as marketable as possible to employers. So if you studied art history, and wanted to be a curator, you'd know that is an education-sensitive field, and go to the best undergrad art history program you could get into. You'd research what they want in curators, and you'd get those skills, including doing internships and, if necessary, a masters degree in art history. You'd network within the field, and thus when you did graduate, you'd stand a good shot of actually gaining employment in your field.

Answer 8

well you wanna choose something in between.

because if you choose a major that you have to go to work,

and every day you're thinking,

"oh darn i gotta go to work today."

every day of your life,

it's no fun

Answer 9

The Passion. "Do what you love and the money will follow."